Young Adults with Disabilities

This class will provide you with information on your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as other Federal laws and legislation. Review The Student's Guide to the IEP.

This class looks at both how we accept ourselves and our disabilities and also looks at how other people perceive us, and how we can positively deal with prejudice, discrimination and negative attitudes of some people toward individuals with disabilities. Learn about famous people who have disabilities.

Learn how your self-esteem affects the way you live, how you think, act and feel about yourself and others and how successful you are in achieving your life goals.  Get some ideas on how to build up your self-esteem.

Learn how to advocate for yourself by being assertive. Educate yourself on your rights and entitlements and learn about the Personal Bill of Rights. Learn procedures to follow to address a problem and how to obtain a successful solution.

Are there people in your life that make you uncomfortable? Learn how to identify personal boundaries and learn how to say "NO." Recognize abusive behaviors and learn some important safety tips.

Learn the difference between passive and assertive communication. You will improve your ability to communicate needs, thoughts and feelings more effectively.

Learn how to effectively communicate to get what you want. Learn easy to follow conflict resolution techniques and a variety of good listening skills.

This class offers suggestions on how you can deal with conflict and anger. It will help you to learn different ways to avoid and resolve conflict. It teaches you how to handle anger from others, as well as from yourself.

This class teaches you about time management including how to make a schedule, prioritize responsibilities and how not to get caught up in a trap of wasting time.

Learn how to budget your money to do all the things that are important to you. Learn how to set up a budget that will work for you.

Learn all about HUD; Section 8 Housing, Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers. Learn all the steps needed to move into your own apartment including how to choose a roommate, how much money you will need and "are the utilities included in the rent?"

Participants will review previous classes and then discuss community options and resources available. Learn how to identify appropriate resources in your community and how to contact them and the reality of "waiting lists" and how these lists may affect your moving plans.

For the safety and comfort of those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, IndependenceFirst request that persons attending agency-sponsored events refrain from using any perfumed grooming products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners. We maintain a smoke-free environment; therefore in addition to not smoking in the building, we ask that you refrain from smoking in paths of travel and doorways.

IndependenceFirst is committed to providing the highest degree of accessibility within its means when conducting agency-sponsored events. Please notify staff of your disability-related accommodation requests three weeks in advance of attending a class or workshop, or at the time of registration. We will attempt to honor all requests but cannot assure that requests made after the deadlines will be met.