Independent Living
IndiGO is a non-profit agency empowering people with disabilities in Northwestern Wisconsin. As a consumer-controlled organization, at least 51% of our staff and board are people with disabilities. IndiGO staff provide information, training, and support to people with disabilities in making informed decisions about disability-related needs.
All services are consumer-controlled and each individual decides which services they wish to participate in while working with staff to establish goals and determine steps to meet those goals.
Peer Support
Peer Specialists are people who have confronted hardships with mental health or recovery from drugs and alcohol. They use their own experiences to support others going through similar problems. They help people with disabilities and lead groups where everyone can share and support each other.
What Peer Specialists Do:
Help with Recovery
They guide people as they work on improving their mental health or substance use disorder.
Encourage Healthy Living
They motivate people to make good choices and stay positive.
Support Independence
They help people take control of their lives and make their own decisions.
Reach Personal Goals
They work with people to achieve their goals and dreams.
Peer Specialists show that recovery is possible by being there for those they help. If you want to become a Peer Specialist, hire one, or learn more, we’re here for you!
Information & Referral (I&R)
IndiGO helps people with disabilities, their families, professionals, and the general public by providing information on disability-related topics, resources, and services. Most of our staff have disabilities themselves, and they are here to listen and help find resources or ideas to solve problems in areas like:
Housing
Transportation
Employment
Benefits & Funding
Accessibility
Discrimination & Legal Rights
Finding Equipment for Independent Living
Community Support & Services
Our Information and Referral (I&R) services help people with disabilities become more independent and empowered.
I&R is also the first step to accessing other services at an Independent Living Center (ILC). Our staff are experts and will follow up with you by phone, in person, or online to make sure you get the best, most accurate information and resources.
Advocacy
IndiGO offers a variety of services to support advocacy in independent living.
Learning Self-Advocacy
We teach people how to speak up for themselves and their needs.
Taking Action for Change
We take part in activities that help improve local, state, and federal systems for people with disabilities.
Independent Skills Training
We help people set goals they want to work on, like:
Speaking Up for Yourself
Managing Money
Taking Care of Your Home
Improving Communication
Using Time Wisely
And more!
Our staff works with individuals or groups at the indiGO office, in their homes, or in the community. We focus on helping people build skills and confidence to reach their goals.
Transition Services
IndiGO offers several services to help with transitions in independent living:
Moving to Independent Living
We help people move from nursing homes or other institutions to living in homes and communities.
Preventing Institutionalization
We support people who are at risk of needing to move into an institution.
Youth Transitions
We help young people with disabilities move from school to college, jobs, or community living.
Assistive Technology
IndiGO offers a Loan & Demonstration program with over 1,200 pieces of Assistive Technology for people with disabilities to try out. The program has many types of equipment, and tools to help in the kitchen, aids for dressing, devices to help with vision and communication, signaling devices, magnifiers, hearing aids, amplified phones, tools for fun activities, and other items to help people live more independently. This program is partly supported by WisTech, Wisconsin’s State Assistive Technology Program.
Partially supported by WisTech, Wisconsin’s State Assistive Technology Program.
While most items are available for loan to consumers for up to 30 days for try-out evaluation, some items, such as computer hardware and personal care equipment, are only available for demonstration purposes.
Accessibility
indiGO offers safety walkthroughs to help evaluate a homes accessibility. If a more detailed evaluation is needed for a home or business, a full accessibility assessment and report can be purchased. Please Connect with the Accessibility Specialist for more information.
Benefits Counseling
IndiGO will explain work incentives that can help a person make the most of their income and benefits. We also help people understand how earning money from a job might affect:
Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income
Medicare
Medicaid
Other Benefits
Personal Development Curriculum
Help Yourself – Self Advocacy (Created & Owned by WI Independent Living Center’s)
This course has 6 chapters (6 weeks) that provide students with disabilities the information and skills to advocate for themselves in different settings such as in interpersonal relationships, school, work, and at a systematic level.
TREES (Teaching Relationships for Everyone in Everyday Situations) – Healthy Relationships & Boundaries (Created & Owned by WI Independent Living Centers)
This course has 6 chapters (6 weeks) that provide students with disabilities the opportunity to discuss and learn about setting and enforcing boundaries in different types of relationships. TREES uses a metaphor of the tree to describe relationships with ourselves, family, friends, classmates and/or coworkers, neighbors, service providers/professionals, and people we meet in passing. It covers the boundaries we need to set between these different relationships and what the expectations are, which are sometimes not verbally explained to students with disabilities.
Dollars and Sense – Financial Literacy (Independence First curriculum)
This course has 6 chapters (6 weeks) that provide students with disabilities information and the skills necessary to become more financially knowledgeable and independent. This includes examining current spending habits, developing a reasonable budget, learning how to save, deciding where to keep your money, and the in/outs of loans from personal connections and financial institutions. This course can be taught 1 on 1 or in a class.
Explore Work – Career Exploration (DVR Curriculum)
This course has 5 chapters (5 weeks) that provide students with disabilities education on how to explore possible careers. This includes looking at career planning, workplace readiness, education and training, work experience, and self-advocacy. This course is web-based, only completed 1 on 1, and can be taught in person or virtually.
Skill's Cafe- Life Skills (indiGO Curriculum)
This course is 10 weeks and teaches consumers how to live independently, manage money, and build job skills. It covers topics like housing, budgeting, checking accounts, and avoiding scams. Students will also learn how to write or edit a resume, prepare for job interviews, and succeed at work. It helps build skills for a successful future.
Let's Get in Touch
Are you interested in learning more about indiGO’s many Independent Living Services?
Please do not hesitate to reach out via phone, email, or by filling out the contact form. We look forward to connecting with you!