Broadscope Disability Services

The Broadscope Disability Services Independent Living Program assists adults who have disabilities to allow independent lives in the community. Services are provided to help the individual locate and utilize community resources and maintain and improve their health and living skills. Services include:

• Residential– Staff helps individuals locate and maintain affordable, accessible housing. Program staff assists with application and review process.

• Health– Staff helps individuals locate medical providers, schedule and attend appointments, and manage medications. Participants are also encouraged to engage in healthy lifestyle choices such as eating right and exercising.

• Daily Living Activities– Staff helps individuals identify needs and provide skills training to improve independence. Staff can also help establish services to meet personal care and supportive home care needs.

• Communication–Staff helps individuals communicate with family, friends, and community contacts to build their personal network.

• Community Mobility– Staff helps establish Transit Plus eligibility as well as utilize MCTS services or other resources specific to the individual’s transport needs. Staff also helps individuals become familiar with places in their community.

• Financial– Staff helps individuals utilize financial resources, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Long Term Care Funding (Family Care/IRIS). Staff can act as a participant’s representative payee and provides skills training in the areas of budgeting and money management.

• Employment/ Education/ Recreation- Staff helps individuals locate and utilize community resources to help them meet their goals in finding work, going to school, or spending their time in meaningful ways.

• Support System and Safety- Staff helps develop a support system to ensure their safety needs are met. Staff addresses issues such as personal safety, emergency preparedness and self-advocacy.

The Employment Services program of Broadscope Disability Services’ assists adults with diverse abilities to achieve more independent lives by gaining and retaining competitive employment.

Services are targeted at developing individualized jobs in partnership with businesses in the community. In some situations, accommodations and/or assistive technology will be utilized to enhance success on the job. Qualified professionals support both the employee and the employer, by constantly adapting services to meet the needs of the person being served.


PROGRAM COMPONENTS

• Job Development – Works directly with the individual and area employers towards the goal of job placement by identifying and matching employer needs with employee interests, skills, and abilities.

• Career Exploration – Works on behalf of the individual to arrange workplace site tours and/or job shadowing.

• Job Placement – Assists with all aspects of the new hire process between the individual and the employer to ensure a smooth transition for both parties. Works with the individual to identify public transportation availability and provides any necessary training for using the identified service.

• On-Site Job Facilitation/Coaching – Assists employee and employer with the orientation and training process, identifies job accommodations including adaptive technology needs, and assists with development of supports at the work site. Also provides continued supports and advocacy.

• Computer Training – One-on-one, personalized computer training

• Outreach – Works within the community as a resource on the issues that affect the lives of persons with disabilities and advocates for the many ways employers can benefit by including people with diverse abilities in their workplace.