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Information about disability related issues, resources and services
are provided to people with disabilities, professionals, and the
general public. Staff members are available to listen and assist
with locating resources and developing strategies for individuals to
resolve problems, including but not limited to the following:
housing issues, benefit issues, accessibility of private and public
areas, discrimination, and finding employment. Requests for
information are researched and provided in appropriate formats.
Referrals are made to other agencies or service providers for
existing services in the community.
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Ramps, hand rails, and wider door openings are all accessibility features that can literally open doors that have, until recently, been closed to a significant portion of the population and not just those in wheelchairs, but those using a walker or cane, as well as those who just have difficulty negotiating stairs. NEILS can perform an on-site survey of your home, building, or business to determine the compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). The survey would include, but not be limited to, the accessibility of all building entrances, hallways, stairs, ramps, elevators, doorways, and bathrooms as well as automobile parking spaces. NEILS can provide a written report outlining our findings and recommendations on any necessary modifications to bring your building or home into compliance with the ADA. Call NEILS today for more information and schedule an appointment for a survey.
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Our equipment loan program has been designed to provide consumer with temporary equipment loan for daily living. The equipment on the program is given by donations from individuals or friends and families of ones who no longer need the equipment. The equipment is checked to ensure safety and then processed into the program to be available for loan to an individual who does have a need. The equipment can be loaned to a consumer on a short-term basis. Examples of equipment are, but are not limited to, walkers, shower chairs, transfer benches, commodes, and wheelchairs. If you know of anyone who would like to donate equipment or an agency who would like to work together on providing this service contact us.
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One on one support is available from volunteers and staff. The goal of peer support is to assist persons in learning coping skills for today’s world. We use the motto “been there, done that,” meaning that experience is the best education. Staff and volunteers who have acquired positive skills for managing their disabilities assist consumers to explore options, solve problems, and develop new skills.
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NEILS Strongly believes in integrating persons with disabilities who
are institutionalized back into community living. Our Transition
Program is designed to assist persons with disabilities in achieving
this goal. There are many steps that must be taken in order for
de-institutionalization to occur. NEILS will assist in all stages of
this process including the initial planning, finding a home, helping
find financial assistance, along with the many other stages of the
transitions program. We have resources available about the Olmstead
Decision and your Constitutional Rights which play a large role in
the de-institutionalization process. Please contact us if you know
of anyone wanting to transition back into the community or simply
want more information.
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Individualized training in daily living activities that are essential to living independently, safely, effectively, and successfully. Training topics available include but are not limited to: budgeting and personal finance, cooking, lease and tenant/landlord responsibilities, recreation, computer/internet, reading, training on management of attendant services, pre-employment skills, interpersonal skills, utilization of other services available and goal setting to achieve increased independence.
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Circuit breaker services are offered by NEILS staff to assist you in
receiving a tax credit that Missouri may owe you. You may qualify
for up to $750 per year for the past three (3) tax years. That is
$2,250 of your money if you qualify. If you are on any type of
Social Security, you have paid real estate taxes or rent, and you
have lived in Missouri for the entire year, you may qualify for a
Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. This service is free of charge for some
qualified applicants. Call NEILS today for more information and to
set up an appointment.
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Many people with disabilities often have problems reading menus at a
restaurant, paying utility bills, reading life insurance policies,
reading bank statements, among many other things. These situations,
plus many more, occur everyday in our area. Providing accommodations
now, will open the door to so many people. NEILS provides Braille
and large print services at low costs to area businesses, other
organizations, and consumers. These alternative formats provide
people who are blind and visually impaired with the independence
that well-sited individuals enjoy. Call for more information.
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NEILS is available to help people learn how to speak for themselves.
We will help all individuals who would like to become better
self-advocates. Building skills and self-esteem enables individuals
to ask for what they need to become or remain independent. It is
necessary for persons with disabilities to develop these skills to
more effectively impact their needs, and to impact local, state, and
national disability policies. NEILS provides training, networking
with other agencies, plus timely information to individuals about
disability related issues in its monthly newsletter.
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NEILS staff members are trained to provide an assessment of a person
with a disability and the technology needs. NEILS can provide
assistance with obtaining anything from lifts to vehicle hand
controls to assistive computer devices and much more. Staff will
provide recommendations for technology choices and assist with
locating and applying for financial assistance. People also have an
option of trying out times such as adaptive equipment available for
loan. If the consumer is looking for used equipment we will assist
in connecting them with resources to match their specific needs.
The low vision library is in conjunction with
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. Call NEILS today to learn
more!
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NEILS firmly believes that persons
with disabilities are and/or can be fully productive citizens in the
community, however even today some of society doesn’t fully include
persons with disabilities and still has the view that they are not
capable of working, raising children, or even living at home
independently. NEILS strives to make everyone aware of the disabled
community and that they can do most things that any person or
citizen can do. Our goal is to make the community accept and respect
persons with disabilities just as they want to be accepted and
respected. We provide Disability Awareness Presentations free of
charge to any organization, school, or other group. For the
children, we use dolls with different types of disabilities to
explain their disability and the things they CAN do just like any
other child. For the older groups, we use MS Powerpoint
presentations with handouts and other information. To schedule a
Disability Awareness Presentation, simply call NEILS and speak with
the Outreach Coordinator.
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IEP Services are available to
children and youth from birth to 21 years old. NEILS Staff works
with youth and their families on IEP (Individual Education Plans) or
other education advocacy issues. IEPs can include assisting families
with getting better access to the school for their child or even
advocating on behalf of the child that they should remain in the
general classroom setting. For more information, speak with one of
our Independent Living Specialists.
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Youth Services are provided to any
disabled children who would like to learn how to become more
involved in the community, develop knowledge of disability-related
issues, and gain life skills. NEILS assists the youth in gaining
skills that will enable them to live independently later in life. We
also provide one-on-one support to the youth who have difficulties
coping with their disability or other life situations. We provide an
array of activities for youth involvement and are looking at
expanding our youth services to include youth support groups,
advisory boards, and greater participation in NEILS and our events.
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Universal Design means that a home
is fully functional for the disabled, elderly, and non-disabled
community. The living spaces within the home are made accessible
through a variety of modifications such as using open style sink
bases in the bathrooms and kitchens, toilets are raised for easier
transfer and roll-in showers. Doorways are wider and even the light
switches are at an easily accessible height. Every detail of the
house is made accessible. This style of home provides the option
that as the individual ages and may need some form of mobility aid,
they are not forced into the nursing home. They can stay in their
home because of its Universal Design. Contact NEILS to get more
information on financial assistance, lenders, and floor plans.
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The Prescription Drug Program is
one that is available to consumers needing assistance buying or
acquiring the medications. This is done by requests to staff from
consumers who in turn access resources to 3998 different medications
among 408 pharmaceutical companies and programs. Online applications
are taken from the companies and the consumer takes them to their
doctor and there, the process is completed between the doctor and
drug company.
The Medicare D Program for enrollment is in their prescription plan
among various insurance providers under Social Security and CMS. The
consumer enrolls in the program through an application done at NEILS
online by staff. Social Security refers the application on to their
group of providers. The providers chosen will in turn contact the
consumer to put them under a plan.
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TAP for Telephone is provided by
Missouri Assistive Technology free of charge to qualified persons.
TAP-T provides basic voice telephone calling (both sending and
receiving) and telephone alerting devices (telephones) for
individuals with disabilities in the state of Missouri through the
delivery of adaptive telephone equipment. NEILS is a demonstration
site and you can view and test the phones to determine which will
best fit your needs. Some qualifications include, but are not
limited to:
- You must be a Missouri resident
- You must have telephone service in
your home
- You must have a certified
disability
TAP for Internet is also provided
by Missouri Assistive Technology free of charge to qualified
persons. TAP-I provides the adaptive computer equipment and training
necessary for basic access to the internet and electronic mail in
the consumer’s home premise. Adaptive Computer Equipment is
equipment which changes the way in which a person with a disability
provides input of receives output from a computer so the computer
can be used to independently access the internet and e-mail. Some
qualifications include but are not limited to:
- You must be a Missouri resident
- You must have basic computer
equipment
- You must have an Internet Service
Provider (ISP)
- You must have a certified
disability
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Some persons with disabilities require assistance with activities of
daily living to enable them to live independently within his/her
community. CDS allows individuals with disabilities to receive
assistance with his/her daily living activities and other tasks
while remaining in the home. This program allows the direction of
Medicaid Dollars for in-home, consumer directed services. The CDS
program allows the individual to direct his or her own care at no
cost to you, the consumer. Qualified individuals direct his/her own
care by hiring the attendant(s) of his/her own choice and managing
and directing the services that meet the individuals needs.
Eligibility requirements include being a resident of Missouri, need
bathing, dressing, meal preparation, etc. The consumer must be
eighteen (18) years of age or older, be Medicaid eligible in the
state of Missouri and be able to direct his/her own self-care. Give
NEILS a call for more information.
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The AgrAbility Project was created to assist people with disabilities who work in agriculture. The project provides practical education and assistance that promotes independence in agriculture production and rural living. The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), administers the AgrAbility Project.
The Missouri AgrAbility Project involves University of Missouri Extension educators, disability experts, rural professionals, and volunteers who work in partnership to offer many services such as:
- identifying farmers, ranchers, or farm workers with disabilities and/or chronic diseases by referring them to appropriate resources;
- providing technical assistance on adapting/using farm equipment and tools;
- providing information on modifying farm operations and buildings;
- providing agriculture-based education to help prevent additional injury and disability;
- providing training to Extension educators and other rural professionals to assist farmers with disabilities; and
- developing and coordinating peer support networks
Those eligible for services may have any type of disability and/or chronic disease, whether it is physical, cognitive, or illness-related.
If you are interested in learning about how you can receive AgrAbility services (i.e. training, site visit, on-farm assessments, technical assistance, or informatoin) please contact us today!
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