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Lander, Rock Springs & Cody, Wyoming
Wyoming Services for Independent Living provides for continually increasing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live as independently as possible. To do so for all within the State of Wyoming through judicious and aggressive management of resources.
Wyoming Services for Independent Living provides five core services:
Services
Information and Referral:
We provide individuals with resources and options that can assist them in making informed choices about living, learning, and working independently. The staff is available to both consumers and agencies to research individual requests for information and potential referral resources. In addition, the WSIL offers resources on issues related to disability, which is available to the public.
Peer Counseling:
More than 50% of the staff and board members have experience with a disability. It is generally believed that an organization that is run by individuals with disabilities can better identify and understand the barriers encountered by our consumers. Peer advisers with a variety of backgrounds are available to visit newly disabled individuals at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and mental health facilities to help facilitate their transition back to the community. They can offer emotional support and practical advice on issues such as education and vocational opportunities, housing, recreation, and adaptive equipment. Advisers can meet with individuals in the office or a mutually convenient location.
Independent Living Skills:
We provide assistance with developing the skills needed to live as independently as possible. Examples of training topics include: individual self-advocacy, personal assistance services, arranging transportation, budgeting, home management and job seeking. We also help to maximize health and well-being and provide education and assistance regarding your rights under the ADA. Training is, more often than not, provided by persons with disabilities.
Individual & Systems Advocacy:
WSIL works with individuals, community organizations, and state/national networks to:
- Promote full inclusion of people with disabilities into their communities
- Heighten awareness and understanding of disability-related issues and laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Improve the implementation of existing laws – federal, state, and local – that affect people with disabilities
WSIL’s advocacy services address access to equal opportunities in exercising one’s social, economic, educational, and/or legal rights.
Transition:
We provide assistance with transitioning services to develop the skills needed to live as independently as possible. Transition typically takes place in two types of situations: Young people transitioning from school environments to the adulthood; and, Individuals of all ages who are living in an residential setting, such as a nursing home, who are capable of living in the community at large. Both types of transition include learning the skills necessary to find proper living arrangements, self care, medical care, employment or further education, transportation and all aspects of a high quality of life.
Programs
We help figure out what your barrier is to living independently and develop a step by step plan to overcome it. Examples include:
- Tangible projects like ramps, bathroom modifications
- Navigate through other programs like Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Social Security Disability
- Get involved in social and recreational opportunities
- Practical solutions from someone who shares similar disability
- Learn your rights under the Law
This is a short term program, with the focus being on education so each person can learn skills needed to be successful in overcoming a barrier to independence as well as make informed decisions on his or her own behalf.
Nursing Home Program (Project OUT)
- For Someone living in a nursing home who can successfully move back home
- For Someone on brink of moving into a nursing home
- Program puts together necessary modifications to home, find other accessible housing and put day to day living help in place to make it a long term success.
In-Home Care (Self Directed Care)
- Goal is to keep you living at home.
- Provides help with various day to day activities, such as hygiene, getting dressed, cooking.
- You get to pick who you want to come to your house to help with these things and when they come.
Rural Transportation Voucher Program
- For someone with a disability who can’t drive
- Can use program to go where you would if you drove yourself.
- Can use for necessities, work, school, recreation, leisure and social, religious attendance
- Transportation is provided by Public Transit and Volunteer Drivers of your Choice
Independent Living Loan Closet
WSIL maintains a Loan Closet for use by anyone with a disability who needs specialized equipment. The equipment is loaned to an individual on a short term basis, while we work with our consumer and other resources to address the barrier on a permanent basis. The Loan Closet has items such as canes, crutches, walkers, hospital beds, bedside commodes and wheelchairs which are loaned as available. WSIL gratefully accepts tax-deductible donations of equipment or funds to contribute to the Loan Closet inventory.
