Virgin Islands Association for Independent Living

Welcome

THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, also known as America’s vacation paradise, are located in the Caribbean approximately 70 miles east of Puerto Rico. The territory consists of four main islands: St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Water Island as well as many other smaller islands. The islands are known for their diverse population, white sandy beaches, great charter boats, day sails, deep sea fishing adventures and many exotic restaurants. If you are looking for a home away from the cold during the winter months, our islands offer a warm refuge.

Although not a leader in addressing the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the territory offers accommodations as a vacation spot of persons with disabilities. Accessible hotel rooms, beach wheelchairs, accessible transportation as well as scuba diving and snorkeling for persons with disabilities are available in the territory.

Find out more

Peer Counseling Core Services

At VIAIL we offer the opportunity to persons with disabilities to receive support, guidance and instruction for role models who are living successfully independent lifestyles with their disabilities. Opportunities are available for one on one or group sessions which address very mundane or even personal matters as told or discussed by persons who have “been there and done it”. This aspect of our program is very successful as persons who are encountering a disability for the first time are seeking as much information as possible to make the new stresses of life as few as possible. Peer counselors and other staff with or without disabilities provide hands on experiences to assist and enhance the skills needed for effective self-representation. Persons who participate in peer counseling activities find the sessions very beneficial in assisting them to meet established goals.

Independent Living Service

Independent Living Skills Training

Staff at VIAIL works with a variety of clients in an effort to make the most of their abilities by increasing their self-confidence in order to take control of their lives and to live independently. Participants are encouraged to make the most of their existing skills and to improve on those skills which are weak as well as to develop new skills which will help in areas in which there isn’t adequate confidence. A participant who has the desire to take control and live independently has the opportunity to reach their goals by participating in skills training in order to develop new skills or to improve existing ones on the road to independence.

Areas of training include: Time Management, Personal Hygiene, Money Management/Budgeting and Cooking.

Time Management

It is important a person striving to be independent understands not only the time of day, but can also relate to the day of the week, week of the month and month of the year. Hands on activities are used to demonstrate the use of the calendar for noting meetings, appointments and other activities.

Personal Hygiene

Developing a routine for personal care is extremely important and for some persons there was never a need to develop a routine as there was always someone to give direction or reminders. All efforts are made to find the least embarrassing method to assist participants in presenting themselves publicly in an acceptable manner.

Money Management/Budgeting

Particularly to persons who live alone, this aspect of independence is critical. Knowing how much money is needed for the necessities of rent, food, utilities is extremely important and is addressed through role playing and community experiences at banks, supermarkets, landlords and related entities vital to managing money maintaining a bank account.

Cooking

Living independently includes having the knowledge and ability to prepare a meal. These skills are taught through hands-on opportunities of preparing simple, economical and palatable meals with limited or no assistance.

Advocacy

VIAIL’s advocacy efforts include many activities that individuals or our organization undertake to address a specific need or to influence a public policy or practice. Staff assists clients in obtaining benefits or following the law to achieve their rights. Self-help and self- advocacy are made available through a variety of innovative technology which assists persons with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives and to live comfortably and independently in their own homes. The need to be well empowered in order to gain control of life is emphasized during training sessions. Consumers are prepared in the areas of problem solving with a goal of acquiring the knowledge needed to protect their personal as well as legal rights.

Information and Referrals

As a center for Independent Living we are prepared to provide information to persons with disabilities for whom we are unable to provide a direct service. We provide contact information and as needed make formal referrals to other agencies and organizations in order to meet a client’s need. We also follow- up to ensure that the client’s need is met. Immediate contacts and possible referrals may include: a variety of services provided by the Dept. of Human Services including Disability and Rehabilitation Services, Medical Assistance Program, Dial-A-Ride and VITRAN for transportation needs, VI Housing Authority for apartment or housing needs, Social Security, Department of Health, Disability Rights Center among others.

Other Programs and Services

Assistive Technology Training

VIAIL have a consumer on auxilary staff who utilizes his expertise to instruct persons who are blind or low-vision the use of voice activated computer programs to foster their independence. The instruction sessions explore a variety of areas including keyboarding, use of Microsoft Word, writing text documents, accessing and surfing the internet, saving and retrieving documents, etc.

Mobility Training

VIAIL provides mobility and orientation training to consumers in order to foster independence in their homes and community. Areas in which orientation may take place include, the Centers, participants’ home, public areas such as banks, post offices, utility companies, etc.

Home and Housing Modification

Staff is prepared to assist as needed, persons who find it necessary to retrofit their home after encountering a disability. Also, staff works with persons in public housing to ensure that their specific accommodations are recognized and provided. This service is utilize extensively on St. Croix.

Communication

Our agency maintains contact with persons to provide deaf interpreter services as well as volunteers to read to and assist persons who are blind or persons with cognitive disabilities to ensure that gaps in understanding or communication are minimized.

Peer Support Groups

Consumer have meetings which focus on informational sessions as well as leisure and recreational activities .

Work Incentive Training

Certified benefits planner provides guidance on ticket to work and benefits planning.

Extended Scope of Services

Recreational Services

Once a week a consumer group meets at the Center for Peer Exchange and to plan field trips, birthday celebrations or to receive information from guest speakers.

Transportation Services

The Center maintains a wheelchair bus and bus driver for the purpose of transporting consumers to and from the Center and Center related activities.

Wheelchair and equipment rental or purchase

Equipment is available for rental. Additionally, the Center maintains a display of aids and devices that are generally used by consumers to accommodate their needs. These items can be viewed, tried and order through the Center.

Sensitivity Awareness Training

Staff is trained to provide awareness throughout the community including language sensitivity and other aspects related to the development of an inclusive environment

ADA Education

Staff assists consumers in understanding Americans with Disability Act and being able to utilize it to the fullest extend in order to achieve and maintain independence.

Community Education

Each year the staff conducts a series of Sensitivity and Awareness sessions for community organizations or groups including: banks, housing authority, hospital staffs, and public transportation drivers.

Up coming and on going events

Meetings

Mutual Aid Self Help (MASH) group meets every Wednesday, at 10 a.m. at the center.

White Cane Day Event will be held on St. Thomas Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 10:00 am. Theme "Walk in our shoes" in the Emancipation Garden.

Pass Events

MASH group had a bowling day with Yellow Cedar group on June18, 2018 at Chicken'N" Bowling on St. Thomas.

White Cane Day Walk was held on Monday, October 15, 2018 on St. Croix. Thanks to the Lion's Clubs of St. Croix for your dedication to our cause.

Voices That Count was held on Tuesday, October 9th and Wednesday, October 10, 2018 on St. Thomas and on Tuesday, October 16th and Wednesday, October 17th on St. Croix.

Center Affiliates

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) www.ncil.org
Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) www.ilru.org
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) www.ada.gov
Independent Living Aids & Devices www.maxiaids.com/store
VI Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities www.viucedd.org
TACE Region 2 www.crs.buffalo.edu/region2tace
Governor of the Virgin Islands www.vi.gov
VI Department of Tourism www.visitusvi.com
VI Department of Labor www.vidol.gov
VI Housing Authority www.vihousing.org
VI Department of Health www.doh.gov.vi

Notices

Our offices will be closed on:

Monday, December 31, 2018 - New Year's Eve

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - New Year's Day

Friday, January 4, 2019 - Crucian Children Parade

Monday, January 7, 2019 - Observance of Three Kings Day

Monday, January 21, 2019 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, February 18, 2019 - Presidents' Day

Monday, April 1, 2019 - Observance of Transfer Day

Thursday, April 18, 2019 - Holy Thursday

Friday, April 19, 2019 - Good Friday

Monday, April 22, 2019 - Easter Monday

About Us

Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors

St. Croix

Ms. Sharon Bressendorf, Secretary

Mr. Sal Sanpere

St. John

Mrs. Patrice Harley

St. Thomas

Mrs. Edita Carty, Chairperson

Ms. Edithrose Jennings, Treasurer

Ms. Jane Walter

Our Vision

VIAIL's Vision is to have full and acceptable integration of persons with disabilities in our communities.

Staff

Felecia Brownlow, Director

Monique Bute, Office Manager

Roselin McFarlane, Community Service Coordinator - St. Croix

Stephanie Brown, Peer Counselor

Enrique Alvarez, Driver

Our Mission

The mission of the VI Association for Independent Living (VIAIL) is to provide a variety of programs and services to individuals with disabilities, which will greatly enhance and develop full independent lifestyles.

Auxiliary Staff

Ann Marie Hercules, Maintenance - St. Croix

Claydiena Meade, Maintenance - St. Thomas

De'Borah Gray, Braille , Jaws and assisted technology Trainer

Benita D. Martin, Orientation and Mobility Specialist

History

The Virgin Islands Association for Independent Living

In 1980, the US Dept. of Education made became available to the territory to establish a Center for Independent Living. Visibility of adults with disabilities in the community was minimal. Until that time services to persons with disabilities were provided by the Department of Education which addressed some needs of the student population, the Department of Health which addressed medical and some psychiatric services, the Department of Social Welfare which sponsored a sheltered workshop, a day program with limited work opportunities. Additionally, a group of parents concerned about the future of their children with disabilities form a group called, Parents Association for Handicapped Children, and fought against all odds to have their loved ones participate in the community to the fullest extent possible. During the early years there was also a day program which provided instruction in daily living for persons who were blind.

Operation

In the Virgin Islands, we operates from two locations which are separated by 40 miles of water and to date have been able to provide quality service beneficial to all participants. We welcome visitors to our facilities and will make available any accessible accommodation we have to make living independently with a disability a reality.

Our motto

Disabilities is for all of us. Nothing about us without us.

VIAIL