Resources for
People with Special Needs
In Blair County
Independent Living
The Center for Independent Living
Independent Living:
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Independent Living Skills Training
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Advocacy- someone to help you request the services you need
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps to begin receiving services: Individuals may call the office and an Independent Living Specialist will contact the individual. Phone Number: 814-949-1905 Hours of Operation: Monday -Tuesday 8am -4pm, Friday by appointment Address: 3013 Beale Ave Ste B102 Altoona PA 16601 Email Address: mdombrowski@cilscpa.org Eligibility Requirements: Individuals self-declare that they have a significant disability. The CILSCPA service region includes: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana and Somerset Counties. Cost: CILSCPA is funded through a grant from the Federal Government. There is no cost for Consumers. This organization would also like you to know: We help students learn and maintain the independent living skills that they need to lead full lives in a community setting. All Service Categories the CIL is listed under: Finding Employment Employment training Support Groups Independent Living Help Finding Services
CONTACT Altoona
Reassurance Program - make calls on a regular basis for medication reminders, social calls, or safety checks.
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps does to begin receiving services: Call our office 814-946-9050 for an application or can complete one on our website www.contactaltoona.com (Button to website can be found below). Organization Address: 2729 8th Avenue, Altoona, PA 1660 Hours of Operation: Admin Office Monday - Friday 9am-2pm but Helpline calls completed from 7am-11pm 365 days a year. Phone Number: Office: 814-946-0531 Helpline: 814-946-9050 Email Address: contactoffice@contactaltoona.com Eligibility Requirements: Free service for Blair County residents. Must be 18 years or older for Reassurance Program but anyone can call our Helpline. Cost: It's free. We are a non-profit organization. To learn more, go to: https://contactaltoona.com/ While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: We offer peace of mind to families and help clients stay independent longer. All Service Categories the CIL is listed under: Help finding Resources Independent Living
The Arc of Blair County
Advocacy: Advocacy at no cost to assist with school and adult provider meetings. Attend IEP and ISP meetings.
Independent Living: Educational classes and activities that encourage independence.
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Contact the Arc so we can better determine the best method of support and need. Organization Address: 431 Jackson Avenue, Altoona PA 16602 Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm by appointment. Phone Number: 814-946-1011 Email Address: mail@thearcblair.org Eligibility Requirements: There is no eligibility required. The Arc is not government funded it is privately operated. Whomever needs assistance receives assistance. Limited paperwork needed. Cost: Zero To learn more, go to: www.thearcblair.org Weekly/monthly activities Schedules can be found on our social media pages (Buttons for these can be found below): Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arcblair/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheArcBlair Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearcblair/ Also click on The Arc Newsletter Sample button below. One-on-one assistance is available. All Service Categories the Arc is listed under: Independent Living Help Finding Services
Skills of Central PA, INC
Community Participation Support- Services should result in active, valued participation in a broad range of integrated activities that build on the participant’s interests, preferences, gifts, and strengths while reflecting his or her desired outcomes related to employment, community involvement and membership.
Community Participation Support is intended to flexibly wrap around or otherwise support community life secondary to employment, as a primary goal. This service involves participation in integrated community settings, in activities that involve persons without disabilities who are not paid or unpaid caregivers.
This service is expected to result in the participant developing and sustaining a range of valued social roles and relationships; building natural supports; increasing independence; increasing potential for employment; and experiencing meaningful community participation and inclusion.
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps does to begin receiving services: Once an individual makes a choice of services, intake meeting is set up with day services, support coordination, individual and family and or residential provider. Service requirements are reviewed. Once all required paperwork is obtained and completed as per licensing requirements a start date is established and services are started. Transportation is contacted by the support coordinator to learn what options or if this service is available. If transportation isn't available, the support coordinator will seek other means for transporting to and from services. Review website and reach out based on region. Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm (Bedford County) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 651 East Pitt Street, Bedford, PA 15522 Phone Number: 814-310-2016 (Blair County) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 2101 8th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 Phone Number: 814-944-9522 (Centre County) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 1225 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801 Phone Number: 814-237-2774 (Cresson) (Cambria County) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 831 Keystone Avenue, Cresson, PA 16630 Phone Number: 814-886-2423 (Ebensburg) (Cambria County) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 957 Rowena Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931 Phone Number: 814-472-1031 (Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata Counties) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 287 E. Industrial Drive, Suite 201, Mifflintown, PA 17059 Phone Number: 717-436-5443 (Johnstown) (Cambria County) Community Participation Support – Adult Training Facility Address: 136 Jaycee Drive, Suite 40, Johnstown, PA 15904 Phone Number: 814-262-0440 To email go to: https://www.skillsofcentralpa.org/contact/ Eligibility Requirements: 18 years or older or an organic brain disorder. People don't have to live in a specific area (however, transportation could be an issue, depending on the location of their residence). Individuals are required to be open with support coordination and be authorized for services. Individuals can self-pay, but this route may be fairly costly to the individual. Cost: Day services bills per every 15 minutes. Depending on the needs of the individual (staff to individual ratio) the cost varies. Help paying for services: Being authorized for services, typically pays for services. This authorization would determine the amount of time an individual would attend chosen service. Is there benefits counseling: N/A Do you accept private insurance: We currently don't have these sources as paying for day services. To learn more, go to: www.skillsofcentralpa.org (Button to website can be found below) While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: Activities are planned but with weather conditions and the interest of the individual, planned activities may change from day to day or week to week. The use of a communication book is beneficial to both the ATS staff as well as the parent/provider to keep current with what happened at the program or at home. Other Service Categories Skills is listed Under: Day Programs Respite Behavioral Support Independent Living Assisted Living Group Homes Employment Training Finding Employment
Learning Community of PA
Unlicensed Residential
We provide supports that enable people to live in their home that’s in a community familiar to them.
These supports are provided by a companion who helps them learn, maintain, and improve the skills they need to accomplish this goal of consistency and independence.
The person and companion work together to build meaningful relationships and actively participate in their community.
Community Participation
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... What steps does someone need to take to begin receiving services/attend your program? If a person is not already signed up with an ODP waiver they can Self-refer to Southern Alleghenies Services Management 814-949-2912. A person can also Self-refer to Office of Vocational Rehabilitation 814-946-7240 Address: 125 Maple Hollow Road Duncansville, PA 16635-7920 Hours of Operation: Office hours are Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Program Hours varies by plan development. Phone Number: 814-949-1905 Email address: clansberry@tlcofpa.org Eligibility Requirements: We are currently only providing services in Blair County. We accept Office of Developmental Programs, ODP, waivers, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, OVR, or private pay. What is the cost for the people you serve? Cost is predetermined by ODP and OVR. In most cases there is no cost to service seekers. Is there any help to pay for services? Funding through ODP and OVR Is there benefits counseling? Yes, we are certified to provide benefits counseling. Do you accept private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare? Private insurance does not cover the services we provide. Medicaid and Medicare are built into ODP waivers. To learn more, go to: https://tlcofpa.org/ FOR DAY PROGRAMS Is one-on-one assistance available? Yes Is there transportation to and from the program? Is there a fee for this? Transportation is part of all services with the exception of once a person is employed at a location. We will assist with connecting to public transportation where available. Schedule/Activities: Activities are customized to the person and their interest. While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: There are other options for most services. Picking the provider should be a matching fit that works for the service seeker and the provider. Other Service Categories the Learning Community is listed under: Finding Employment Employment training Independent Living Group Homes Assisted Living Benefits Counseling
The Empowering Lives Foundation
We provide community-based services for people to discover their purpose & talents through social engagements.
We support people to live on their own or people who want an Alternative to a day program with volunteer work and skill building.
We provide services through the Medicaid waiver and the office of developmental programs. Our mission is to help people to live connected lives by helping them discover their purpose & talents through social experiences. We support people 16-85 mostly people in their twenties who are creating their life with employment, daily task, Independent or supported living and community connections.
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps does to begin receiving services: Most people have a waiver the starting point in Blair County is SASMG in Lakemont (For SASMG contact info go to the Flow Chart page of this website) Organization Address: 1002 Logan blvd ste 114 pmb #143 Altoona pa 16602 Hours of Operation: Weekdays 7 am - 7 pm Phone Number: 814-232-1730 Email Address: John@empoweringlivesfound.org Eligibility Requirements: We support people in Blair, Bedford, and Huntington counties. Most people have a Medicare waiver from the office of developmental programs. Cost: Most costs are covered through the waiver some families have paid out of pocket. Fees vary. There is help to pay for services. Do you accept private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare? No insurance just waiver funding To learn more, go to: Our website is currently under construction at www.empowering lives foundation.org FOR DAY PROGRAMS Is one-on-one assistance available? Yes, we have one on one or offer 1:2/3 support our day program is 100% community based and developed specifically for the person being supported depending on their interest and abilities. Is there transportation to and from the program? Is there a fee for this? Yes, we pick up the person and return them home or where they want/need to go. Weekly/monthly activities schedule: It is a custom plan to each person. Other service categories The Empowering Lives Foundation is listed under: Finding Employment Employment Training Independent Living