An Untapped Resource: People with Disabilities and Community

Service

accessABILITY, formerly known as IRCIL, was founded in 1987 by a small group of advocates under a state grant.

accessABILITY is one of many Centers for Independent Living (or CILs) that resulted from the civil rights movement for people with disabilities.

Ed Roberts

“I’m tired of well-meaning noncripples with their stereotypes of what I can and cannot do directing my life and my future. I want cripples to direct their own programs and to be able to train others to direct new programs. This is the start of something big – cripple power.”

Independent Living (IL) Philosophy:

The right to control and direct ones own life, to make choices from a range of acceptable options which minimize reliance on others in making decisions and in performing every day activities. This includes managing ones affairs, participating in all aspects of community life, fulfilling a range of social roles and making decisions that lead to self-determination and the minimization of physical and/or psychological dependence.

Our Vision At accessABILITY, we believe that ALL people with

disabilities are valued individuals of our community with rights and responsibilities. This value is reflected in the following ways:

• accessABILITY is a consumer-controlled organization. No less than 51% of our staff and governing board are persons with a disability to insure that the will and needs of people with disabilities are reflected in all we do.

• accessABILITY supports and advocates for a community that is accessible for all.

• accessABILITY believes that a disability is a natural part of life.

• accessABILITY was established to assist people with disabilities in developing the supports they need to assure full inclusion in community life.

Centers for Independent Living Core Services

All CILs have the following four core services:• Peer Support• Independent Living Skills Training• Information and Referral• Advocacy– Individual– Systems

Our Programs Include:

• Independent Living (IL): Serving individuals with disabilities between the ages of 25-55.

• S.A.I.L. (Seniors Achieving Independent Living): Serving seniors with disabilities who are 55 and older and are blind or have a visual impairment.

• Y.A.I.L. (Youth achieving Independent Living): Serving youth under the age of 25.

Additional Services We Offer:

• Youth n Power Project: Serving youth from ages 14 to 25.

• Community Education: Educating the community about disability, inclusion and rights.

• Benefits Counseling: Helping people to understand and receive the benefits they need.

• Employment Support: Assisting people with disabilities to gain and keep jobs.

• Braille Production: Creating Braille documents for people, organizations, and businesses.

accessABILITY is one of nine Centers for Independent Living in Indiana, serving the following counties:

MarionHendricks

BooneHamiltonHancockMorgan

ShelbyJohnson

BartholomewMonroe BrownOwen

What are the benefits of volunteerism to individuals with disabilities?

• A person can volunteer once on a particular project or they can volunteer for many projects over a lifetime.

• They may choose to work on one event annually or they may choose to volunteer on a weekly basis.

• They may serve through the types of local volunteer opportunities available in virtually every community.

• Opportunity to give.• They can develop more peer relationships and increase

future opportunities to form new friendships.• A person can volunteer with the same group of people

over time and learn about friendship as a different source of security, comfort and self-worth (The Arc, 1998)

What are some myths & barriers for not hiring and recruiting individuals with disabilities?

• Persons with intellectual disabilities cannot learn volunteer jobs.

• Persons with disabilities require too much training and supervision.

• Persons with disabilities are unreliable and likely to cause injury to themselves or others.

• Organizations may not be sure they know how to accommodate individuals with disabilities.

• Volunteer stipends may conflict with disability benefits.

As the environment becomes friendlier and more

accommodating, it will not be a question of whether persons

with disabilities will be able to contribute, it will be more of a

question of where their abilities can best be utilized.

Myth

Organizations may not be sure they know how

to accommodate individuals with

disabilities.

What is job accommodation?

Job accommodation means modifying a job, job site, or way in which a job is done so that the person with a disability can have equal access to all aspects of work. It can make it possible for people with disabilities to:

• Apply for jobs.• Perform essential job functions.• Be as productive as their co-workers.• Accomplish tasks with greater ease or independence.• Allow people with disabilities to enjoy the same perks

that their co-workers enjoy, such as access to the employee cafeteria or use of company-provided transportation.

What are essential job functions and how are they determined?

Essential functions are the basic duties that an employee/volunteer must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. Factors to consider in determining if a function is essential include:

• Does the position exist to perform that job function? (e.g., a cashier exists to exchange money with customers)

• How many other employees are available to assist with the required job function?

• How much time have present or past employees spent performing this function?

• What has been the actual work experience of present or past employees in this job?

• What degree of expertise or skill is required to perform the job function?

• What will the consequences be if this employee is not required to perform the job function?

What are possible accommodations needed?

• Extended time for tasks• Rearranging

furniture/heighten desks for wheelchair users

• Provide TTY for Deaf individuals

• Posted instructions for someone with memory loss

• Provide quiet workspace for an individual with ADD

• Accessible work station/assistive technology devices

What are the steps involved in developing job accommodations?

• Identify accommodation needs.• Identify accommodation.• Begin by discussing options with the applicant or

employee.

What are the steps involved in developing job accommodations?

Who is responsible:• The employee with a disability is responsible for

requesting an accommodation.When do you request:• During the job application process• After a job offer is made• At any time during the course of employment.

5302 East Washington StreetIndianapolis, IN 46219

317.926.1660

www.abilityindiana.org

THANK YOU