Core Services

Independent Living Skills Training

Instruction and skill building for living independently with a disability. Topics can include cooking, budgeting, transportation, and social skills training.

 

Information and Referral

Information and Referral services educate consumers, family, and community members about what community resources are available, as well as coordination of referrals from and to other community agencies or services. Having adequate information and knowing where to go for specific services promotes empowerment.

 

Peer Support

Peer support provides the opportunity for one person with a disability to discuss life experiences with another person with a disability. Ability1st is currently working toward developing a Peer Mentoring Program, which will be made up of volunteers with disabilities.

 

Advocacy

Advocacy is one of Ability1st's core services and an important part of the Independent Living Philosophy. According to Webster's definition, being an Advocate means one that pleads the cause of another or one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal. Not only does the agency strive to fulfill this role, but we also educate and train consumers to be their own advocate.

The agency supports and actively participates in community efforts and local and statewide grassroots advocacy organizations. We work with bringing about systems change goals by influencing legislation that would effect the disability community and offer scheduled training to our consumers on disability related issues.

Ability1st also offers one-on-one consumer advocacy by accompanying/ assisting consumers to agencies where they receive different services. Some of the services include supporting them in court, researching their rights on a particular issue or working with them on understanding their rights with ESE programs.

Sometimes the only barrier between you and independent living is Advocacy!