Obtaining Services within your Community

Obtaining Services within your Community

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Institution

Obtaining Services within your Community

What is the availability and eligibility of these resources and services?

Vast resources and services are available for the disabled in the community in Miami Florida. Many organizations dealing with different forms of disabilities provide resources and information to help the disabled people the community. In many cases, the organizations have websites, which the disabled and any other person interested with the information can access. Such websites provide useful information, including the contact details and physical locations, support groups, and institutions dealing with the disability that a person has. They also publish literature such as magazines, which they distribute to the disabled community. Some of the organizations deal with the public. They are not specific, and the only criterion for joining is that the members have disabilities. Others are highly specific, with some choosing to deal with the elderly and others opting to assist young people. For instance, Ann Storck Center, Inc helps children and adults.

The Coalition for Independent Living Options, Inc. (CILO) offers a diverse range of services ranging from advocacy to after school and summer programs for teenagers. It assists people with disabilities in their legal issues, such as social security appeals and entitlement benefits applications. The Community Committee for Developmental Handicaps (CCDH) provides funding, which makes it possible for children and adults with developmental disabilities to get personal assistance in their homes. Other than having a developmental disability, the beneficiaries of such funding have to fulfill certain criteria. They should reside in their own family home, should not be able to get the services from any other sources, and they should not have received such support from the organization within three years (CCDH, 2013).

How do these services assist with developing their competencies and talents and help them gain control over life circumstances

The services offered are essential because they assist people lead meaningful lives. Some organizations deal with ensuring that the disabled get easy access to their homes. They redesign the homes to ensure that the person does not struggle moving from one room to another. Other organizations help those who are disabled to search for accommodation and homes and they provide transportation services. The Ann Storck Center has housing facilities where adults living with developmental disabilities live without being assisted by anyone. Other organizations equip individuals with skills and knowledge and they assist them in getting employment. In addition, they get career counseling. It is important to people who have had to change their lifestyle because of a disability. They learn that they do not have to stop working just because they are disabled. They get to learn the opportunities that are available to them. In addition, the career counseling services also benefit those who are not sure on what they want to do in life.

The Ann Storck Center provides life-enriching programs and it offers adult day training. Some of the life-enriching opportunities offered include the fine arts and arts in motion programs. This is in addition to offering different kinds of recreational events and celebrations. Easter Seals gives disabled youths an opportunity to learn in their Culinary Arts High School. It also offers vocational evaluations and assists the disabled to get information concerning different career choices. CILO equips individuals with skills in diverse areas such as money management, job readiness, cooking, and travel training. The Florida Department of Education Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) specifically focuses on providing people with mental and physical disabilities the chance to get meaningful careers and help them to become independent. It offers career counseling and guidance, training and education for those who have completed high school, job placement, job coaching, vocational evaluation and planning, on the job training, and supported employment among other services (VR, n. d.).

Many organizations offer counseling services to the disabled and their families. This helps in helping those who are disabled to understand their situation in life. Such services are especially beneficial to individuals who become disabled at a later point in life. They need to understand the changes that have happened to them and get information on how they can move on with their lives despite their disability. Their families get information on how they can assist the disabled persons. Many organizations provide individuals with the opportunity to network and form support groups. Such groups are important because they enable the disabled to talk about the issues that affect them. They act as addition counseling sessions for the disabled. The people are encouraged by the fact that those they are communicating with have had similar experiences to them and they find it easy to open up to each other. Some organizations specialize in helping those who are disabled to develop their sporting skills. It is possible for the disabled to engage in dissimilar sporting activities depending on their abilities.

Choose a disability and discuss services offered in your area that helps to improve the life circumstances of these individuals

People with developmental disabilities receive support from diverse organizations. VR provides counselors for the deaf and hard of hearing. The counselors provide guidance to the individuals and they show them how to cope with their disabilities. They also provide guidance on job and work related issues such as interviews. In addition, the organization provides interpreters when a deaf person requires one. The Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley provides varied services for the deaf and the hard of hearing. It offers career assessment opportunities and help individuals to search for jobs. It equips individuals with job seeking skills using American Sign Language. This service enables people to prepare for their careers. They learn how to write their resumes and how to handle the interview process. Other services offered include nurse’s aide training and life skills (GESMV, n. d.).

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Inc. offers services that help individuals with the disability to live independently and to have equal rights in the community. People can get advocacy services, which enables them to fight issues concerned with discrimination and stigma. They get communication services such as interpreting, counseling, instructions on independent living, and help with job development and placement. The organization also provides the disabled with the information they need concerning their condition, career, and any other issue and it offers community education. Educating the community concerning deafness is important because it enables other people to understand and accept those who are deaf (DHHSC, 2010).

Explain the importance of these services to the family as a whole and how these services aid with care for these individuals

Families benefit when their members are able to get the support and help and need for their disability. In many cases, the family members who are not disabled do not know how to deal with, and provide support for those who are disabled among them. They do not have the required skills and knowledge that will help such individuals live their lives well. Having centers and organizations dealing with such issues is a relief for the families. This is because they are assured that their loved ones will get the support they need. They will get a chance to make a difference in their lives. The services offered also target family members. In the case of those families that have people who are hard of hearing or deaf, they are able to learn how to communicate with them. Families get the chance to see their loved ones move on with their lives and progress in different areas because they are able to get the support they need.

Gone are the days when options for those who are disabled were limited. Nowadays, it is possible for the disabled in the community to live whole and meaningful lives. They get a chance to participate in leisure and recreational activities and they have full social lives. They also get a chance to live independently since they already have the skills to do so. The deaf can be employed and they do not have to depend on their parents or other family members forever. They can start their own families and live a life free of worry and concern. These factors offer a relief to families. Some organizations provide community education services and this helps to reduce social stigma and misunderstanding. Many people begin accepting those who are deaf and they help them since they know what they need. Families benefit because their loved ones who are disabled can get the psychological and emotional help they need. As much as parents and siblings can offer those who disabled in their midst love and support, they cannot understand what they are going through since they do not have the same experiences. However, social support, networking, and peer groups of others who have shared the same experiences will help individuals more and they will better off emotionally and mentally.

References:

CCDH. (2014). In-home supports. The Community Committee for Developmental Handicaps. Retrieved from http://www.ccdh.org/ccdh/in_home_support/

CILO. (2014). Independent living skills. Coalition for Independent Living Options, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.cilo.org/independent-living-skills

DHHSC. (2010). About DHHSC. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.dhhsc.org/about/

Easter Seals. (2014). Vocational services programs. Retrieved from http://www.easterseals.com/southflorida/our-programs/employment-training/vocational-services.html

GESMV. (n. d.). Deaf and hard of hearing services. Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley. Retrieved from http://gesmv.org/gesmv/assets/File/5(1).pdf

1. (n. d.). Vocational rehabilitation. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Florida Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.rehabworks.org