July 7, 2017

by: OakLeaf Services Contributor

The Importance of Community Integration for Persons with Disabilities

This week’s blog was written by Lakesha Porch, OakLeaf Activities Coordinator.

A change in how we approach serving adults with disabilities is long overdue, and UCP of Greater Cleveland is grateful that the state of Ohio is prioritizing community integration and employment for adults with disabilities. The idea that persons with disabilities want to work, volunteer and be involved in the community is one that matches well with the mission of our organization.  At UCP of Greater Cleveland, we are identifying ways to make true community integration a reality for our clients. Their excitement, interest and desire are all part of the equation that drives staff to find innovated ways to make volunteer and community experiences happen.  Being greeted with an excited, “What are we doing today? Can I go?” has become an everyday occurrence because the clients we serve want to be involved—they want to do something meaningful, challenging and fun.

Many of the clients we serve have significant disabilities and are not able to work in the community. As their Activities Coordinator, I have the opportunity to find what makes them smile and to provide them with a way to be a part of our community.  I look for innovative outings and activities that will provide joy and personal growth.  An example of this type of activity includes going to restaurants like Shooters on the Water.  To many, this place is merely a restaurant down in the Flats, but to our clients it is a place where they can build relationships with the waiter or hostess and learn what it takes to be in a service profession while enjoying the warm summer breeze, sitting on a spacious deck and watching the big boats cruise by.

We have also recently visited The Corner Alley, the new Beach House at Edgewater Park and the Western Reserve Historical Society.  These places are filled with fun educational information, beautiful scenery and people in the community who are welcoming. Each outing takes staff time to research accessibility, cost and matching our client’s likes and dislikes with the activity. But it is well worth it to see the excitement and delight experienced by our clients.

For those clients with less significant support needs, I look for volunteer opportunities in the community where we can make a difference.  In the last six months, we have volunteered at the Cleveland Food Bank and the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank.  Most of our clients perform their volunteer assignments with an independent mindset, with an urgency to perform any task with a “can do” attitude.  Some of our clients need more assistance because of their physical disabilities, and therefore need more time to accomplish the task; but that’s okay because they are volunteering and there is no time limit on helping others.  I am proud to say that our clients have packed approximately 1,800 lunches and more than 3,200 books during the last six months. They are succeeding in helping their community while gaining a sense of corrected normalcy in society.

Every other week there are volunteer opportunities at MedWish International. The organization gathers used and unused medical supplies from hospitals and medical supply companies to be distributed to the less fortunate in third world countries. Our clients sort the supplies based on expiration date, item names and items considered “trash,” then put the items into bins where they can be packed and shipped by weight. Our clients love being part of a humanitarian effort! Volunteering at MedWish International is exciting because the clients never know what’s in the mysterious boxes for the day or whom the supplies will help until well into the task.  On a regular basis, our clients have to sort 7-10 items into blue bins. It is not your ordinary volunteering experience – it’s more. These clients are learning skills that could potentially help them get a job in the future.

These are just a few examples of community experiences and volunteer opportunities that we have coordinated for our clients.  In my opinion, UCP of Greater Cleveland is doing a great job prioritizing community integration and volunteer opportunities as a core part of our programming.  It is my hope that our clients are happy to come to UCP of Greater Cleveland every day, knowing that their day will be filled with meaningful and challenging life experiences.

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