SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING

THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING (SAIL)PROVIDES CONSUMER DIRECTED INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES TO SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST ALASKA, ENABLING INCREASED OPTIONS FOR ACTIVE, INVOLVED, PRODUCTIVE AND INTEGRATED COMMUNITY LIVING. SAIL PROVIDES FIVE CORE SERVICES; 1) ADVOCACY, 2) INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, 3) PEER SUPPORT, 4) INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, AND 5) TRANSITION SERVICES. SAIL IS SIGNIFICANTLY FUNDED BY FEDERAL AND STATE OF ALASKA GRANTS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING. CORE INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES SAIL'S SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL IS CENTERED ON THE FIVE CORE SERVICES REQUIRED OF ALL INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS NATIONWIDE. WHILE SERVICE DELIVERY METHODS VARY BY COMMUNITY NEED, ALL SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, INCLUSION, AND SELF-DETERMINATION. 1.ADVOCACY SAIL ENGAGES IN INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMS-LEVEL ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE ACCESS, INCLUSION, AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. STAFF MAINTAIN CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. SAIL STAFF AND CONSUMERS PARTICIPATE IN COMMITTEES,COALITIONS, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES ADDRESSING DISABILITY-RELATED ISSUES. INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY PLANNING IS PROVIDED ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS. SAIL ALSO DELIVERS TRAINING AND PRESENTATIONS TO SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON DISABILITY AWARENESS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INCLUSION, AND ADA/UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES. 2.TRANSITION SERVICES SAIL SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING FROM NURSING HOMES OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES INTO LESS RESTRICTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS, AS WELL AS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL INTO ADULT LIFE. SERVICES ARE INDIVIDUALIZED AND FOCUS ON INCREASING INDEPENDENCE, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICE. 3.INFORMATION AND REFERRAL ALL SAIL OFFICES FUNCTION AS COMMUNITY-BASED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CENTERS. STAFF MAINTAIN KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PROVIDE UNBIASED REFERRALS TO APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. 4.INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL) SKILLS TRAINING IS PROVIDED IN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP SETTINGS AND MAY INCLUDE BUDGETING, HOME MANAGEMENT, COOKING, CLEANING, SOCIALIZATION, AND OTHER SKILLS NECESSARY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. TRAINING IS INDIVIDUALIZED AND OFTEN DELIVERED THROUGH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, WHEN AVAILABLE. 5.PEER SUPPORT PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS WHO SHARE SIMILAR LIVED EXPERIENCES. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE CHALLENGES, STRATEGIES, AND SUCCESSES TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, SKILLS, AND MUTUAL SUPPORT. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER (ADRC) THE ADRC SERVES AS A CENTRALIZED ACCESS POINT FOR SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND CAREGIVERS SEEKING INFORMATION ON LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. AS AN ADRC, SAIL ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN IDENTIFYING OPTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SETTING OF THEIR CHOICE. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESOURCE CONNECTION (DDRC) THE DDRC ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND STATE-FUNDED SERVICES THROUGH THE ALASKA INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM. SERVICES INCLUDE OPTIONS COUNSELING; INFORMATION AND REFERRAL; ASSISTANCE COMPLETING ELIGIBILITY AND WAIVER APPLICATIONS; SUPPORT WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS; SHORT-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT; AND ADVOCACY. TRAUMATIC AND ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY (TABI) TABI SERVICES PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING TRAUMATIC OR ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURIES. STAFF ASSIST PARTICIPANTS IN ACCESSING MEDICAL, TRANSPORTATION, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS NECESSARY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. SAIL ALSO ADMINISTERS TABI MINI-GRANTS TO ADDRESS FUNDING GAPS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR OTHER RESOURCES. GRANTS SUPPORT PURCHASES OF GOODS OR SERVICES THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND SAFETY. FUNDING IS CAPPED AT 2,500 PER INDIVIDUAL PER YEAR, WITH A LIFETIME MAXIMUM OF 5,000 OVER FIVE YEARS. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SAIL PARTNERS WITH THE STATE OF ALASKA DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (DVR) TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT-RELATED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES SEEKING TO ENTER OR REENTER THE WORKFORCE OR DEVELOP EMPLOYMENT SKILLS. SERVICES INCLUDE JOB SEARCH AND PLACEMENT, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, SHORT-TERM WORK EXPERIENCES, WORKFORCE TRANSITION TRAINING, SELF-EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS PLANNING, AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES FOR YOUTH AGES 12-22. STAFF COLLABORATE WITH EMPLOYERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND DVR TO SUPPORT COMPETITIVE, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES. SAIL'S EMPLOYMENT AND ADAPTIVE RECREATION SERVICES (ORCA) OFTEN WORK IN CONCERT, AN INNOVATIVE BEST PRACTICE. DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LOAN CLOSETS EACH SAIL OFFICE MAINTAINS A LOAN CLOSET OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (DME) AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, SHOWER BENCHES, BEDSIDE COMMODES, LOW-VISION AIDS, AND SOUND AMPLIFICATION DEVICES. EQUIPMENT IS LOANED FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS TO SUPPORT SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE. VOICE (VETERAN OPTIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE, CHOICE, AND EMPOWERMENT) VOICE IS A VETERAN-DIRECTED HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES PROGRAM OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALASKA VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ELIGIBLE VETERANS WITH A MONTHLY BUDGET TO PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES OR HIRE WORKERS TO MEET THEIR CARE NEEDS WHILE REMAINING IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. VETERANS MAINTAIN EMPLOYER AUTHORITY OVER HIRED WORKERS. SAIL INDEPENDENT LIVING ADVOCATES ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH BUDGETING, SERVICE PLANNING, AND PROGRAM NAVIGATION, WHILE A PARTNER PAYROLL AGENCY SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT-RELATED PROCESSES. ORCA (OUTDOOR RECREATION AND COMMUNITY ACCESS) ORCA PROVIDES INCLUSIVE AND ADAPTIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HIKING, BIKING, KAYAKING, FISHING, CAMPING, SKIING, AND OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. ORCA ALSO OFFERS INCLUSIVE YOUTH DAY CAMPS, OVERNIGHT TRIPS, AND ADAPTIVE SKI AND SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTION AT EAGLECREST SKI AREA. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INCLUSION, CONFIDENCE, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THROUGH RECREATION. SAIL'S ORCA AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFTEN WORK IN CONCERT, AN INNOVATIVE BEST PRACTICE.