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Independent Living

Resources

Waiver Services

Elderly and/or disabled individuals may be eligible for home and community-based services through waiver programs that help them avoid institutional care while protecting their health, safety, and dignity. These programs allow participants to receive full Medicaid coverage along with additional community-based services. Disabled individuals may need to apply for SSI or disability benefits through the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility, and all applicants must meet the specific requirements of each waiver program. More information can be found at the links below.
Summary of Waiver Services Link
SSA Waiver Services Information Page Link

Accessible Housing Tips

Doorways
- Are ALL doorways accessible for your specific wheelchair? "Standard" width may be accessible, but may not be what works best for you.
- Can ALL thresholds be easily crossed? Specifically at night in the dark or when carrying something.
- 3 ft doorways are more ideal
- Pocket doors or barn doors can be used in areas where space is tight.
Closets
- Can you reach the entire closet from the doorway or is it wide enough to go inside to access?
- Turn Radiuses
- Are you able to turn completely in hallways, bathrooms, laundry rooms, all parts of the kitchen, etc.? Think about having to turn while carrying a laundry basket or taking something out of the oven to place on the counter.
Kitchen
- Most kitchens have the stove top over the oven. Are you able to easily and safely utilize the stove top at that height without being able to roll under? You may want to consider a wall oven with a separate stove top with a cutout beneath and/or at a lower height.
- Is there enough cabinet storage at a height you can reach? Is there a pantry that can be used for storage as well.
- Is there a food prep spot that is at an accessible height? This can be an island, counter, or table.
Bathrooms
- Are the toilet and shower positioned in the most accessible spot for your transfer method?
- Is the shower large enough to safely place a shower chair if needed?
- Are there hand rails if needed?
- Handheld shower heads can be handy.
Bedrooms
- Are bedrooms large enough to access all sides of the bed?
- Layout
- Open concept floor plans are most likely more accessible.
- Make sure there is still enough space when furniture is added.
Entryways
- There may no stairs to access the front or back doors, but are you able to independently push up or down with the slope utilized? Are you able to carry things inside easily?
- Rubber wedge ramps can be used for smaller bumps up to patios or doorways.
- If there are platforms to enter/exit the house, are you able to easily turn and/or close the door with the given space?

Ability Alliance of West Alabama

Ability Alliance's mission is to positively affect the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities by helping to ensure that the appropriate and quality services are available and accessible throughout their lifespan.
Provides support coordination for those with intellectual disabilities in Tuscaloosa, Bibb, and Pickens county
- Single point of entry into the Alabama Department of Mental Health's Division of Intellectual Disabilities
- Assessment and evaluation for eligibility determination and placement on the State's Waiting List for services from the Intellectual Disabilities Division and Medicaid Home and Community based services
- Case management and follow along services
Referral Process
- Call 1-800-361-4491
Eligibility
- Over the age of 21
- Diagnosed with an intellectual disability and an IQ of 74
- Documentation needed:
  - Psychological evaluation from before and after the age of 18
Website: https://www.abilityalliance.info/
Phone: 205-333-1577

Alabama ABLE Savings Plan

ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts are an innovative way for people with disabilities to save up to $100,000 without jeopardizing means-tested benefits, such as SSI or Medicaid.
Eligibility
- Any individual who has the onset of disability before the age of 26 and meets one of the following:
- Eligible to receive benefits based on disability (SSI or SSDI)
- Has a disability certification signed by a physician declaring individual meets social security definition of disability
Expenses that can be paid using ABLE account funds
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Education
- Employment training and support
- Transportation
- Assistive technology
- Financial management
- Legal fees
- Expenses for oversight and monitoring
- Funeral and burial expenses
Website: www.alabamaable.gov
Phone: 833-711-2253

Indian Rivers Behavioral Health Day Habilitation Program

Assists individuals develop new interests and skills through daily living activities to support independent living
Contact 205-391-3131

United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama

The Personal Care Companion (PC/C) Service
- Supports Provided:
  - Bathing
  - Toileting
  - Transfer and ambulation
  - Skin care
  - Grooming
  - Dressing
  - Extensions of therapies and exercise
  - Routine care of adaptive equipment
  - Primarily involving cleaning as needed
  - Meal preparations
  - Assistance with eating
  - Incidental light household cleaning and laundry directly related to the care of the participant
Home Respite Care Services
- In-Home Respite
- Contact: Adrienne Bennet
  - 205-345-5083
- Offers essential support within the comfort of an individual's residence
- Provides temporary relief to unpaid primary caregivers
- Caters to the short-term care needs of dependent family members

State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL)

Referral
- Email: Marquita.sanders@rehab.alabama.gov
- Phone: 844-602-7245

SAIL PROGRAMS
- COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES
- Eligibility
  - Serves Alabama residents who have a severe disability that limits the individual's ability to maintain independence, and there is evidence that the receipt of services will improve the individual's ability to retain independence
- Services
  - Coordination of services
  - Assessment for assistive technology
  - Minor assistive technology
  - Minor home modifications or adaptions
  - Information and referrals
  - Services to family members when it enhances independence of client
- Could be a newly injured individual needing to be pointed in the right direction
- Individual doesn't fit into any other category of services
- Short term services to enable independence
- Bridge to other long term services

HOMEBOUND
- Eligibility
  - Serves Alabama residents who are at least 16 years old, have a medical diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and/or quadriplegia (or other diagnosis on a case by case basis), are dependent on others for assistance with 6 out of 8 activities of daily living, demonstrate financial need, and are not eligible to receive the same services from other sources.
- Services
  - Patient and family education
  - Guidance and counseling
  - Nursing management
  - Evaluation for assistive technology
  - Attendant care
  - Assistance with disability related medical supplies/medications
  - Limited home modifications
  - Prescribed medical equipment
  - Assistive technology repairs
  - Referral to other services

WAIVER
- Eligibility
  - Serves Alabama residents who are 18 years old or older with onset of disability prior to age 63, meets nursing facility level of care criteria, and meets Medicaid financial eligibility.
  - Diagnoses: quadriplegia, traumatic brain injury, ALS, MS, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, severe cerebral palsy, stroke, etc.
- Services
  - Personal care
  - Evaluation for assistive technology
  - Environmental accessibility adaptations
  - Medical supplies/minor assistive technology
  - Personal emergency response system installation and monthly payments
  - Assistive technology
  - Assistive technology repairs
  - Personal assistant services: personal care at work and transportation to and from work

HYBRID SERVICES
- Blends services from ADRS vocational rehabilitation program and the Homebound/Waiver program to work toward a good employment outcome and the empowerment of clients.
- To provide specialized employment and education related services and training to individuals who have the most severe disabilities and require substantial resources, substantial supports, and specialized services in order to gain and maintain competitive employment
- Services
  - Case management
  - Evaluation and counseling
  - Vocational assessment
  - Educational supports
  - Job training
  - Job placement
  - Evaluation for assistive technology
  - Medical supplies/minor assistive technology
  - Assistive technology repairs
  - Environmental accessibility adaptions
  - Personal emergency response system installation and monthly payments
  - Personal care
  - Personal assistant services

The Arc of Tuscaloosa

McGraw Center
- Offers day services through community-based education, prevocational and adaptive daily living skills training, and support
- Instruction is administered in academics, prevocational skills, communication, and personal care/hygiene
Personal Care
- In-home Services
  - Bathing
  - Toileting
  - Grooming
  - Dressing
  - Exercise
  - Meal preparation
  - Assistance with eating
  - Incidental cleaning and laundry

Community Services
- Accompaniment
- Coaching
- Minor problem solving
  - Transportation
  - Shopping
  - Banking
  - Social interaction
  - Recreation
  - Leisure activities
In-Home Respite Care
- Provides temporary relief to the unpaid primary caregiver
- Website: https://www.thearcoftuscaloosa.org/
- Phone: 205-556-4900

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