Center for Independent Living of South Florida Is “On A Roll”
2002
by Steven Brown
The Center for Independent Living of South Florida (the Center), located
in Miami, Florida, is just nine years old-- relatively new for a city
of its size. The Center is physically located in one of the poorest neighborhoods
of Miami, an area that has been declared an Empowerment Zone by the federal
government. As a result of this label, federal, state and local governments
work together to stimulate economic growth and social development in these
distressed urban neighborhoods where most of the individuals who come
to the center live.
The Problem
Early on in the history of the CIL of South Florida, staff members encountered
consumers who were unable to read or write. They could not fill out an
employment application, read a map to find a workplace, or handle money,
were they to make any. Many of these same individuals were also labeled
developmentally disabled and had stayed in the school system through the
age of twenty-two (22). Once they left school they had nothing to do.
They often sat at home watching television, losing any skills they may
have acquired in high school. Many required supervision. This led to an
even more complex problem: a parent or other family member would be forced
to quit their jobs to care for these young adults. This perpetuated the
cycle of poverty these families faced.
The Center staff believed that many programs and laws intended to assist
people with disabilities were aimed at people who functioned at higher
intellectual levels than many individuals seeking Center services. The
CIL of South Florida responded to this situation with a program called
On A Roll.
The Plan
On a Roll’s goal is to increase the potential of individuals with
disabilities. It serves all of Miami-Dade County and is a cross-disability,
basic education and independent living skills training program. The Center
chose the name On a Roll for the program with the idea that, once given
an opportunity, participants would be “on a roll”--unstoppable.
Independent living skills taught through this program include self and
systems advocacy; grocery shopping; cooking; housekeeping; home safety
and appliance usage; transportation usage; money management and banking;
hygiene and grooming; managing a personal attendant; and leisure time
development.
On a Roll began as a collaboration between the CIL of South Florida,
the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Miami Springs Adult and Community
Education Center. The Miami Dade County Office of Human Services provided
original funding for the program. After On A Roll’s first year,
monies have been obtained from the State of Florida Department of Education
and the Miami-Dade County Office of Community and Economic Development
(CDBG) Community Development Block Grant.
On A Roll operates throughout the year. It is designed to be an open
entry, open exit program. Two part-time instructors staff the program.
Miami Springs Adult Center, a vocational and technical school, provides
two teachers to work at the Center. They are State of Florida certified
teachers who specialize in educating individuals with disabilities.
Participants are assigned to one of two classrooms. Classes meet each
weekday from 8:30 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon. On a typical
day, around 70 people attend training. Each individual learns at his or
her own pace, so some attend the program longer than others. On a Roll
may provide life-long learning for individuals who need it to retain skills
they might otherwise lose. Participants can also acquire new skills.
Classroom 1 is composed of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Classroom 2 is composed of individuals with severe disabilities of every
kind. Spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay,
mental illness, visual impairment, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS are examples
of the kinds of disabilities represented.
Participants generally are between the ages of 16 to 59, although older
individuals are not excluded. Anyone is eligible for the program, unless
someone’s behavior is so uncontrollable that it disrupts other participants.
These individuals are referred to specialized programs.
The curriculum includes basic reading, writing and math; G.E.D. preparation;
independent living skills; survival skills; and basic computer literacy.
Classroom 1 includes the addition of American Sign Language (ASL) skills
because the Center recognized that nearly every participant was deficient
not only in basic reading and math, but also in ASL skills, their primary
mode of communication.
Miami Springs Adult Center provides twenty (20) state-of-the-art computers
for participant use. The Center is in search of funding to acquire twenty
(20) more as soon as possible. The Center also plans to add appropriate
computer software for individuals who are blind. On a Roll has not been
able to afford to hire a personal attendant for the classroom so that
individuals who need assistance in the restroom can be included in training
classes.
A full-time advocate is assigned to participants in each classroom. The
advocate’s role is to ensure that every participant who wants an
independent living plan can develop one. The advocate and the participant
work together to resolve any issues that are going on in the participant’s
life. Examples of ongoing problems may include job readiness or employment,
Social Security, Food Stamps, housing, transportation, clothing, utilities,
adaptive equipment, wheelchair repairs or family difficulties. When services
are needed that the Center does not provide, advocates make referrals
to other organizations and then follow-up to make sure that the issue
is addressed.
Social and recreational field trips are conducted every other week. Participants
choose these activities by group consensus. Instructors advise participants
when interesting special events are being held in the community. The majority
of outings are held throughout the county at various malls, beaches, parks,
restaurants, bowling alleys, theatres, seaquarium and fishing holes. Participants
have enjoyed a day cruise on an accessible boat that included swimming,
snorkeling and picnicking on the Intracoastal Waterway. Family members
and volunteers often participate. Having fun is the most important goal.
Consumers have also participated in annual events like Sports Expositions.
At various times they have had the opportunity to attend hearings in county
and federal court when a disability issue is being argued by the Center’s
attorney. They have also attended public hearings in the community, outside
of the classroom, to provide feedback to city and county officials regarding
issues that are important to people with disabilities, such as where the
gaps in service are.
In addition to all the fun they have, there is an educational component
present in the planning and organizing of the field trip, in learning
how and what to spend their money on, in being aware of personal safety
and in learning how to make choices.
THE SUCCESS
The CIL of South Florida has found that a holistic approach to empowering
individuals with disabilities is the most effective way to ensure successful
individual outcomes. Individuals are always free to move on to other programs
and services. When they confront a new problem or issue, they can return
to the CIL for guidance and help in resolving the issue. This approach
has resulted in many consumers moving into independent housing, learning
to use the public transportation system and/or paratransit, and gaining
employment.
On a Roll expects to serve 100 individuals in 2002. Ninety-five percent
of the participants rated this program highly satisfactory in meeting
their needs. The overall program outcome for On A Roll participants is
to maximize their independence and self-sufficiency in the natural environment
and prevent or delay institutionalization as long as possible.
Contact Information
Ubaldo Alvarez
CIL of South Florida
6660 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33138
305.751.8025
alvarez@soflacil.org
http://www.soflacil.org
Steven Brown
Institute on Disability Culture
Center on Disability Studies
University of Hawai'i
1776 University Ave., UA4-6
Honolulu, HI 96822
SBrown8912@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/sbrown8912/
About the Author
Steven E. Brown is currently a Resident Scholar
at the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Brown,
founder, Institute on Disability Culture (IDC), earned a doctorate in
history from the University of Oklahoma. He directed an independent living
center in Oklahoma, organized numerous community coalitions, and served
as training director at the World Institute on Disability Research and
Training Center on Public Policy in Independent Living. He founded the
not-for-profit Institute on Disability Culture with his wife, Lillian
Gonzales Brown, in 1994. Since then he has become an internationally sought
speaker, trainer, and writer.
Brown's publications include dozens of articles and the books Independent
Living: Theory and Practice, which has been translated into several
languages; Investigating a Culture of Disability: Final
Report, the result of a prestigious Switzer Fellowship from the
National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research of the Department
of Education, the first funding of its type for research into the field
of Disability Culture; A Celebration of Diversity:
an Annotated Bibliography about Disability Culture, Second Edition;
and Celebrating Passion, Relentlessness, and Vision:
the Manifesto Editorials. An award-winning poet, Brown has published
five books of poetry, Dragonflies in Paradise: An Activist's
Partial Poetic Autobiography; The Goddess Approaches
Fifty: Poems; Love into Forever: a Tribute to
Martyrs, Heroes, Friends, and Colleagues; Pain,
Plain--and Fancy Rappings: Poetry from the Disability Culture;
and Voyages: Life Journeys.
In recent years, Brown has conducted writing workshops and residencies
with groups of all ages, especially with middle and elementary school
students. He has written a children's biography about disability rights
pioneer Ed Roberts, distributed a monthly online newsletter and continued
to publish articles about disability culture and disability rights in
a variety of publications. He has conducted trainings throughout the United
States and Europe on a variety of disability related subjects.
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