The Community Integration Unit (CI Unit) has a Home Modification team that assists consumers to modify their homes with ramps, grab-bars, widening of doorways and other accessibility needs. Our coordinators serve the entire Valley.
A Social/Recreation Coordinator facilitates cooking and arts & craft classes, and coordinates a variety of activities such as: movies; trips to museums and casinos; bowling; and sporting, seasonal and holiday events. All activities are offered at reduced prices or at no cost to our consumers.
CI team members facilitate a 10-week course designed for adults with physical disabilities, Living Well with a Disability, which promotes healthy living through goal setting and peer support.
In addition, CI coordinates our Empowering Youth Program, which provides interactive workshops to youth with disabilities age 14-22 in the school classrooms. These workshops assist students in addressing their disabilities and how to prepare themselves through independent living skills.
Our Information and Referral Coordinator empowers our consumers with information and resources to continue enjoying independent lives.
A Coordinator manages and collects donations for the Loan Closet, and helps members of our community receive durable medical equipment, which is loaned out for up to 90 days.
CI has three Independent Living Skills Advocates who serve both Maricopa and Pinal counties. The Independent Living Skills Advocates assist consumers to set and achieve independent living goals.
- Independent Living Skills Advocates facilitate goal setting, budgeting, self-advocacy, household management, communication skills and stress management training through classes or workshops.
- Training can be performed one on one, or in a group setting with beneficial peer support.
The Independent Living team has established an Independent Living Council comprised of consumers who have achieved, and continue to work on, their goals to live independently.
- The IL Council attends classes facilitated by Ability360 to rate and determine which classes are meeting the needs of our consumers.
- Council members mentor and help others to lead more independent lives.
The Independent Living team created a Leadership Academy that assists IL Council members to develop useful skills as they aspire to become future leaders in the community.
- Leadership Academy classes have included topics such as Agency Orientation, Disability History and Effective Communication.
- Future classes will include People-First Language, Facilitation Skills and Disability Liberation.
Ability360’s Early Intervention program empowers newly-injured consumers by providing resources and services to help them adjust to living with a disability. The EI Coordinator also facilitates a Men’s Disability Support Group every month at the Ability360 Center.
The Reintegration Program Coordinator assists consumers age 64 and younger in transitioning from a nursing or assisted living facility into their own home or apartment.
The Community Living Options program assists individuals who have developmental disabilities in learning a variety of skills, including learning to navigate the transportation system, continuing in school, employment and other opportunities. Our team facilitates an 8-week computer class to help consumers improve and work on skills needed for school, work and daily living.
The Community Integration Unit travels to meet the needs of our consumers when they are unable to make it to one of our locations. In an average month, our team may travel nearly 3,000 miles to serve consumers who wish to live more independent lives.