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information information information is
power
piecesof information
are kinda like a key- every piece of information opens up some door some opportunity
some choice without having those choices it's hard for consumers to have control
so information equals options
that's why information and referral is a very very valuable part what centers for
independent living do.
hey you know Center for Independent Living usually aren't into product
endorsement
but we have adopted the philosophy
taken on by a swoosh company that says just do it
in order to live independently people with disabilities have to learn how to
manage money
eat, clean, do all those things it
it takes to be out there on your own so Centers for Independent Living do things
like teach computer lessons
help people with mobility management all those things that you have to do in the
community to have options
again we help our consumers learn to
just do it oh yes well we're not into product placement?
we're doing the NASCAR thing--you know? Ray Bans
drink product just do it
that's I'll skills training Baby!
get by, get by, get by, get by with a little help from our
peer mentoring and support why is it so critical to independent living?
well look at it this way if you were visiting in new city
would you want to get information from
someone who's visiting with you or someone who lives there?
I think someone who lives there-- your chances of being successful
chances of finding the right path for you knowing what's on that path
increase tremendously when you've
connected with someone who's been there done that
has the t-shirt so to speak also peer mentoring and support
is important in not going down
roads where you're making the same mistake twice
you might make all new mistakes but
having that local expertise
having expertise from somebody who understands what disability means to
them
is really important in terms of extending the chances that you might
reach your goals finally you know that old adage that two heads are better than
one?
that's true umm except for maybe when it's raining and you only have one
hat.
Advocacy does rock
it rocks because centers for independent living are probably the best disability
organizations nationwide to do it why
because as part of our mandate part of our core services
but secondly because we so strongly believes in
the expertise and choices driven by consumers
Advocacy takes place whenever
a person shows up at the same meeting month after month after month
to bring the same message to people with disabilities deserve opportunities
it takes place when an advocate goes to this meeting over here
and that meeting over here and that meeting over there and speaks up loudly
to say
disability --people with disabilities count you know the first one is sidewalk
grass
always showing up the second one is sort of a whack-a-mole
sticking your head up it may get hit but you're going to speak up for
disability then there's that person who goes out and does that
certainly outrageous thing to prove people with disabilities
belong and that's what I would call the
speed bump approach you know what you that speed bump once you'll never forget
it's there
but in any sense of the word
no matter how you do advocacy it rocks an
centers for independent living are there to guide
and lead the fight rock on advocacy
part of the valuable services that centers deliver.