The Foundation's main offering is a comprehensive system of services that promote an independent life, for People with Developmental Disability to accompany them during their adulthood maximizing their quality of life.
To achieve the above, we provide the following services:
1. Apartments for independent livingUp
The basic service is a Home for Independent Living based on apartments in two ways: as part of a housing unit with multiple departments or embedded in the community near housing unit.
The features offered are:
- Type A apartment buildings adequate common areas near center (less than 30 minute by car/ bus ) and close to centers of community activities such as cinema, supermarket, restaurant, temples or churches, etc.. in a functional building with no frills and replicable.
- Type B Apartments dispersed in the community near the core building for more independent tenants but associated with the common areas of the building type A.
- The Apartments would have 1 to 4 bedrooms, but most of them 3 bedrooms in which will be located 1-6 people according to the shared living scheme chosen, being a typical pattern to count with a chamber for the facilitator.
- We count on a flexible scheme that allows a re-location of people from one apartment to another either in the same building or a different one. For this purpose all the apartments will be owned or leased by the Foundation for Independent Living, and the tenants will buy their memberships.
- The cost of the Membership will vary according to: type of apartment, the number of tenants per apartment and if additional chamber is required and whether or not it requires a facilitator by night. For details see table below (league).
- In each apartment, the bedrooms are furnished by tenants, and the common areas of the apartment by the Foundation.
- Membership can be sold or rented with the consent of the Foundation, who will have an impact only on aspects of continuity and sustainability of the scheme and the social group for the benefit of tenants and their quality of life.
- In Buildings type A it is expected that 25% of the apartments are inhabited by people without developmental disabilities and like-minded to the paradigm of inclusion, leased or subleased by the Foundation to these tenants.
2. Key services and supports at homeUp
Independent Living basically requires a house, but the physical space is just the beginning. There are several and varied required supports that complement, all of them form the eco-system or system of support for Independent Living that make a house become a real home. Below are the “Basic services” and other equally important complementary services.
Basic services are:
-
Supervision of Quality of Life and Support Facilitators or Monitors: Monitoring the Quality of Life by professionals in the field is one of the key services that make independent living possible, based in providing guidance and supervision as required, including among others:
- Selection and supervision of facilitators for Independent Living.
- Selection and evaluation of compatibility between the tenants of each apartment.
- Emotional support to tenants who need it, etc.
- Real Estate supervision and Administration& Hoteliers Services: Having an independent living apartment entails special care to ensure the proper maintenance and daily operation of aspects that vary according to services provided in the building and the habits and idiosyncrasies of the tenants and their families.
-
Support Needs Assessment: The emphasis of the services of the Foundation is more on upcoming aspects, rather than an assessment of past or rated capacity. That is why we carry out needs assessments in support of members accepted for use as an element in the selection of roommates, but above all, to establish development plans and attention. The goal is to learn to act and help define concrete action plans when required, to overcome any specific aspect.
To make this assessment we count on specific tools developed by institutions such as "American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities." Its implementation is made by trained personnel and costs U.S. $ 500. For the first assessment, the cost is included in the membership application for admission to the program, but subsequent assessments to measure progress to establish new goals involve additional costs. -
Life Development Plan: Following the methodology of our colleagues from Teri in the U.S., we consider one of the most important aspects of independent living, to establish a life plan for the next, say, five years, taking into account certain desires and aspirations of the family and the members themselves. This plan is essential in order so that all participants of the Foundation and the members of the support circle -which is mentioned below-, can act consistently and better support the independent living of the member concerned.
Its implementation is performed by trained personnel and costs U.S. $ 500, included in the membership application for admission to the program, but involve additional costs in subsequent applications to establish new goals. -
Support Circles: Establishing and Monitoring:Everyone needs to belong to a circle of membership that is there to complement and support us in different aspects of life, like in learning, giving emotional support in the absence of loved people, etc. In the case of people with developmental disabilities, the need is similar but much more important, that is why it is required a formal scheme that offers continuity and support in the absence of parents or people close to these members.
To provide this continuity, "Their Support Circle" is created for each resident. The concept is to conform a group of relatives, friends, and professionals from the Foundation around each member to identify and offer the required support to guarantee their quality of life.
The circle will meet regularly, will be leaded by the President of the circle, preferably a non-parent, formally elected, and closer in age to the member, to ensure their continuity.
The aim of the meetings is know the needs and progress reported by the member, by their families and by the professionals of the Foundation, and determines the plan of actions for the next period. Here we expect to address personal issues such as tours, holidays, medical consultations, needs and wishes of the member, etc.
It is highly desirable that the member participate in their own circle and encourage meetings between the various circles of members of an apartment to support each other. -
Independent Living Coaches: Independent Living is not a life that someone lives only with a decision in adulthood, is a philosophy of life that involves everyday actions in their personal and family life, at all stages of the life of the residents .To really enjoy and take advantage of the benefits of adult independent living, both family and potential member must be prepared and must take place within an evolutionary scheme.
To support families in these areas, we offer the services of Independent Living Coaches who provide support or family counseling aimed to develop and enhance the enjoyment of an independent life.
3. Medical SupervisionUp
For each tenant, we open a file and we follow up on health issues through a qualified medical group from the Foundation. However, the implementation of the suggested actions (check ups, medical consultations, lab tests, medication, etc.) shall be the tenant’s responsibility or in his/her absence, of the tenant´s support circle (see below) in which the facilitator may be included. Importantly, this care will be needed during their lifetime for tenants and it is expected that when age advances the intensity of care will rise.
4. Medical InsuranceUp
To cover all aspects of independent living throughout life, we must plan for covering medical expenses for all members, either through medical insurance, taking advantage of such medical services like IMSS, self-insurance, or by other means. This service is still being developed and it is expected that members will have medical coverage with a sight towards a group coverage option.
5. Financial Security Scheme (Trust)Up
In order to ensure long term financial sustainability, we have created a Guarantee Trust for Independent Living (GAVI) with individual sub-accounts for family members . This allows us to set up a fund to maintain the tenant throughout his or her life.
The amount required in each sub-account will vary according to several factors (spending level, scholarships earned, additional support services required, need for a shadow, clothing expenses, etc.) The total amount required is estimated based on the calculation of monthly expenses multiplying by 12 months and then multiplying by the number of years of anticipated survival. For example, if expected survival is 25 years, for each hundred dollars required for monthly expenses , the total amount required in the trust is calculated: $100 x 12 months x 25 years = 30,000 dollars.
The GAVI Trust shall be open to tenants or non tenants, but is required for renters, either with their relatives’ guarantee trust or with scholarship funds deposited.
The funds may come from deposits, life insurance benefits for tutors, pension funds, scholarships, savings plans, etc.
Funds of each sub-account are owned by whomever constituted it with the sole purpose of supporting beneficiaries in their adult life and each subaccount shall specify the instructions for disposition in case of any changes (such as the destination of the funds if the tenant dies or leaves the program.) However, as long as the beneficiary remains in the program, GAVI´s funds must be maintained in sufficient amounts.
The general funds of all sub-accounts shall be administered by Specialized Technical Committee, who will invest in low-risk investments.
6. Interaction and complementarity with other institutionsUp
Obviously there are many aspects of treatment in the lives of PcDI not covered by our Foundation. Fortunately there are public and private institutions which do offer additional support. It is our intention to collaborate with any institution that shares our vision and paradigm in order to complement our service offerings. We call this a win-win scheme. There are many complementary treatments available. The following are care needs that we do not offer:
- Diagnosis and early stimulation.
- Support for babyhood and early child development.
- Therapies and special courses for babies, children and adolescents.
- Workshops and vocational training including socialization schemes such Teleton friends or Best Buddies.
With partner institutions, we will form a close alliance, with others we´ll have a policy of mutual support and with even others, we´ll refer to them only as potential solutions.
In the first group of Partner institutions we include CAPyS, Domus, Autism Teleton , Go Forward Down child.
In the second group, we´re in talks with Kadima and also with CADI AC.
It is our intention to further expand the cooperation with many other institutions so that together we can cover existing social needs, watching us each other as friends and colleagues. In this category we have “Fraternity without Borders” and “Residence Villa Azul”.
In our project for Independent Living we do not address aspects of daily daytime occupation such as job placement, employment workshops, training, etc. So we start from an assumption that they will be served by the above institutions, and it is something that we will encourage and in some cases require as a condition of acceptance.
7. Important NoteUp
These core services are offered in exchange for a monthly fee that covers this assistance as specified at the end of this paragraph. In the event that individual special services are required, these will have an additional charge, whose catalog is also included. Core Services Quality of Life and Medical supervision have identical characteristics in spite of the segment or type of apartment concerned. However the monthly fee varies significantly depending on the type and location of apartments as well as additional services that are required.
8. Steps to enter as tenantUp
If you want someone enter the Independent Living Project of the Foundation Incluyeme (Include me), it is important that you know the steps to follow:
1. People can ask for a request form at incluyeme_via@incluyeme.com.
2. The people interested fill out the request and they deliver it to the foundation, along with the requested documents.
3. The following assessments will be made: Psycho-pedagogical, medical and financial.
4. After completing the Psycho-pedagogical, medical and financial assessments, successfully the process continues. In the case of successfully passing only 2 assessments, we´ll evaluate the possibility of a conditional acceptance with external support (i.e. grants) or with an specific corrective action (i.e., medical treatment) and communicate the results to stakeholders.
5. If accepted, we´ll request a ratification of interest with the deposit of a donation and registration fees determined by the Foundation but typically is between 20,000 and 50,000 pesos (refundable at 50% if the applicant withdraws).
6. Once the confirmation and deposit are received, we proceed to the study of the level of support needed and identify potential members to share the apartment, subject to discussions with family members and interested parties. This is called the "matching process."
7. In parallel with the determination of roommates (matching process), will begin the development of the Life Plan with the family´s input. This includes discussions of the formation of the circle of support.
8. In dialogue with the relatives, the plan of joining - either in phases or immediately-, to this program will be defined.
9. Before proceeding to the next stage the financial planning should be implemented that provides for the purchase of a membership (via contract), and a guarantee scheme for Independent Living (i.e. GAVI trust).
10. The process of incorporation continues with a signed service agreement. All services will start on a daily basis with the rights and obligations to be established.
11. It is expected that the Circle of Support will begin to operate and that the process towards improving quality of life begins to bear fruit.