For Individuals
Help-Your-Self supports the spirit of independent living. We guide and assist people with disabilities in their efforts to become self-sufficient, lead productive lives, and improve and maintain the lifestyle of their choice.
For example, let's say you were involved in an accident, or born with a disability, or acquired an illness, or you are close to someone who experienced these situations. You might not be able to choose what happened to you in your past, but you can choose how you shape your future.
If you are just leaving a hospital, a rehabilitation center, a nursing home, you might be asking yourself some of these questions:
- What do I do after I get out of rehab?
- Where will I live?
- I cannot access my apartment. What can I do about it?
- Will I be able to work?
- What type of work can I do?
- Can I go back to my previous profession? What would it take?
- What type of government assistance is available to help me?
- I will be needing a Personal Care Assistant. Where do I find one?
- How do I know if I can trust that person?
- What type of training might a caregiver need?
- How can I train the Personal Care Assistant?
- How am I going to face my friends?
- How am I going to interact with my family?
- How do I stop people from staring at me?
- Now that I am dependent on others, I no-longer feel complete. How do I find myself?
- How and where can I participate in sports activities?
- I need a break - where and how can I travel?
You can spend hours pondering why this happened to you, but that would be pointless. Everyone goes through life asking themselves questions that have no answers, such as 'what is my purpose on earth?' We never acquire a definite answer, yet we manage to go about our daily chores, study, work, plan for our future, set goals, and enjoy life. Ultimately we come to realize that there need not be an answer.
Being positive and viewing a glass as half full (instead of half empty) is of course challenging, but helpful. At Help-Your-Self we understand your reality and help you tackle the challenges you face. We look at what your circumstances are now, at the moment; we find out your goals, identify obstacles, explpre available resources, and make a plan so you can achieve your objectives.
We help with, in alphabetical order:
- Assisted Living
- Education Opportunities
- Enabling Technologies
- Government Assistance / Services
- Housing Options
- Job Search
- Peer Counseling
- Personal Care Assistant Search
- Personal Care Assistant Training
- Service Animals
- Support for Family Members and Friends
- Traveling and Recreation Options
We help people challenge themselves and reduce the barriers that stand in the way of their progress. We are dedicated to educating, informing, and providing services to assist people to achieve self-sufficiency and community integration.
For Family Members, Friends, Co-Workers
The Individual who is disabled, however, is not the only person affected by the accident, trauma or newly diagnosed disease. Family members, friends and co-workers all experience a 'disability' of sorts -- a change in their normal way of life.
Many people encounter fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, depression, and marginalization. There are a myriad of new circumstances that surround them, complications to deal with, legal matters to attend to, important decisions to be made, and communication and trust issues to address. Family members and friends can become just as traumatized and in need of support as an injured individual does.
Our services are run by individuals trained in the field of disability awareness and rehabilitation. These include staff members, Board members and our network of consultants, some with disabilities and some without, who all have direct experience with disabling conditions.