Navigating a cookie-cutter world can be a challenge for people living with disabilities.
Fortunately, people with all kinds of disabilities in Vernon have a place to turn to when their environment doesn91裸聊视频檛 suit their individual needs.
That91裸聊视频檚 been the case for exactly 30 years, ever since Independent Living Vernon (ILV) first opened its doors on Sept. 13, 1993.
Despite three decades of removing barriers for people with disabilities, the non-profit agency is relatively unknown, working in the background to get people disability placards for their vehicles, filing Canada Pension Plan applications on behalf of clients, or referring people to organizations like Turning Points Collaborative Society to get them off the streets and under a roof.
91裸聊视频淲e are one of the best kept secrets in Vernon,91裸聊视频� says Lisa Briggs, a support worker and special events coordinator who has been with ILV for more than 20 years.
But the secret is slowly getting out.
91裸聊视频淧eople are becoming more aware of us because of all the things that we do,91裸聊视频� said Briggs, adding the agency is getting a lot of referrals from doctors, service providers, family members and the City of Vernon.
For Briggs, consumer control is the key to ILV91裸聊视频檚 success and longevity.
That means keeping clients in the driver91裸聊视频檚 seat, allowing them to make their own decisions and preserve their agency while playing a supporting role.
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91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 to help people be as independent as possible, just needing some services and supports along the way, but making decisions themselves,91裸聊视频� said Briggs.
ILV is unique in at least one way: they serve people with any kind of disability, all under one roof, from someone who hurt their ankle at work to someone with major schizophrenia.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e the only agency in the whole Interior that I91裸聊视频檓 aware of that does that,91裸聊视频� Briggs said.
The agency supports at least 30 people a day, and the need for its services has grown over the years. Briggs says 25 per cent of people in the Okanagan identify as having some type of disability, up from 18 per cent in previous years, according to data from the federal government.
91裸聊视频�(The need) is definitely increasing, but I also think that we91裸聊视频檙e getting more well-known, the word is getting out.91裸聊视频�
ILV is located in the People Place on 27th Avenue, a building that houses a number of non-profits, including the John Rudy Health Resource Centre and BC Mental Health Substance Use Services. It91裸聊视频檚 an ideal location for an agency that attempts to provide 91裸聊视频渙ne-stop shopping91裸聊视频� for people looking to overcome challenges and thrive.
In her 20-plus years, Briggs has seen a number of success stories.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had people come in here who have had no housing, have been on the streets, and they come and see me after filling out an application for disability 91裸聊视频� and they come back in and they have a job, they have housing, and are well on their way to moving forward. That91裸聊视频檚 huge.91裸聊视频�
She recalls assisting people with severe disabilities who have never had a comfortable bed to sleep in.
91裸聊视频淲e advocated for them to get a bed with the ministry and the next thing you know they91裸聊视频檝e got a bed and they91裸聊视频檙e sleeping comfortably.91裸聊视频�
The staff and board at ILV know what people with disabilities deal with on a daily basis, because many of them live with their own disabilities.
One of the agency91裸聊视频檚 most popular programs is its peer support groups - one for youth (although due to popular demand, no one is turned away because of their age) called Young at Heart, and a second peer support group, called the Friendship group, gets people together on a weekly basis.
Leon Schwartz met his late wife at an ILV peer support group. He since started volunteering with the agency, sat on its board, and started his own peer support group. He91裸聊视频檚 been a part of ILV for more than 20 years.
91裸聊视频淭hey helped me a lot in my life,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey help the community tremendously. I can91裸聊视频檛 even name all the things they do.91裸聊视频�
There are challenges ILV faces, from the doctor shortage which affects their clients91裸聊视频� ability to complete applications, to the fact that they are not government funded.
To address the latter challenge, the agency is holding its first Dance Through the Decades fundraising event at the Elks Hall Nov. 3. People can dress up and accessorize in the style of their decade of choice. The adult only event includes a silent auction, snacks, a 50/50 draw, booze in a barrel raffle and a full bar.
The dance is a return to past days where the agency had more fundraising initiatives, including an annual golf tournament. There91裸聊视频檚 also the annual Moving for Independence event that takes place in May.
91裸聊视频淵ou can cycle in it, skateboard, just about everything,91裸聊视频� Briggs said of the event that91裸聊视频檚 been around for more than 20 years.
Asked what ILV means to her, outreach worker Crystal Williams says it91裸聊视频檚 about encouraging people to do what needs to be done for themselves and their future.
91裸聊视频淚t means a place where people with disabilities can go and be independent and learn about resources to keep their independence going, and also gain skills for social development,91裸聊视频� she said.
There91裸聊视频檚 no need to get a referral to become a client at ILV. Just walk in the door, or give them a call at
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