"Toward Full Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities"

Inclusion Maine Links and Resources

The following Internet Web Sites are listed for your convenience. The list is not all inclusive, nor should it be considered an endorsement of the accuracy of, or support for, the information/views expressed in each site. Please sent our Contact Us any remarks you have regarding these listings and, of course, any additional resources.

Homes and Housing

Living in a community offers people with disabilities opportunities to become a homeowner, a tenant, or a roommate. People can get to know neighbors, plant gardens, walk through their neighborhood, have BBQ’s and have place to call home.

http://www.ceimaine.org - A nonprofit community development corporation creating economic opportunities for Maine people, businesses and communities.

http://www.accessmaine.org - This website was developed to assist Mainers with disabilities, their families, and providers. There is also lots of information here that is useful to employers, educators, researchers, and the general public.

Employment and Earning a Paycheck

For people who want to work and earn real wages for real work being employed is a link to community. As an employee or as a self-employed businessperson people can earn money, access benefits and be part of a business place with opportunities to get to know coworkers.

http://www.apse.org/ - The Association for Persons in Supported Employment is a membership organization formed in 1988 to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons experiencing disabilities.

http://www.maine.gov/rehab/ - BRS works to bring about full access to employment, independence and community integration for people with disabilities.

http://www.trninc.com/ - Offering resources on the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities.

Volunteering and Giving Back

Finding a place to get involved and share us assists people with connecting to their community in a meaningful way. Non-Profits can benefit from the rich resource of people giving back while offering a place to share interests and passions with others.

http://www.volunteermaine.org/ - Volunteer Maine! Became a growing partnership that capitalizes on the unique capacities, energies, and talents of the partners. Its goal is to establish a consistent statewide system that links citizens with volunteer opportunities and volunteer programs with resources and each other.

http://www.americorps.org/ - AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.

Spirituality

Being part of a community of others who have your similar faith can be a source of comfort and strength for people. Belonging to a church, synagogue, temple or other Spiritual entity can bring together people and offer a sense of belonging and caring in someone’s life.

http://www.mainecouncilofchurches.org/ - The Maine Council of Churches is many things: a forum for faith issues, an organization with a membership of more than 600 churches in Maine, a united voice calling attention to social issues of concern, such as hunger, poverty, civil rights, economic justice, environmental stewardship, criminal justice and much more

http://www.nafim.org/ - Supporting the Inclusion of Persons with Mental Retardation in the Catholic Church.

Health, Wellness and Nutrition

Outlets to express of individual interests while getting healthy in body and mind are part of communities. Joining a YMCA, YWCA, a weight management group, taking a cooking class, or experiencing various new activities can be part of community involvement while meeting people and getting healthy.

http://www.ymca.net/index.jsp - Together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs' strength is in the people they bring together.

http://www.ywca.org/ - Operating at thousands locations throughout the country in 326 Associations, in all 50 states, the YWCA serves girls and women with flexible programs that span their lifetimes. Its outreach extends internationally through its membership in the World YWCA, at work in 101 other countries.

http://www.accessmaine.org/Toolkits/FitnessFacility/fitnessfac.htm - Resource Guide for Fitness Facility Managers

Life Long Learning and Education

Pursuing a dream of reading or learning to balance a checkbook can be exciting and liberating. Individuals can continue to gain new skills, pursue passions and explore new ways to be involved in their community through taking a class or joining a lesson at the local craft store.

http://www.lvmaine.org/ - Literacy Volunteers of Maine serves Maine adults by empowering them to acquire or improve literacy skills and knowledge required for effective citizenship, productive employment, and intellectual growth.

http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/education/index.html - A eight-hour self-study was created to help people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the history of society's treatment of people with disabilities from ancient times through the present. The course focuses on the way that people with disabilities lived, learned and worked throughout history and growth of the Disability Rights Movement. The course also introduces some of the individuals and groups whose efforts resulted in new ways of thinking about people with disabilities and their rights.

http://www.smccme.edu/ - Southern Maine Community College

http://www.diversityworld.com/Denise_Bissonnette/index.htm - Denise Bissonnette is one of North America’s most sought-after trainers and speakers on career development, job development, workforce development, and "true livelihood".

Family and Friends

Being a friend and having friends is important to most people in their lives. Supporting friendships through sending cards, calling to say hi and being there in the good times and bad enrich people lives. Family connections can be supported through reaching out and staying part of the family network throughout our lives that can bring wonderful memories.

http://www.capacityworks.com/about.html - For 30 years, Dr. Mount has worked toward the ideal that every person with a disability can be a valued member of community life. She has collaborated on more than 50 publications that tell stories of imagining and implementing positive futures for people with disabilities. Her efforts demonstrate that communities can support the contributions of people with disabilities, and that organizations can adapt to be more person-centered.

http://inclusion.com - The Inclusion Press, The Inclusion Network and The Marsha Forest Centre

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/index.htmlx - Family Village is a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support.

Other helpful web sites

http://qualitymall.org - Welcome to Quality Mall, a place where you can find lots of free information about person-centered supports for people with developmental disabilities.

http://www.amistadinc.org/portconnect/ - Welcome to Portland Connections Low-cost Recreational Event Guide.
Portland Connections features a variety of recreational activities in the Greater Portland area costing $10 or less!

http://www.dimagine.com/ - Imagine is the name I give my consulting practice, which is dedicated to supporting people who experience disabilities and exhibit, what some have called, "difficult behaviors." In my view, what's most needed when supporting someone who engages in difficult behaviors is imagination. If you will, the story-line that is floating around about the person is a major part of the problem. What's needed is a new story.

Developmental Services (DS) General Information

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