WRDI Independent Living Specialist offer these services to individuals with disabilities:
Individual & Systems Advocacy Program
Independent living specialist work one-on-one with individuals, combining their voices and experiences to solve daily problems and navigate the bureaucratic maze.
Information and Referral Services
WRDI maintains a wealth of information about disability products and services
Independent Living Skills
These skills will give you the power to live as independently as possible. Independent living skills may include, but are not limited to: house-keeping, cooking, time management, shopping, laundry, and budgeting.
Peer Support
Individuals with disabilities help to promote personal growth by sharing their own experiences of having a disability. WRDI offers a wide variety of peer support groups which are run by and for people with disabilities.
Children's Services
These services are available for children under the age of 14 to supplement services already offered by the school systems to foster the child's learning and ability to function independently.
Home Modifications
Modifications that are designed specifically to assist individuals in achieving and maintaining their independent lifestyles.
Housing
Services related to securing accessible affordable housing.
Mobility Training
A variety of services involving assisting an individual to navigate their home and community.
Employment Services
Assistance in preparing for and succeeding in the labor market, leading to self-sufficiency that coincides with received benefits. Increase knowledge in career research, completing applications, resumes, developing interview skills, job coaching and employment follow along.
Recreational Services
Services that assist an individual to identify opportunities in the community that provide meaningful leisure time activities.
Technology Adaptive Services
Devices that assist an individaul to independently communicate.
Transportation Services
Services that assist an individual to secure reliable safe transportation.
Youth Transition Services
Services for youth (12-24) that promote self-awareness, self-esteem, advocacy and self-empowerment skills. We also assist in exploring career options, including transition from school to post school activities such as vocational training, employment, education, adult services, independent living or community participation.
Youth Transitions Coordinators
Located in Rapid City
Cyndi Fisher - cyndi@wrdi.org
Cindy Girard - cindy@wrdi.org
Larry Mamula - larry@wrdi.org
Located in Spearfish
Kellie Eberlein - kellie@wrdi.org
Located in Pierre
Jeanette Red Bear - jeanette@wrdi.org
1. An individual with a significant physical, mental, cognitive or sensory impoairment.
2. Inability to function independently in the family or community or whose ability to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment is substantially limited.
3. For whom the delivery of independent living services will improve the ability to function, continue functioning, or move towards functioning independently in the family or community or to continue employment.
Deaf Community
We are focusing on the deaf community and we have videophones to contact for communication. We have two staff at Western Resources for dis-ABLED Independence focused on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community for Independent Living Specialist, Advocacy, and support services.
Cyndi Fisher - cyndi@wrdi.org . 605.496.7346 Alyssa Goeden - alyssa@wrdi.org . 605.593.5372
