Independent Living: The Power and Resources to Become a Successful, Independent Individual in Society

The aspect of Independent Living for an individual with a disability can seem like a far-fetched dream. It can seem that living independently and having a private life is next to impossible. However, you are not alone. This blog-posting caters to professionals, educators, students, parents, and all who are involved.

In today’s society, there are a plethora of organizations, professionals, and teams advocating for independent living and have the necessary resources, accommodations, and modifications necessary for an individual with disabilities to live independently and become an active member of society. In my experiences as an educator, I feel that this aspect of transition is crucial to ensure the happiness of each individual and it is our job to ensure that this dream is possible from all avenues.

When I think of the aspect of Independent Living, a couple of questions come to mind and they are: “What are the accommodations and assistive technology available to these individuals?” and “What and who can assist them in making this dream a reality with minimal complications?” I began to research online and came across several wonderful websites that indicated that there was an enormous amount of technology available for individuals with disabilities seeking to live independently. From my own experiences and sharing living quarters with a good friend of mine who has a profound hearing loss, I was aware of minimal assistive technology that were available at the time, such as, vibrating alarm clocks, flashing fire alarms, and doorbells that flashed. I am pleased to share the websites that I discovered and I hope that these sites will offer advice, information, and hope to individuals with a disability that independent living can become a reality and this blog will help boost their self-determination and advocacy for themselves.

Websites
1) Independent Living Assistive Technology

http://www.independentliving.com/

This website offers a plethora of information about assistive technology, beneficial tools to assist with independent living. This site provides information for individuals with an array of disabilities. The following are items that can be purchased on the site: “talking calculators, talking alarm clocks, low vision aids (magnifiers, canes and mobility devices, recording devices, household items that can accommodate an individual with a disability, altered seating arrangements & lighting, and much more). I found this website to be informative, resourceful, and interesting for individuals with a disability, caregivers, professionals, and all who are involved in promoting self-independence!

2) Independent Living Institute

http://www.independentliving.org/

I particularly liked this website because its main focus and mission is to cater to each individual’s needs and to promote self-determination. Additionally, this global not-for-profit organization is mainly run by individuals with disabilities and offers advice internationally for individuals with disabilities seeking independent living, and offers awareness to what is happening in the outside world in terms of advocacy and legislation for individuals with disabilities.

3) Delta Center for Independent Living, Disabled Person Services in St. Louis, Missouri http://www.dcil.org/

This is also a fabulous site and caters to all individuals with an array of disabilities. The Delta Center’s mission statement nicely illustrates their determination in assisting those with disabilities. “Delta Center for Independent Living partners with people with disabilities and their communities to remove barriers and promote positive changes leading to greater independence for all.” I liked the idea of promoting positive change and eliminating the stigma and discrimination that society has placed on the aspect of independent living for individuals with disabilities. Some of the services that the Delta Center provide are: “skills training for independent living, peer support, advocacy, information on assistive technology, wheel-chair modifications, and much more.”

4) Assisting the disabled and Advocacy- CILO - Center for Independent Living Options
http://www.cilo.net/

The Center for Independent Living Options is a resourceful site that is determined to break down the architectural and attitudinal barriers that exist for individuals with disabilities and promote independence and self-determination. This site offers services, such as, personal service assistants, skills training programs, and advocacy workshops to promote an active and independent lifestyle. The Center for Independent Living Options also provides readers with a newsletter containing up-to-date information and advice.