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1107
Payne Avenue
Erie, PA 16503
Voice
TTY: 814-874-0064
Fax: 814-874-3497
Toll Free: 1-866-407-0064
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Skills
Training
Skills Training is a unique service that is provided to persons with disabilities
by others with disabilities and can be defined as becoming skilled to
live an independent life. For example, if you need to learn how to grocery
shop from a wheelchair, someone who has already developed that skill will
work with you to demonstrate the easiest ways to accomplish the task.
Skills are mastered in both individual and group settings. VFI offers
a variety of classes ranging from topics such as attendant management,
to money management. New classes can be created as necessary.
Peer
Support
Peer support allows a person with a disability to meet someone in a similar
situation who has learned strategies
to live life. Peer support is accomp-lished in both individual and group
settings. The purpose of these group settings or “rap sessions”
is for people to share thoughts and ideas for becoming more independent.
One example of peer support, on an individual level, would be a person
with a disability, considering moving into his or her own apartment, meeting
someone who has already been living on their own and having them share
their experiences.
Advocacy
Advocacy is action that produces change.Voices for Independence speaks
out for the equality and civil rights of people with disabilities. VFI
works to teach people with disabilities how to become their own voice
using either individual or group advocacy techniques.
De-Institutionalization
De-Institutionalization is a priority for VFI. We work with individuals
who are in group homes, nursing homes, and other institutions who want
to relocate into the community setting of their choice. VFI staff will
assist someone who is relocating from an institution to find accessible
housing, transportation, personal assistance services, and other community
resources. We work with individuals to help them discover the opportunities
that are available to them
in their community.
Information
& Referral
Voices for Independence provides Information and Referral Service to both
individuals with disabilities and the community at large. This service
links people to information that is specific to a disability, and can
also provide people with infor-mation to facilitate a referral to another
agency. Common information and referral calls deal with issues such as
equip-ment needs, aging services, employment questions and
other information.
For
more information, send e-mail to vfi@voicesforindependence.org
or write to:
Voices for Independence
1107 Payne Avenue Erie, PA 16503