About Access living
Access Living: A Center of Service, Advocacy, and Social Change for People with Disabilities
Access Living is a non-profit organization that provides services and advocacy for people with disabilities. The organization was founded in 1980 by a group of people with disabilities who wanted to create an independent living center that would be run by people with disabilities. Today, Access Living is one of the leading disability rights organizations in the United States.
The mission of Access Living is to promote the independence and full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. The organization provides a wide range of services to help people with disabilities live independently, including housing assistance, personal care assistance, transportation assistance, and employment services.
One of the unique features of Access Living is that it is led and run by people with disabilities. This means that the organization has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and can provide more effective advocacy on their behalf.
Access Living also works to promote social change through advocacy efforts at both the local and national levels. The organization advocates for policies that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equal rights for people with disabilities.
Services Offered by Access Living
Access Living offers a wide range of services to help individuals with all kinds of disabilities live independently. Some examples include:
1) Housing Assistance: Access Living provides assistance finding accessible housing options as well as financial support for rent or mortgage payments.
2) Personal Care Assistance: The organization offers personal care attendants who can assist individuals in daily activities such as bathing or dressing.
3) Transportation Assistance: Access Living helps individuals find accessible transportation options such as paratransit or wheelchair-accessible taxis.
4) Employment Services: The organization offers job training programs as well as job placement assistance for individuals looking to enter or re-enter the workforce.
5) Youth Programs: Access living has programs designed specifically for young adults transitioning from high school into adulthood which includes mentoring opportunities alongwith skill development workshops
Advocacy Efforts
In addition to providing direct services to individuals with disabilities, Access living also engages in advocacy efforts aimed at promoting social change at both local & national level . Some examples include:
1) Accessibility Advocacy : They work towards making public spaces more accessible like buildings , parks etc so everyone can enjoy them without any barriers .
2) Inclusion Advocacy : They advocate against discrimination based on disability status & work towards creating inclusive environments where everyone feels welcome .
3) Policy Advocacy : They advocate policies which are beneficial towards disabled community like healthcare , education etc .
4 ) Community Engagement : They engage communities through various events & campaigns aimed at raising awareness about disability issues & promoting inclusion
Conclusion
In conclusion , access living serves an important role within disabled community . It's unique approach being led & run entirely by disabled persons gives it an edge over other organizations working within this space . Their focus on providing direct service alongwith advocating policy changes makes them stand out among others . If you're looking for support around independent living , employment opportunities or just want get involved within your community then access living should definitely be on your radar!