Center For Living & Working Inc

Independent living ("il"):clw assists individuals with disabilities learn to live more independently. Independent living specialists/skills trainers provide one-to-one services and workshops to individuals throughout central massachusetts. These services include: information and referral, independent living skills training, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, and nursing facility transition services. Skill training services include: consumer/legal rights, education/training, finances/benefits, health care/nutrition, housing, self-care/daily living, personal/self-help and social/recreation. An additional service for individuals who are enrolled with massability vocational rehabilitation ("vr"), is the il program. Through individualized contracts with massability vr, clw provides vocational support and wrap around services for the individual preparing for employment.

Deaf and hard of hearing independent living services ("dhils"):clw's deaf and hard of hearing independent living services provides a variety of services to deaf and hard of hearing consumers. Clw accepts referrals from other agencies or individuals may self-refer by visiting or calling the office. Services provided are in the following areas of independent living services: skills training, peer mentoring program, problem solving assistance, crisis intervention, advocacy program, information and referral, outreach and community education, education/social events, volunteer/internship program and assistive device training/loaner program.

Transitions to adulthood program ("tap"):clw's tap provides independent living services to individuals with disabilities, aged 14 through 21, in preparation for their transition from an educational setting to living independently in the community. Tap skills trainers provides guidance to individuals and their support system (family, school representatives, massability counselors, etc.) with the individual education plan ("iep") and individual transition plan ("itp") process. To align with the goals of the work, innovation, and opportunity act ("wioa") and the federal funding component of the tap contract, innovative services strengthen the successful outcomes of transition age youth. One care long-term supports and services ("ltss"): through the one care program, clw provides long-term services and supports coordination to individuals who are enrolled in both masshealth and medicare and have opted to participate in a self-directed health care model through tufts, commonwealth care alliance or united healthcare. Acquired brain injury and moving forward plan - transitional assistance services: clw assists individuals of all ages, living in an institutional setting (nursing facility, hospital, or intermediate care facilities) return to living independently in their community with the necessary added supports. Clw's transition coordinators assists individuals with the transition to home process. This may include: securing housing, purchasing clothes, furniture and bedding, setting up transportation, etc. Aging and disability resource consortium ("adrc"): clw is a member of a statewide initiative dedicated to providing individuals with information, services, supports and choices to make informed decisions as to where they want to live and receive services. Options counselors take the time to assist the individual in understanding the array of long-term care services and resource options through telephonic or face to face interactions in the community, at clw, or facility setting. Specialized americans with disability act ("ada") consulting services: clw provides assessments and recommendations to ensure compliance with ada laws. Clw's ada access and advocacy coordinator assists individuals and private and non-profit organizations understand ada access requirements and provides recommendations to help bring area businesses, schools, cities and towns, recreational facilities, housing authorities, human service providers and others into compliance. Pre-employment training ("pre-ets"): clw's pre-ets program provides students with disabilities, aged 14 to 21, with pre-employment transition services that assist the student gain the skills sets and awareness to be prepared for the world of work. Pre-ets services are available to all students with disabilities in assigned schools. The five pre-ets target areas are: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling post-secondary education, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy.specialized technical equipment program ("step"): clw assists those with disabilities to live independently in their daily lives with our specialized technical equipment program. People with disabilities often have special needs that require specialized technical equipment, whether due to mobility impairment, hearing, speech or visions difficulties, or cognitive challenges. Clw's step assists people in obtaining this specialized equipment at a fraction of the average costs and it supports and strengthens one's independence. As part of the process, clw helps determine which device is most effective for each individual. Equipment sales are reported net of the direct costs on the consolidated statements of activities.