Community integration is an important step in allowing people with disabilities to feel accepted and welcomed in their communities. It can be done through a variety of formal and informal methods.

CCS providers assist individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families in learning about community resources, planning for the future and accessing necessary services.

Self-advocacy

Self-advocacy is a necessary skill for people with disabilities to express themselves authentically. It is important to start this process early, both at home and in school, so that the person is better positioned to learn how to advocate for themselves. Ultimately, this can save time and money in the long run.

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), self-advocacy can mean making choices for their own lives, replacing guardianship with supported decision-making, and participating on boards or advisory committees of disability advocacy organizations, service providers, and agencies at the local and national level.

This approach can help ensure that every person is treated with the respect they deserve, while ensuring that all perspectives are represented in interprofessional team meetings. In addition, it can lead to better care and outcomes.

Transportation

When public transportation is easy to access, it can alleviate financial pressures for community service disability members and help combat isolation. It is also important to remember that convenient mobility paves the way for social opportunities, which may promote positive mental health and wellness.

In New York City, there are several transportation programs that provide specialized paratransit services for people with disabilities who cannot use public buses or subways. For example, the MTA’s Access-A-Ride service provides shared ride or origin-to-destination trips within five boroughs and three-quarters of a mile beyond fixed-route routes. The program costs the same as a regular metered taxi fare in New York City.

The National RTAP website offers a variety of resources and training related to community transportation. For example, its ADA Topic Guides offer information on regulations and technical assistance.

Adequate funding

The Administration on Disabilities works with states and partners in the disability network to equip individuals with disabilities of all ages with opportunities, tools, and support to lead lives of their own choosing in the community. We do this under the provisions established by various authorizing statutes, including the ADA.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), ratified by 185 countries, requires nations to systematically move people from institutional care into community-based support. However, funding for these services is often insufficient. This can create long waiting lists and prevent community-based support services from being available to all who need them. A new approach is needed to ensure adequate funding. This can be accomplished through a variety of methods. One way is through the use of categorical funds.

Supported employment

Supported employment has become a key strategy in helping people with disabilities enter the workforce. It enables individuals to work with other employees in integrated settings while receiving ongoing support services from the agency. The goal of supported employment is to place individuals in competitive, integrated jobs that match their employment factors.

Individuals who receive supported employment may also get assistance finding a job and preparing for the workplace from their agency. They may also benefit from networking with community groups such as Lions clubs, Elks clubs, or civic organizations.

Intensive supported employment services provide job placements and ongoing support to help individuals with severe disabilities maintain their job. The service may include a job coach, job coach assistant, and ongoing support services at the job site.

Socialization

One of the most important aspects of community integration for people with disabilities is ensuring they can access social networks that are helpful in meeting their needs. This includes interacting with peers and developing real-life skills. Occupational therapists can help with this process by teaching self-advocacy and communication.

There is a gap in the literature concerning national disability service community support, and a clear need for a more comprehensive understanding of its role in supporting persons with disabilities to participate in their communities. In particular, there is a lack of peerreviewed studies that explore and analyse the manner in which informal community protection initiatives (such as savings and loans groups) are being used to provide material resources for community support. Similarly, the precise role of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the assessment of needs for, and development and provision of, community support is not well understood.