Disability Tip: Employ a Personal Assistant in the home? Want someone to show up to work for you? Treat them with respect. Set boundaries and rules about your house/job—No phone calls while working. Dress appropriately. Show up on time/even early and be ready to work. Be prepared with tasks and know what you need. Provide a written work agreement that you both sign and date. Communicate at all times. -----Hadley Ravencroft and Bruce Meissner
Services List
Video relay allows sign language users to see the communication with facial expressions and gestures.
Services List Page Links:
Access and Advocacy
Independent Living Counseling
Information and Referral
Skills Training
Specialty Services
Access and Advocacy
Individual Advocacy
PACE staff will work with individuals on advocacy issues they wish to pursue. (Social Security Disability or SSI appeal, landlord/tenant disputes, educational needs and rights etc.)
Systemic Advocacy
PACE does a great deal of advocacy to establish or change systems to allow for people with disabilities needs. (School policies and access, Transportation systems, medical services, local government housing projects)
Accessibility Surveys
PACE staff consult on access. We offer expertise on accessibility rather than accessibility law. We are able to complete ADA checklists on a walk through and offer a summary or suggestion for improvement. PACE provides representatives of hearing loss; vision loss, emotional and cognitive access needs as well as the most often recognized need for access – mobility.
Independent Living Counseling
Peer – one on one with a person who has had similar disability related concerns.
Individual – one on one with a staff member.
Group
Information and Referral
Disability and Independence Related Information and Referral
We answer disability and independence related questions, such as:
&bull What type of transportation is available to me?
&bull Is there a law protecting my rights as a student?
&bull What are my recourses if a restaurant refuses my guide dog?
&bull Where can I find a support group for Epilepsy?
Personal Assistant Referral
In order to limit the need for paid ads PACE has developed a PA referral list of people (not screened in any way) who want to become personal assistant. PACE does not recommend people on the list; we act only as a third party to get people together. Reference checking and good interviewing is coached, but is still the employer's responsibility as it is in any hiring situation.
Interpreter Referral
We offer a regularly updated list of Interpreters names, contact information and ability level so that the contractor can work directly with the interpreter to determine fees and terms. PACE does not employ the interpreters on the list nor do we recommend any particular interpreters.
Housing Lists
As a starting place regularly updated housing lists are available. users' search for their particular access needs. We encourage people with disabilities who have found accessible affordable housing to inform us of it so we can include it in our information.
Skills Training
&bull Civil Rights and Self-Advocacy
&bull Personal Assistant Management
&bull Employment Search Skills
&bull Basic Computer Typing Tutorial
&bull Accessible Public Transit Use
&bull Assertiveness
&bull Budgeting
&bull Adaptive Cooking Techniques
Specialty Services
Advocates for Access
This is a group of advocates who meet to increase access in our community. It is a cross disability group. The monthly noon meeting is a time to catch up on each other's efforts or give each other suggestions and support each other in learning how to educate the community in the need for access, and the laws that mandate it. Anyone is welcome; you don't have to know how to advocate. You will pick up advocacy tips and options from the group. We promote friendly education as the first steps in advocacy and view advocacy as a ladder with increasing impact to be climbed only after the person or entity fails to respond effectively and adheres to the law.
Community Reintegration Program
There are individuals who become stuck, financially, in nursing homes. Long after their need for the nursing home is over they may have no home to return to and their financial assistance is being used for their stay at the facility. We have a program for people less than 55 years who are in this situation. It provides assistance in affording and setting up a community living situation tailored to the individuals needs. We work with the nursing home social workers to identify these individuals and inform them of our program. Beyond human dignity and the obvious advantages to people trapped in the nursing home this is a far more cost effective way for Illinois citizens to live. Nursing homes average anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 a year where Independent Living costs $8,000 to 15,000 per year. We are always asking ourselves why Illinois ranks one of the lowest in state financial support to Independent Living and so high in financing nursing homes. When will community reintegration be available to seniors?
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
Our deaf services is supported by our Deaf Advisory Committee (DAC), which is made up of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Services are provided by staff that are fluent in American Sign Language. Beyond the four core services mentioned previously the deaf services dept offers: TTY distribution, adaptive equipment loan, equipment demonstrations, equipment sales referral, Deaf Seniors Group and adult role models for deaf children through events co sponsored with the Illinois Association of the Deaf. A staff facilitated Video Sign class is available a couple times a year, once a week for 10-12 weeks, there is also instruction in deaf culture in the class.
Interpreter Referral is available through Deaf Services; we act as a third party to coordinate a regularly updated list of interpreters with their level of ability indicated.
Visual Impairment North of 55 years
Many people who are aging also experience vision loss. This can be isolating for people when they can no longer get around independently, have had to give up their driver's license and are no longer able to read the printed word. For many, it is hard to change the way they have done things after doing them with sight for many years. Many consumers of PACE services say they have benefited by attending low vision support groups in their county that PACE coordinates with. We assist in providing programs that educate in techniques, adaptive equipment, service resources and just get people together that can encourage and assist each other. We provide low vision fairs where participants can try out equipment listen to expert speakers and talk with other people who have vision loss.
Housing Education and Advocacy
This program offers valuable accessibility technical assistance to developers, realtors, builders, landlords, architects, cities, etc. We do not interpret the law, however we can offer access ideas from the best source – people who use the access. We clarify concepts such as visitability and universal design. PACE promotes the increase of affordable and accessible housing as a community support for Independent Living and alternative to institutional living for people with disabilities and who are aging and want to remain in their homes.
PACE Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities
PACE is the coordinating agency for the Champaign-Urbana area Homeownership Coalition. This Coalition is made up of many entities in the community such as banks, realtors, the cities, social service organizations etc. We work together to make a pathway for people with disabilities to prepare themselves for credit approval, purchase and maintain a home that meets access needs of their family.
Opportunities for Independence
This is a program for people who have developmental disabilities that live in Champaign County. The program offers our Independent Living Specialists assistance to the consumer while they plan and work toward maintaining or increasing their independence. The consumer can be linked with other PACE programs and community services that are needed to achieve their goals. The PACE Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee is made up of people with disabilities as well as family, friends and advocates. The committee exists to offer advice on program goals, services and advocacy opportunities.
Disability Awareness Presentations
Many PACE staff, board and volunteers have disabilities. We offer "horses mouth" disability awareness and suggestions for etiquette. It can be a fascinating and mind expanding experience to view through the eyes of people who experience barriers in our society and understand why they want, need and are entitled to access. Schools, clubs, organizations and businesses are invited to schedule a presentation to expand their thinking into the realm of barriers and access
Business Accessibility Technical Assistance
There is a poster that says: We have been called "Gimp"" Cripple" and our favorite "Retard" Now you can call us Mr. and Ms. $1 Trillion Dollars in Consolidated Buying Power. Businesses are realizing access is a feature that draws customers. Owners and managers ask us to tell them how they can make their business more user friendly to people with disabilities. We clarify minimum standards and other sometimes more appealing access accommodations. Often the businesses are surprised at the simple procedural changes and small investments they can make to satisfy and attract customers with disabilities. There are a growing number of people who need and support accessible businesses. Families, educators and service providers will seek out those businesses that advertise access features.
PACE Services Presentations
We will come to your school, club, organization or business and tell you about our services and why Centers for Independent Living have been established across the nation as the wave of the future. Americans don't want to loose their independence and go into institutions and Centers for Independent Living are a big part of the community alternative.
Loan Closet
PACE members can use the equipment loan closet, it is a benefit of our $15 annual
membership. We take donations of equipment and loan it out to people with disabilities for a limited period of time. Walkers, bath benches, some used wheelchairs, canes and so on can be borrowed while the user acquires their own.
Braille Printing
PACE can do small local Braille printing jobs for items such as church bulletins, menus, workshop handouts.
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District Disability Verification
PACE will interview rider and document disability for the Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District. The rider will be able to take the document to the MTD for an I.D. for People with Disabilities that allow them to take advantage of some particular transportation benefits.
A member of INCIL
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