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Independence Associates offers virtual programs for youths with disabilities

Wicked Local South/Mariner - 7/4/2020

Jul. 3--At a time when schools and summer programs may still be closed due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions, Independence Associates is offering fun, educational programs online for young adults with learning disabilities.

"So many youths with disabilities, and their parents, are missing out on the special education supports and services they are accustomed to, and with social distancing many are becoming isolated," said Ryan MacLeod, the Youth Services Coordinator at IA. "Our social groups are free to all and provide a supportive and inclusive environment for young adults and IA youth department staff to hang out and have some fun."

Located in East Bridgewater, IA is a no-profit independent living center with a service area of 31 cities and towns including Scituate, Cohasset, Hanover, Hingham, Marshfield, Norwell and Pembroke.

"We are not a residential facility or a day habilitation center, rather we work to help people with disabilities with issues related to their independence so they can live in the community in the way they wish," MacLeod said.

IA has specific state-funded programs such as Pre-ETS -- pre-employment training, TAP -- transition to adulthood, and a number of programs and group/social events. Getting together involves playing games, watching movies, discussing disability poetry and art, doing accessible martial arts or just hanging out, all over Zoom teleconference.

They also provide an hour a week of job readiness training, or training on the transitioning to adulthood and independent living skills, such as studying for a driver's permit. Also, through IA's College Co-pilot Program, IA staff can tutor and guide young adults in preparation for the MCAS in math, science, and English, or can assist soon to be or new college students with the transition.

"We are all stuck home socially distancing, why not spend an hour a week with IA learning important skills from home," MacLeod said. "IA hasn't missed a beat since moving online and there is lots of great stuff happening."

About Independence Associates

IA has a long history of being both a direct care provider and an advocate for people with disabilities.

"Established in 1980 as an independent living center as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, we have continued to grow and respond to community needs in order to maximize our supports in our service area and beyond," MacLeod said.

Since its beginnings in a tiny corner of the MRC office at Lakeview State Hospital, IA has always kept a firm commitment to the foundations of the independent living philosophy and its dedication to being an active member in the lives of persons with disabilities.

"In the early 1980s, Eric Griffin and Paul Spooner both saw the potential impact that an independent living center could have on a community like Southeast Massachusetts," MacLeod said. "It was people like these, talking over pizza and a late night beer, who saw IA for what it could be."

These early activists propelled IA into becoming the socially conscious, ideologically driven force it is today. After growing in size and scale, IA was able to move the organization into a full-sized office in Elmwood, East Bridgewater

From then on, Independence Associates has only continued to grow.

"Our organization has been involved in numerous groundbreaking moments in disability history," MacLeod said. "We organized and advocated for the Americans with Disabilities Act to be passed and signed, housed some of the first modems for DIMENET -- the first accessible internet database in the world, and have been involved in many of the nationally organized events in the disability community."

The majority of IA's Board of Directors is composed of persons with disabilities.

"From the very top, our decision-makers are people who know the full realities of living with a disability," MacLeod said. "Using our own experiences, we put in place priorities and policies we know will benefit our consumers the best. We have the empathy and understanding from our own lives to help our consumers overcome barriers and obstacles that persons with disabilities face in their own life."

IA works with any disability including learning disabilities, ASD, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and anyone who would like to work with us, MacLeod said.

"Our groups are a lot of fun and we would love for more young adults who can benefit to join in."

There is a parents/adults group that meets on Fridays at noon on Zoom that is open to all.

All groups, events, and programs are free, do not require insurance, and are consumer driven.

"So if you try us out and IA isn't for you it is no problem, there is no obligation to stay," MacLeod said.

For more information visit IACIL.org

Follow Ruth Thompson on Twitter @scituateruth

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