DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER

SINCE 1977, DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER HAS BEEN A GRASSROOTS DISABILITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SERVING KING COUNTY. SINCE OUR FOUNDING AS THE WASHINGTON COALITION OF CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS TO REACH THEIR INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS AND EDUCATING AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER SERVES OVER 3,000 CONSUMERS PER YEAR AND IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN KING COUNTY THAT PROVIDES SERVICES SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A PERSON IDENTIFYING AS EXPERIENCING ANY DISABILITY. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS A PEER-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION, STAFF, BOARD AND LEADERSHIP LIVE THE VALUES OF INDEPENDENT LIVING AND SELF-DETERMINATION. THEY ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN LIVING WITH A DISABILITY AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. HAVING DIRECT SERVICE STAFF THAT REPRESENT OUR PARTICIPANT POPULATION IS A REQUIREMENT OF APEER SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT AND CONSUMER-LED ORGANIZATION. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF HAVE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN COMBINED YEARS' EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY SERVING CONSUMERS WITH DISABILITIES. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF PROVIDE BOTH A PEER CONNECTION TO CONSUMERS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS TO SUPPORT CONSUMERS WITH CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND RELEVANT SERVICES. PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS COME TO US FOR OUR EXPERTISE IN SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND WE GO TO THEM TO HELP US LEARN. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROVIDED OVER 900 HOURS OF CONSULTATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY ON DISABILITIES AT THE REQUEST OF BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LAST YEAR. THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER (CIL) PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON. INDEPENDENT LIVING HAS TO DO WITH SELF-DETERMINATION; IT IS HAVING THE RIGHT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE A FULL LIFE. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF PROVIDE FIVE CORE SERVICES TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN REACHING THEIR GOALS: - PEER SUPPORT: INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY PROVIDING 1:1 AND GROUP SERVICES TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. - INFORMATION & REFERRAL: PROVIDING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON DISABILITY TOPICS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES AND REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. - ADVOCACY: INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY: TEACHING AND MODELING SKILLS TO OBTAIN NECESSARY SUPPORT SERVICES FROM AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY; - SYSTEMATIC ADVOCACY: STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, CONSUMERS AND VOLUNTEERS INITIATING ACTIVITIES TO MAKE CHANGES IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND FEDERAL POLICY THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY. - INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING: PROVIDING 1:1 AND GROUP SERVICES ON SELF-IDENTIFIED AND/OR COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED SKILLS SUCH AS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, MANAGING A PERSONAL BUDGET OR OTHER TOPICS THAT ENABLE AN INDIVIDUAL TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY OR MANAGE LIFE WITH A DISABILITY. - TRANSITION SERVICES: ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO MOVE OUT OF NURSING HOMES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS INTO INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLES OF THEIR CHOICE; HELPING TO PREVENT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM ENTERING INSTITUTIONS; AND ASSISTING YOUTH IN TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO ADULT LIFE, INCLUDING THE NEXT STEPS FOR GOING TO COLLEGE OR OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS WHICH ELIMINATE BARRIERS DUE TO COST. TO ENSURE RELEVANT SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, WE COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING VETERANS, SENIORS, AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. WE PROVIDE SUBJECT EXPERTS IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES. AS A STATEWIDE LEADER IN DISABILITY EQUITY, ACCESS AND INCLUSION, AND DISABILITY INTERSECTIONALITY WITH OTHER MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES, DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER SERVES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION. LAST YEAR, DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROVIDED OVER 1600 HOURS OF CONSULTATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY ON DISABILITIES AT THE REQUEST OF BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS A TRUSTED, STABLE, AND RELIABLE EXPERT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING AS A LOCAL EXPERT ON DISABILITY EQUITY, ACCESS AND INCLUSION. THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF WORK WITHIN ADVOCACY NETWORKS TO EXPAND AWARENESS AND SYSTEMATIC PROGRESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING BIPOC CONSUMER NEEDS AND OUR MISSION WITHIN OUR COUNTY TO SUPPORT LGBTQIA COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR PRESENCE IN VIRTUAL ADVOCACY EVENTS CONFIRMS BOTH OUR WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE REMOTE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION AND RESOLVE TO STAFF THESE EVENTS WHILE DEVELOPING TECHNICAL PLATFORMS TO CONTINUE SERVING CUSTOMERS SINCE THE PANDEMIC. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER CONTINUED ITS WORK IN COMMUNITY AWARENESS WITH A FOCUS ON AN EMBEDDED AGENCY HOME CARE PROVIDER INVOLVED IN MONITORING CONSUMER SERVICE CONDITIONS. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF ADVOCATE FOR BROAD AWARENESS OF VISIBLE AND NON-VISIBLE DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION AND THE IMPACT OF ABLEISM.