Know how you can help people with disabilities. There are several employment options available for people with disabilities. It has been observed that disabled people have the ability to channelize their skills into a particular area they are passionate about and work very diligently towards it. For more details, visit: www.sunshine.org

1. PEOPLE
WITH
DISABILITIES
Ways You Can Help
Developmental Disability Services
and Support Maumee, Ohio

2. Supported Living Services (SLS) consist of a wide scope of services for
adults with developmental disabilities who, through the Individual Program
Plan (IPP) process, choose to live alone or live with, or close to other people
like themselves; in homes they themselves own or lease in the community.
These programs cater to individual need and include access to support 24
hours a day if the need arises.
Finding a home isn’t easy;
imagine finding a place to live
if one has a disability!
www.sunshine.org

3. SUPPORTED LIVING
SERVICES:
• Where one shares a house or lives in a small
block of flats with other people and have
support from a care giver to meet their needs;
which could be for up to 24 hours a day. In
this program, the support one gets is
provided on-site with the accommodation,
this is called accommodation-based support.
Decent, affordable and accessible housing for people
with disabilities. There are two main forms of
Supported Living Services:

4. SUPPORTED LIVING
SERVICES:
• Where one lives in his own property,
or has a flat within a group of similar
properties. The individual receives
daily or weekly support to meet his
needs, which could be for a few hours
from a care giver. This program is called
floating, or outreach support.

5. HOW TO GET SUPPORTED
LIVING?
To set up or move into a supported living service one will need
support from someone such as a social worker or care manager.
They will clarify whether he is eligible for support services and
whether supported living would suit his needs. They will help the
support provider work out the best way to get the most appropriate
accommodation and support that meets his needs.

6. Living with a disability should not prevent someone
from leading an active and enjoyable life; in addition to
being supported to get out and about in their local
community. Understanding the individual, their
interests, background and personal history has been
crucial for setting up disability support services. These
help in achieving choice and control over disabled
person’s basic needs such as being able to access public
transport, maintain their social and cultural life as well
as to carry on with daily living tasks like shopping and
cleaning.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

7. One such developmental disability is
Autism Spectrum disorder; which is a
condition related to brain development
that impacts how a person perceives and
socializes with others; causing problems
in social interaction and communication
including limited and repetitive patterns
of behaviour. The supported living
services not only provide adults with
such developmental disabilities with
homes of their own and support them to
live independently, they also make sure
that they are provided with support and
care, skills for life and jobs and
connections with their community.

8. Some have been in hospitals for
years but now are enjoying their
own place in the community.
Health disparities among adults
with developmental disabilities
are also on the rise. Ventilator
Support Service provides
accommodation and high-level
24-hour support for people who
are chronically dependent on
mechanical ventilation.

9. JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES
The Disability Discrimination Act makes it
unlawful to discriminate against disabled people in
employment, including recruitment, fine prints of
employment, and unlawful termination. In many
developing countries, it is upon the government to
lead by example in including people with
disabilities in the nation’s workforce. They have
programs like Disability Employment Services
which provides:

10. • Job search support, such as resume development,
training in interview skills, and help in looking for
suitable jobs.
• Vocational training and other employment-
related assistance.
• Support when initially placed into a job, including
on the job training; and co- worker and employer
support.
• Access to help with workplace modifications,
support services, and interpreting in the workplace.

11. It has been observed that disabled people have the
ability to channelize their skills into a particular
area they are passionate about and work very
diligently towards it. Predominantly they are
highly motivated and excel in their work.
www.sunshine.org