Disability Resource Center

Center For Accessible Living

Meeting the Challenge of Independent Living

Mission

The Center for Accessible Living is an innovative leader in empowering all people to achieve their goal of independent living while involving the entire community.

Welcome

The Center for Accessible Living is Kentucky’s first Independent Living Center with offices located in Louisville and Murray and services spanning the entire state of Kentucky. The Center for Accessible Living (CAL), a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, is a disability resource center for people with disabilities, governed by people with disabilities. It operates on a cross disability basis, which means that individuals will be served regardless of type of disability. Our experienced staff provides information, advocacy and services that create opportunities for people with disabilities to live as independently as possible.

Independent Living

"Independent Living does not mean that we want to do everything by ourselves, do not need anybody or like to live in isolation. Independent Living means that we demand the same choices and control in our every-day lives that our non-disabled brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends take for granted. We want to grow up in our families, go to the neighborhood school, use the same bus as our neighbors, work in jobs that are in line with our education and interests, and raise families of our own. We are profoundly ordinary people sharing the same need to feel included, recognized and loved." Dr. Adolf Ratzka

Contact

Louisville, KY
305 W. Broadway, Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40202
Voice: (502) 589-6620
TTY: (502) 589-6690
Fax:(502) 589-3980
Toll Free: (888) 813-8497
Email Louisville

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Mapquest Louisville Location

Murray, KY
1051 N. 16th Street, Suite C
Murray, KY 42071
Voice: (270) 753-7676
TDD: (270) 767-0549
Fax: (270) 753-7729
Toll Free: (888) 261-6194
Email Murray

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Mapquest Murray Location

Northern KY Extension
(By Appointment Only)
226 Thomas More Park
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
Voice: (859) 940-3843
TTY: (502) 589-6690 (Louisville Office)
Fax:(502) 589-3980 (Louisville Office)
Toll Free: (888) 813-8497 (Louisville Office)

Top of Page.

Do you or a loved one have a disability? We are passionate about making our community a better place for people with disabilities. Please take a minute to see some of our stories or find out how you can help.

Quick News and Notes - What's Happening Now

Please visit our resources, events, and connect online.

Your Advocacy Worked!

Thanks to your phone calls, emails, letters and other advocacy efforts, we were able to get an additional $5 Million each year for the next two years for the Department For Aging and Independent Living into the Kentucky State budget. These funds may still be subject to some cuts, but the cuts would have been much deeper to disability and aging services without your hard work. There's still a possibility that more cuts may happen, so please keep checking back with us as we may need additional phone calls. Thanks very much for your help, you did a fantastic job!

Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Program Ending

The Center for Accessible Living, Inc. has been advised by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that funds to support all WIPA programs will be suspended on June 30, 2012. As a result, The Center’s WIPA, Work Incentive Planning and Assistance program will be suspended on June 30, 2012. It has been our privilege to provide you with work incentive benefit consultation services. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you again in the future should SSA funds become available.

Current WIPA consumers, services will continue to be available until June 30, 2012. Following June 30, 2012, please see below.
First time callers and new referrals, services will not be available after April 30, 2012. Following April 30, 2012, please see below.

If you should have questions about SSA benefits or your public assistance benefits please contact the Ticket to Work Call center at 1-866-968-7842, The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation or Kentucky Office for the Blind, or an Employment Network (EN) for questions regarding how work affects your disability benefits. The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s phone number is (800) 372-7172 (V/TTY), or online at ovr.ky.gov/. The Kentucky Office for the Blind’s phone number is (800) 321-6668, or online at blind.ky.gov/. You may access a list of local ENs online at www.choosework.net or by calling 1-866-968-7842/866-833-2967 (TTY). Thank you for using the Center for Accessible Living WIPA.

Kentucky Budget Cuts in Human Services Affect Real People in a Real Way

Community “Conversational” Sign Language Instruction

Thursdays, TBD
5:30 - 7:30 pm

This six week course will offer participants:

Over 300 vocabulary words
The ability to communicate in conversation to a person using sign language
Cultural differences and introduction to American Sign Language
Basic information on the Americans with Disabilities Act

Registration/payment accepted now through February 24, 2012. Cost: $120.
To register, please contact: Meg Deckert at 502-589-6620 or mdeckert@calky.org.

Louisville Office Building Doors Except Third Street Entrance!

For those who don't know, Passport Health Plan has moved out of the Fincastle Building. The building owner has decided to lock all the building doors except the Third Street Accessible Entrance. This is the door that TARC3 should be taking you to if you request a ride to "Center for Accessible Living". Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation!

Looking to connect with resources and other people in the disability community?

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Services

Our Commitment to Service and Outreach

The Center for Accessible Living is committed to being the premiere technical assistance, information, and referral resource center on disability in Kentucky and southern Indiana. We are committed to the improvement of the community in which we live and the quality of life of the people we serve. Our goal is superior service and anticipation of the community's needs.

Through community education and individual supports and knowledge, people with disabilities have increasingly become integral members of our community. From individuals living with disabilities for decades to people who have newly acquired their disability, people have been turning to the Center for Accessible living for service, information, and support for almost thirty (30) years.

Core Services Include:

Advocacy

Advocates work in partnership with consumers to resolve incidents of discrimination and denial of services through mediation with governments, business, and service providers. Advocacy also includes working for systems changes that reflect the needs of people with disabilities at the federal, state, and local levels.

Individual Advocacy efforts help consumers learn and develop self-advocacy skills, provide assistance with the resolution of conflicts that impede service delivery, investigate discrimination claims, and disseminate information regarding program services.

Systems Advocacy helps consumers learn to interact with appropriate social services, to understand the program reporting requirements and to encourage the achievement individual goals, including employment goals, if desired.

Information and Referral

The Center serves as a resource center and a clearinghouse of information concerning disability. Information and Referral provides the Kentuckiana area with information about individuals with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act, other disability laws, and individual access. The Center also makes provides appropriate referrals to assist the community in learning about disabilities and disability related issues. CAL makes information and Referral Services available to everyone.

Independent Living Skills

Classes develop skills needed to help consumers learn basic and advanced skills to achieve self-reliance for a more independent lifestyle. Classes include credit counseling, assertiveness training, adaptive cooking, mobility training, nutrition, homemaking, education opportunities, and communication skills among others.

Peer Support

One-on-one and group peer support assists individuals with disabilities to help each other on a cross-disability basis. Peers provide assistance and support to increase skills and knowledge that will overcome interpersonal, family, social, financial, interagency and other disability-related challenges.

Nursing Home Transition

Assistance to people residing in nursing facilities who wish to move back to the community. Along with local partners, identify and assist people to make an informed decision to move out of nursing facilities into the community setting of their choice.

Other Cooperative Programs and Services Include:

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)

Employment Program

The employment program is for persons with disabilities seeking career opportunities. The Center partners with private industry, government, and education agencies to promote and expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Available in both Louisville and Murray.

Housing Assistance

The Housing Coordinator maintains a computerized list to assist individuals with disabilities to locate accessible and affordable rental units. Available in both Louisville and Murray.

ADA Outreach

Removing barriers and creating equal access for people with disabilities are the central themes of the ADA Outreach services. the ADA Outreach helps implement the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), a law that promotes full participation in society as well as economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.

The Center’s role is to disseminate information across Kentucky to individuals with disabilities and private and public entities, including educational entities, in order to raise awareness about the ADA as well as accessible education-based information technology.

Personal Care Attendant Program

The program enables eligible adults with significant disabilities to hire employees to assist with domestic, personal, and transportation needs. This is a Kentucky State program, available through the Center in many parts of the state.

Rampbuilders Program

The program manages the ramp construction for people with mobility impairments in the Louisville Metro area only.

Equipment Loan

Consumers may borrow equipment dependent on availability in both Louisville and Murray. Donated items we accept include:

Durable medical goods; mobility devices such as canes, crutches, walkers; portable ramps; shower chairs or potty chairs; scooters, manual and power chairs. We apologize, but currently we do not have storage room for items larger than portable ramps or power chairs/scooters. For items like lifts, beds, modified vans or other vehicle items, please consider listing it in our marketplace.

A quarterly publication, Taking Charge, is a forum for comunity dialogue on independent living, the Center's services and projects, upcoming events and advocacy for disability rights.

You can subscribe to our timely and pertinent CAL News & Notes emails, new electronic quarterly newsletter, and other CAL email groups.

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You can also stay up to date with CAL news through the CAL Facebook page, Twitter and CAL Blog which all have disability news, resources, and advocacy updates, too.

Fee for Services Include:

Sign Language Interpreter Services

The Center employs one full-time, certified staff interpreter and several certified, professional freelance interpreters to serve the needs of individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Interpreters are available to travel throughout Kentucky. Interpreters adhere to the NAD/RID Code of Ethics. Whatever the situation, the Center has an interpreter to fill the need. Standard Rates apply. The Center can also arrange sensitivity training for interested groups.

Technical Assistance

Staff provides ADA compliance consultation, conducts accessibility surveys in public buildings, or architectural modifications. Non-profit and government rates available.