Access Alaska: Disability Services Archives

Alaskans with Disabilities

As Alaskans, we are not defined by our strengths and limitations. We are defined by what we do. It is our resolve and initiative to overcome our challenges that reveal who we are and who we may become.

At Access Alaska, we see members of our community as they are, as complete individuals. We respect and work with individuals to achieve their full potential. Our mission is to help Alaskans help themselves to realize their dreams and achieve the best of who they can be.

Personal Care Assistant Services

Personal care assistant services puts you in charge of your personal care. Access Alaska provides supports and takes care of the paperwork and details.

This is a consumer directed personal care service program that delivers services to people with disabilities who are Medicaid eligible. The Personal care assistant program assists people with disabilities in meeting their individual health and personal care needs by offering the consumer control in the direct provision of their care. Consumers receiving services must be capable of managing their own care or have a Limited Power of Attorney handle that responsibility for them. Consumers may hire, train and supervise whomever they choose to deliver their care (some restrictions do apply). Being a consumer-directed program, care providers must be hired by a person with a disability enrolled in this program.

Self pay care assistants are also available.

Independent Wellness Program

Access Alaska is pleased to announce positive changes in its Independent Wellness (community based mental health) program. In an effort to provide individuals with a wider variety of choice and input into their mental health care, Access Alaska has implemented a Service Coordination approach to serving individuals who experience major mental illness.

The Service Coordination model allows consumers who experience major mental illness to be in charge of their recovery plan while utilizing Service Coordinators for case management to help locate and access services in the community. Service Coordinators also provide skill building assistance for these consumers. Service coordination and skill building can be provided in the individual’s home, community or office settings.

Access Alaska no longer provides in-house therapy services. Consumers now have the advantage of obtaining therapy services that best meet their needs and preferences from a variety of community sources.

Individuals who have experienced a brain injury may still receive pre-vocational skill building, advocacy, housing, and transportation assistance through our Independent Living Center. Cognitive rehabilitation assistance is also available in our computer laboratory which utilizes software for brain re-training and skill building in memory, attention, learning and problem solving. Our Head Injury Support Group continues to meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:00-7:45 p.m. This group is open to all individuals who have experienced a head/brain injury.

To refer individuals who experience major mental illness to a Service Coordinator, please contact 248-4777 to speak with our Information & Referral Specialist.

If you have any questions about these changes, please feel free to contact Dana Spinney directly at 263-1913.

Deinstitutionalization

Deinstitutionalization services for individuals who are presently residing in an institutional setting such as a nursing home are provided. We assist people to obtain the services they need to transition from more restrictive settings to reside in the community of their choice.

Independent Living Skills Training

Independent Living Skills Training is a core service provided to support people with disabilities so they can live independently in the community. Training is determined on an individual basis depending on their needs which promote an independent lifestyle.

Training is provided in one or more of the following areas:

Personal care assistance management
Orientation/ mobility for the blind and low vision services
Budgeting
Orientation to public transportation system
Daily living skills
Assistive technology use
Self empowerment
Nutrition
Home safety
Pre-employment

Community Advocacy

Advocacy is provided to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are protected. Advocacy efforts are initiated to respond to proposed legislative changes and/or the need for increased funding and services to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Community participation becomes a key element in maintaining and preventing changes to important laws which protect individuals with disabilities.

Individualized Advocacy

Access Alaska assists consumers to take action on their own behalf (self-advocacy) to support their access to the goods, services and service providers in their communities

Information and Referral Services

This is the starting point for first time users of any of Access Alaska's services. Access Alaska can answer questions and provide information about disability and senior related services including housing, employment, personal care, benefits, transportation, legal rights, education, emergency shelter, health care, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

One out of four calls requesting information come from other agencies, organizations and businesses.

Benefits Counseling

Access Alaska delivers technical assistance to consumers on how to apply for various benefits programs, and integrate them into their employment, healthcare, and housing needs.

Interpreter Referral Line

For persons who experience deafness and hardness of hearing Access Alaska offers accurate communication services. In 2003, Access Alaska Fairbanks started an Interpreter Referral Line that coordinates requests for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters in the community. Access schedules requests for ASL services with trained interpreters, who work as part time staff to Access Alaska.

Care Coordination, Home/Community Based Waivers

Access Alaska assists individuals to create support systems to allow them to live in their community rather than an institution or nursing home. This Medicaid and state supported program has helped hundreds of Alaskans live with their families and in their own communities rather than in an institution.

Adaptive Equipment Loan

Assistive technology and adaptive equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, transfer benches, magnifiers, hospital beds, commodes, walkers, grab bars) are provided to individuals with disabilities to increase their safety and independence in their homes and the community. Over 250 Alaskans throughout Access Alaska’s Interior and South Central Regions use this service annually; many of them are low income and do not have the funds available to purchase the equipment nor does their health care insurance (private or public) cover the items.

Independent Living Services

Access Alaska was the first and still the largest organization in Alaska offering Independent Living, services and resources.

Home Accessability Modifications

Access Alaska utilizes a variety of funding sources to construct accessibility modifications to remove barriers and make homes and communities more accessible.

Access Alaska

Opening Doors to Independence