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Youth Transition Services
Posted by Lisa Whitlow-Hill on 1/26/2018 7:00:00 AM
Do you know a young adult with a disability who is almost 18 years old, has an idea of what they want to do with their life, but they doesn’t know how to accomplish it? I think that sentence describes many of our young adults, not just ones with disabilities! There is a disability rights organization that serves Johnson County, called accessAbility. They provide FREE advocacy services to young adults and adolescents with disabilities who are transitioning from school to independent living or employment. The goal of this company is to have the young adult living their version of independence, by fostering a community of acceptance, respect, and inclusion. No less than 51% of the staff of this organization/governing board are people with disabilities, so they understand this population and their needs through their own experiences.
There are various ways to to utilize the resources at accessAbility. The service that is usually the shortest in duration is called Information and Referral services. This service is used to help an individual connect with the resources they need. It is also used to make sure information relating to rights, options, issues and resources are available to any individual in need of these services.
This organization also maintains a database of local, state, and national disability related information, used to assist young adults with disabilities acquire/strengthen personal living skills and service supports they need to maintain their level of independence. These services may include education/training in several areas including personal care, coping, financial management, social skills, and household management.
Another important service that accessAbility provides is assisting with, and teaching, the skills needed to navigate complex disability programs and laws. Not all persons with disabilities know how to exercise their basic rights and responsibilities or know how to self-advocate when necessary.
The above services are just a few of the services that accessAbility provides! They provide transition services, youth services (including peer support), assistive technology services, mobility training, and community support services. Be sure to check out their website at www.abilityindiana.org to see details about the many other services they provide---FREE of charge!
Lisa Whitlow-Hill, INSPIRE Coordinator
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