Vermont program helps disabled lead productive lives

By Christi Rinehard
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Central Vermont offers a multitude of services and programs that help disabled people lead fulfilling and productive lives, according to the Vermont Center for Independent Living.

The Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) strives to "make the community aware that there are resources available [to those who might find themselves in need]," said Amy Driscoll (Montpelier), administrative assistant for the Development of Community Resources. According to Driscoll, they have a community outreach program which provides local hospitals and physician's offices with information on the services they provide. They also have a website, www.vcil.org, to help spread the word.

"There's a lot of really good resources out there," said Driscoll, "that people don't realize until they or a family member find themselves in need."

One of these programs VCIL offers is the Home Access Program (HAP), which helps Vermonters who have a disability remain in their home. HAP funds home modifications, such as specialized bathrooms and wheelchair ramps.

Counseling is another service provided by VCIL. The Peer Advocacy Counsel, which consists of people with disabilities, is one program that provides this service. These counselors assist in other ways, as well, such as getting road signs installed or putting people in touch with support groups.

Another program offered by VCIL is Meals on Wheels, which provides meals for the non-elderly home bound. Additionally, the Sue Williams Freedom Fund program offers deaf Vermonters, or those who have significant disabilities, opportunities to live more independently. This fund offers limited payment or reimbursement for equipment such as wheelchairs, closed-caption decoders, hearing aids, customized light and door openers.

According to Driscoll, "isolation is still a problem." Often, disabled people do not have access to transportation or cannot drive. The Ticket to Ride program offers transportation to Vermonters with disabilities.

Additionally, the VCIL office in Montpelier has public access computers and an extensive library to aid any individual who needs information.

"We have people that can address just about any issue [that may arise]," said Driscoll. According to Driscoll, there is "a lot of networking to head people in the right direction."

Similarly, the Washington County Mental Health Community Rehabilitation and Treatment Services is an important resource available to the developmentally disabled, the emotionally disturbed or mentally disabled Vermonter. This program educates disabled Vermonters and helps them find employment, while assisting in their recovery, according to director of Community Rehabilitation and Treatment Services Michael Hartman (Montpelier).

Hartman says that the community care approach to treating the mentally disabled is more successful than institutionalization. He explained that mental illness carries less of a stigma now than in the past, and the Central Vermont community is "very accepting of the mentally ill."

Additionally, Hartman said "community care has enabled the mentally disabled to recover, rather than rehabilitate." The reason for this is, when a patient is put in an institution they eventually forget how to care for themselves. However, when patients are members of the community, they learn how to function in society.

Scott Langley (Waterbury), acting director of the Vermont Department of the Blind and Visually Impaired, offers "choices in careers and provides services for the blind." Their organization provides "talking computers," large screen computers, books on tape, transportation, and vocational training for the visually impaired. They also offer an outreach program to educate those who might be in need of this department's services.

To sum up with an example, Mike Columb, 27, (Montpelier), a developmentally disabled Vermonter, said that Vermont's programs and services have aided him to lead a more fulfilled life. He states that he has benefited from the Vocational Rehabilitation program, which has helped him find a home and employment.

"They have really helped me a lot," Columb said.

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