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Group looks to help disabled live independently

Fergus Falls Daily Journal - 8/29/2018

Aug. 29--Change often begins with education and conversation. Looking to assist people with disabilities to live independently, the Freedom Resource Center came to Fergus Falls to hear from those most affected by the barriers facing people with disabilities.

The Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc. held a listening session at West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls Tuesday to discuss various issues facing those with disabilities in Fergus Falls. Cindy Gabbert, program director and working from the Fargo office, led the discussion. Joining Gabbert were other staff from the Freedom Resource Center in Fergus Falls.

Organized in 1989, the center started in Fargo-Moorhead by a group of advocates with disabilities. Since then, the organization has expanded to six different locations. Looking to "make lasting change so that people with disabilities could be fully integrated into society," the center serves any person with a disability. All services provided are free. There are five main areas of service that the center provides. These include peer mentoring, information and referral, individual advocacy, independent living skills training and systems advocacy.

Gabbert opened the discussion with the question, "What do you consider to be the greatest need for people with disabilities to be independent?" The conversation that followed was diverse and covered many topics. Sharing many personal stories and experiences, the group brought up issues of transportation, housing, companionship, accessibility and overall funding.

Daryn Toso, director of transportation services at Productive Alternatives was able to respond to many of the transportation concerns with his experience. Various barriers, such as the inability to have an accessible van in the Otter Express fleet due to the Minnesota Department of Transportation limitations, were addressed. Employing enough staff to allow the agencies, such as the Otter Express, to thrive and provide the services that are needed in the community was an overarching theme in the conversation.

Pushing the conversation forward, Gabbert asked what would some of the changes the group would like to see in the community if money were no option. Suggestions included housekeeping services, handicap accessible bathroom in businesses, animal companions, programming that helps the entire family, activities for people with disabilities that would allow them to become more engaged in the community, changes to downtown Fergus Falls that would create more accessibility such as one-level buildings, and a training program for those working at various agencies in the area to better equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to best serve those with disabilities.

The Freedom Resource Center will take this information and continue to listen to other communities that they serve. They will host another listening session in MoorheadWednesday, Aug. 29 as well as two more in Sept. in Wahpeton and Jamestown, North Dakota. From here they will work on the ideas and suggestions brought up in discussion and further their services that they provide, as well as working with other agencies to remedy the concerns brought up.

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(c)2018 the Fergus Falls Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minn.)

Visit the Fergus Falls Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minn.) at www.fergusfallsjournal.com

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