Independent Living

A 159 hour per week drop in caregiver hours seems dramatic. That’s because it is—but in a good way. Ryan Sebelius was able to achieve greater independence while decreasing his need for in-person support through the use of remote support technology. Though not “traditionally” supported 24 hours a day as he was before the addition of technology, he is certainly not without support during the times a caregiver isn’t physically present in his home.

Technology sounds like a great addition to care plans. You’ve heard it can help increase independence for individuals with disabilities, and assist with staff management and how staff do their jobs. But where do you start? How do you turn conversations into actionable strategies? How do you find the specific technology supports that will work for the individual?

According to Angie’s sister, Kathy, “Angie just didn’t want to live with anybody. She wanted to make her own choices.” To maintain Angie’s desired level of independence, she and her team formulated a care and response plan supported by CCRI’s Independent by Design program to utilize technology supports that help maximize Angie’s independence and privacy which was featured in a 2017 TRC Case Study. A follow-up interview with Angie regarding her use of technology has recently been published by Impact and re-posted on the TRC blog.

Assistive technologies like voice-generated searches, hover recognition, and refreshable braille displays have made notable strides in recent years, and significantly contributed to promoting independence for those living with physical or cognitive disabilities—all the more reason, then, to make sure your home network is adequately protected. Keeping assistive technology secure is a positive step towards reinforcing independence and privacy.

Medication management can be one of the biggest barriers to independent living. For individuals with disabilities, medications can be one of the most important factors in keeping them healthy and safe, but are often one of the most difficult factors to manage.

An app for Android and iOS that connects people who are blind or have limited vision with live sighted volunteers via video any time of the day. 

One of the greatest features on Facebook that allows like-minded people to connect outside of their inner circle is groups. A Facebook group is a page that can be created for an organization or business to promote activities or for a specific topic that enthusiasts can learn more about and contribute to the conversation.

The most important step in creating a support for someone you care for is properly identifying the need to be cared for. There are many reasons why this step is important in the grand scheme of helping someone live life to the fullest, but it’s even more important when dealing with technological supports. 

The ability to control one’s environment by voice is a perk for some people, but a life changing opportunity for many with disabilities. Just ask Val, whose use of Echo devices and assistive technology sparked further discussions and adoption at The Phoenix Residence, Inc. She’ll gladly tell you about her current technology and how it helps her feel more “like an adult”.

This document was created to support initial conversations related to using technology supports for people served by Hammer Residences, Inc. Hammer staff utilize this document after an initial general consultation and is intended to describe the individual’s functional skills and abilities concerning the need for technology as a support as well as outline possible solutions and future outcome documentation.