Disability Training Possibilities News and articles,
September 1999 To subscribe to the print version of Possibilities , mail Office of Community Education, Center for Disabilities and Development, 100 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City IA 52242-1011, fax 319-356-8284 or phone 319-353-6448. : Black Hawk Center for Independent Living and Adults Incorporated Conference and training highlights Back to School With the Disability Resource Library Mini-Grant highlight With a $1770 mini-grant from the Iowa Training Consortium , the Black Hawk Center for Independent Living and Adults Incorporated of Waterloo joined forces to assist more than fifteen individuals with disabilities to learn to identify areas of choice in their lives, and to advocate for themselves and others. Family members and support staff also participated in the training, which used the "It’s Your Choice" curriculum, modified by trainers Marilyn Turner and Sue Moore. One result of the training is a monthly peer support group organized by some of the participants. The group has begun working on issues of accessibility at a local mall. Even while the training was in progress, one member wrote to the Mayor of Waterloo to protest a fare increase for paratransit bus services. Another advocated for herself in a disagreement with her guardian. Many others are now speaking up and speaking out for themselves (and for others) in ways they never did before. The project is one of eight Training Consortium mini-grants funded by the Iowa Department of Human Services in 1999 to promote opportunities for meaningful choices and individualized supports for people who have disabilities. | |
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