Table of Contents
Q: What exactly is CID or Center for Independence of the Disabled?
A: CID is an Independent Living Center, one of 26 throughout the state. We serve the disabled population of San Mateo County. We are a small, private, nonprofit agency, and receive some of our funding through grants and donations. There are other ILCs covering various areas of the state. We can provide the phone numbers and addresses of the other centers if you ask for them. We are not a residential center. We do not handle emergency situations. We help the individual to solve their own problem, leading to their independence.
Q: What exactly is an Independent Living Center, and what do you do?
A: ILCs are nonprofit agencies run by and for the disabled in order to help individuals be more independent, so they can have more control over their own lives. ILCs work with the community to encourage and educate those with all types of disabilities to advocate for themselves. Instead of doing something for an individual, we encourage them to do it for themselves. For instance, we can provide phone numbers of other agencies, but we do not place the call. It is up to the individuals to make the call for themselves. This not only promotes independence and gives the individual more control over their own life, but the information won't have to be relayed each way through a third party.
In other words, we are not here to solve problems for you, but to give you the tools or information to work with to find the solution yourself. That promotes independence rather than dependence.
Q: What services do you provide? What can you do to help me?
A: Our services include Housing Accessibility Modification or HAM (installing grab bars, rails, ramps, hand-held showers, etc. for low-income San Mateo County residents), and Independent Living Skills (an Occupational Therapist will do an evaluation in the home to see what modifications or adaptive equipment might be needed, and can measure for the grab bars as well).
We also provide Peer Counseling (individual and group) by licensed, trained persons with disabilities, and Financial Benefits Counseling (regarding applications or appeals for SSI, SSDI, or MediCal). Two programs utilize volunteers from the community:
Volunteers In Money Management (VIMM) matches consumers with people who have been trained to do basic bookkeeping and money management, to meet the consumer in their own home.
Shopping Assistance for Someone at Home (SASH) provides a grocery-shopping service for those who are unable to leave the house or shop for themselves, when a volunteer is available. The individual must be able to prepare food for themselves and put the groceries away, as well as reimburse the volunteer for the cost of the groceries.
The Personal Assistance Program (PAP) provides the consumer with a list of qualified personal care attendants to help with personal care such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and other assistance as needed. The attendants usually charge between $10-$12 per hour, minimum, depending on the level of care needed and the level of skill of the provider. Some will work as live-ins; others will work part-time.
The Client Assistance Program (CAP) provides advocacy for clients and applicants of the Department of Rehabilitation who are having difficulty getting their needs met. We also have an Information and Referral Specialist to help answer questions about resources for persons with disabilities.
The Assistive Technology Program (AT Program) is a relatively new program that is designed to educate and train the public concerning technology that can assist people with disabilities. We maintain an information database of community resources and have links to the California statewide AT Network in Sacramento.
AT Background: On November 13, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394). This new law builds on its predecessor, the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act), and affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities. It also affirms the federal role of promoting access to assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities. The program is designed to provide outreach support to statewide community-based organizations that provide assistive technology devices and services to individuals with disabilities or that assist individuals in using assistive technology, including focusing on individuals from underrepresented and rural populations.
Please bear in mind that each individual has different needs, and while we can't help everyone meet all their needs, we try to help as many people as we can, within our resources. Our goal is to assist others in becoming independent, so they can do as much for themselves as possible, gain more control over their lives, and hopefully remain at home rather than have to live in an institution. We try not to duplicate services offered elsewhere in the community. For instance, we do not provide job training or placement. Those issues are handled by the Department of Rehabilitation or Project H.I.R.E.D., among others. We offer services that aren't available elsewhere, like the Housing Accessibility Modification Program.
Q: I need a place to live, right away! Can you provide a place to live at your Center?
A: No, we are not a residential center. Independent Living Centers provide services either on the premises here (such as counseling or support groups) or at consumer's homes, such as VIMM, SASH, and HAM, but cannot provide a place to live. We are not able to help you find a place to live, and we do not have the means of keeping track of what is and isn't available. Please contact the Housing Authority of San Mateo County at 650-802-5050.
Q: So if there's no place I can live at your Center, can you help me get Section 8 housing?
A: At this time the Housing Authority of San Mateo County is not accepting Section 8 applications, because the waiting list is so long already. It will be several years before the people currently on the waiting list will be able to receive housing. If you wish to contact the Housing Authority, the number is 650-802-5050. If you have a Section 8 certificate from another county, you need to contact your local housing authority about getting a transfer. You can get a list of Section 8 housing from the Housing Authority IF you go to their office and show them proof that you've received a Section 8 certificate within the last 90 days.
Q: What about any other type of low-income, accessible housing? Surely
there must be something out there? Doesn't anyone have a list of such
places?
A: The Housing Authority of San Mateo County maintains
a list of apartment complexes that offer HUD
housing, if you meet the income requirements. Their number is 650-802-5050.
If you are experiencing discrimination, you can contact Fair Housing
at 650-468-7464. This is part of Project Sentinel, a fair housing program
that provides enforcement, education, counseling and rental dispute
mediation services. We recommend that you look in the local newspapers,
or the free newspapers regarding housing that are available at most
of the local supermarkets. You might also contact realtors, or consider
shared housing with someone looking for a roommate.
For shared housing, contact the Human Investment Project
at 368-6660. The Human Investment Project (H.I.P.)
conducts home visits for clients who want to apply to the Home
Sharing Program and/or the Reverse Mortgage counseling program.
HIP Housing: 650-348-6660.
Please keep in mind that the Bay Area is one of the most expensive areas to live in the entire country, and it's very difficult to find housing here on a fixed income. It may not seem fair, but there just isn't enough low-income housing available for everyone who needs it. Right now there is a 1% to 2% vacancy rate in San Mateo County for any type of housing, including low-income or accessible housing. There are thousands of people in this county who are disabled, and many are on a fixed income and cannot afford to pay the standard rent in this area. It isn't always possible to move out of the area, but there are parts of California that have a much lower cost of living and more available housing, where a fixed income can go much further than anywhere in the Bay Area. There doesn't appear to be an immediate solution to this problem, but the Housing Authority is the best agency to deal with for any housing issues.
Q: What about transportation? I need someone to drive me to
the doctor's or take me shopping.
A: We don't provide transportation here, but there
is a service called Redi-Wheels
(through SamTrans, the local bus system) available for those who qualify.
All Sam Trans buses are accessible, and many persons with disabilities
are able to use the regular fixed-route bus service. An application
can be obtained by calling 1-800-660-4287. Another option is West
Bay Home Health Services Escort/Transport Service. This is
door-to-door transportation to doctor's appointments, shopping, or any
other requested destination. The Escort service is suggested for clients
who need more personal assistance and attention. The fee is $14 each
way plus 30 cents per mile. Please call 650-991-6680 for an appointment
or more information.
If you need volunteers to take you to various errands,
F.I.S.H. is an organization that provides transportation
in several areas. For Burlingame, Hillsborough and Millbrae and San
Mateo, call 570-6002. There's also the Volunteer Center of San Mateo
County - they sometimes have volunteer drivers. Their number is 342-0801.
In Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood City, call 593-1288.
For emergencies, Medi-Vans offers commercial transportation. They're located in San Francisco, but can travel to San Mateo County. Their number is (415) 468-4300.
The only inter-county transportation available to the best of our knowledge is through Vantastic. You can reach them at (510) 843-7882.
Call the above resources for more details, to find out whether they will meet your needs.
Q: Where can I find out more about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Is there a brochure or a short handout that will answer my questions?
A: To find out about the ADA, there are several toll-free numbers you can call. The U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division ADA Information Line is 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD). You can also get information from Disability Rights, Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) by calling 1-800-466-4232 (voice or TTY). Or you can call Pacific DBTAC at 1-510-848-2980 (voice) or 1-510-848-1840 (TDD). You can obtain a brochure from Pacific DBTAC that will answer some questions and give you more resources. The address is: Pacific DBTAC, 2168 Shattuck Ave., Ste. 301, Berkeley, CA 94704-1307. For work-related ADA issues, call 1-800-ADA-WORK. The Act itself is several hundred pages long, so it is not available to give out. For information on how to purchase parts of the ADA call the number above for the Dept. of Justice Information Line.
Additional Transportation Resources:
Q: What if I've got an emergency and need help immediately? Can I contact CID for emergency situations, financial or otherwise?
A: CID is not set up to handle emergencies, and we do not have an emergency loan program. In case of emergency where immediate physical help is required, or if you feel your life is threatened or in danger, call 911. There are crisis hotlines at the following numbers: Suicide Prevention -- North County 650-692-6655, South County 650-368-6655. The number for the Crisis Center is 650-692-6655. We do not have social workers or case managers here at our agency. We are not a drop-in agency. It's best to call and schedule an appointment with someone, to make sure they will be available and can set aside time from their other work or appointments. There are social workers available at the TIES line (Teamwork Insuring Elder Support), and they can answer many questions you may have about services available in the community. Their number is 1-800-675-8437.
Q: I feel I'm being discriminated against because of my disability. Can CID help me?
A: Depending on the circumstances, we have staff that may be able to advocate on your behalf. We also provide advocacy or referrals to agencies that handle specific types of discrimination. For discrimination in housing questions, contact Operation Sentinelat (408) 720-9888. Also, the County Mediation Program Division of Housing can be contacted at 650-802-5034. There's also the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, at 650-373-3490.
Q: Can you train me to get a job, or help me find one?
A: No, but the appropriate place to call for that would
be the State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
You can reach them at 650-358-4180.
You can also call Project H.I.R.E.D. at 650-852-0880,
or a County One Stop Employment Center at Peninsula
Works: www.peninsulaworks.org
PeninsulaWorks Locations
Daly City
271 92nd Street
Daly City, CA 94015
Monday, Wednesday,Thursday, Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Phone: 650-301-8440
Fax: 650-301-8455
San Carlos
550 Quarry Road
San Carlos, CA 94070
Monday through Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Phone: 650-596-1035
Fax: 650-596-2864
Redwood City
2500 Middlefield Road
Redwood City, CA 94063
Monday through Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Phone: 650-367-0190
Fax: 650-367-0192
Menlo Park at OICW
1200 O'Brien Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Monday through Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Phone: 650-330-6490
Fax: 650-330-6404
We also have a one-page list of several other places you can call for
job training, job-seeking skills or job placement. If you have questions
regarding ADA employment issues, call 1-800-ADA-WORK.
Q: I'd like to find someone who can visit with me (or a family
member) for a little while, for some company and a friendly voice. Where
can I find this service?
A: There's Friendly Visiting Service
at 650-342-3882 or 650-326-2025. A service is available from the Family
Service Agency called Carrier Alert, which is provided
to older adults with disabilities and females who are head of a household.
The mail carrier will check to see if mail has been collected recently,
and if not, can inform someone that there might be a problem. For more
information, call 650-692-7861.
Q: I need a lawyer to help me with legal issues. Does CID have a lawyer on staff, or a list of referrals?
A: We have no lawyers on staff. The number for the Legal Aid Society is 650-365-8411. They may be able to help, but they might not cover every legal issue someone has a question about. We do have a list of attorneys who work specifically with SSI and SSDI appeals, and we can send that list on request. There is also the Lawyer Referral Service at 650-369-4149.
You might also be able to resolve things without taking legal action. The Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center helps resolve a variety of disputes, including those between neighbors, landlord/tenant, and others. Their number is 650-373-3490.
Q: I'm calling on behalf of someone else, but he/she doesn't know I'm calling you. What can you do to help them?
A: Based on the Independent Living philosophy we encourage people to call on their own behalf whenever they can. Someone who is newly disabled may be under a lot of stress, but sometimes they can articulate their own needs better than someone representing them, no matter how well-meaning they might be. Please keep in mind we cannot help someone who does not want our services, any more than you, the concerned family member or friend, can. Even though the person's need may seem very apparent, if they refuse the service, there's nothing we can do about it. That's part of independence and self-determination, the right to make your own choice.
We can provide services and information, but the individual requesting them must be willing to do his or her part. We're here to help the individual find their own solution, instead of solving the problem for them. That's the difference between someone making steps towards independence, or becoming more dependent on other people, and that independence is what this Center, and the Independent Living philosophy, is all about.
