CID, Center for the Independence of People with Disabilities

After more than 20 years there is still a great deal of misunderstanding about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and what it means to individuals with disabilities and the general public. CID offers ADA consulting and education in all areas of the act including: · Building access assessments · Assessments of parking and sidewalk access · Public accommodations needed in the community · Access related to employment · Access to state and local government buildings and services. This service is available to individuals, groups, public and private agencies, businesses, and community organizations 650-645-1780 ext. 118

Assistive Technology
NEW AT REUSE PROGRAM! CID's AT Specialist has the expertise to recommend the most current technological devices, equipment, and resources to accommodate a wide spectrum of disabilities. We can help you identify your independent living needs, provide resource coordination for home modification, and even assist in finding funding in certain situations. CID's AT Specialist also offers technical advice to businesses and community-based organizations so that they become more inclusive. This program maintains a reference library and Internet links for questions about technology. You can utilize our resources to research funding options for obtaining devices, services, training or technical assistance. You will be able to gain access to a wide range of information about the latest tools to assist you to live independently, to achieve a higher level of education, to engage in hobbies and recreational activities and to participate in the activities of the workplace. We can also provide you with the basic skills to utilize the Internet and the use of e-mail, offering you the opportunity of worldwide access from home. This service is free. 650-645-1780 ext. 115

Counseling and Peer Support
CID offers Group and Individual Peer Support services on a regular basis. We meet at the Daly City office Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 to 3:00. These groups are defined by the needs and wants of the people participating. Sometimes a individual has a personal issue, such as a traffic ticket, and will seek input and experience from group members on how to challenge it. Often the issues are housing and employment problems. These are, however, fundamentally support groups, and most people who continue to come seek the social contacts and friendship they find in the groups. The groups are facilitated by Kimberly Lin (Daly City), 650-991-5122. Contact either for information.

Housing Modification Services
Accessible, affordable housing is a major concern for people with disabilities in San Mateo County. A recent government report showed that San Mateo County ranks among the top 10 counties in the nation for highest housing costs. The major emphasis in CID's housing efforts is our Housing Accessibility Modification Program (HAM). This program puts in ramps, rails, grab bars, vertical lifts and other modifications to make a home accessible. These modifications assist people with disabilities to remain at home or move back into their home with greater independence, and not be forced into skilled nursing or other institutional care. CID cooperates with cities and the county housing agencies in San Mateo County to increase the number and quality of accessible, affordable housing. Liezel Taube is the new coordinator for the HAM program. 650-645-1780 ext. 121

Independent Living Planning & Support
Often individuals with disabilities want to develop their own plan for the future. This planning often includes financial planning, and typically also looks at other things the individual wishes to accomplish, which vary for each person but might include employment, housing, how to manage attendant services, and what community resources might be helpful. This plan can be written or unwritten, but helps to guide what each person wants to pursue as they increase independence. 650-645-1780 ext. 117 or ext. 130. You can also contact our branch office at 650-589-8994.

CID also offers Group Peer Support services on a regular basis. This group will promote self-help values and supports healthy interaction and social skills. These groups are d efined by the needs and wants of the people participating. Sometimes an individual has a personal issue, such as seeking housing or employment and experience from group members will assist on how to deal with the issue. The groups will be meeting in the San Mateo office. Please call for group times and location. The groups are facilitated by Maisoon Sahouria, the Peer Support Coordinator. Please call her at 650-645-1780 ext. 130 for more information.

Independent Living Skills
CID's Independent Living Skills Program assists people with disabilities to identify resources, strategies, and equipment for achieving maximum independence. Individuals are assisted in identifying barriers to independence in their own home and relating to the tasks of daily living such as bathing, eating, getting into and out of bed, and any other area that needs to be addressed by support.

Information & Referral
"Information is power," and CID empowers by providing information to access the tools, strategies and accommodations that make living in the community possible. In many instances questions involve locating local community resources, however sometimes questions can only be answered by conducting a thorough search of services, products or organizations offering solutions on a national basis. CID wants to be your first source for information concerning disabilities. However, if there's some- thing you need that some other agency can better accommodate, let us help you find them. CID will provide I&R resources to all members of the community about a wide range of information relevant to people with disabilities at no charge. If you have a question, give us a call at 650-589-8994 for more information.

Transitioning from Nursing Care to the Community
There are many individuals who experience a change in their health and are given support through a local nursing care facility for a period of time. When those individuals are ready to move back to the community, CID is ready to help. Contact Ray Pittsinger to begin a transition plan for individual moving from nursing care to the community.

Systems Change Advocacy
Persons with disabilities have experienced exclusion and discrimination in almost every aspect of life in our society. They continue to struggle for equality in education, community access, and employment. CID's advocacy services provide both individual and systems advocacy to remove barriers that people with disabilities encounter in their efforts to become fully participating members of the community. Give us a call at 650-645-1780 ext. 118.

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