The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 28, 2019
DisAbility Partners, formerly Pathways for the Future, was formed in 1991 as a tax exempt, nonprofit, charitable organization to advocate for issues concerning people with disabilities. DisAbility Partners offers many services and programs to help people with disabilities become more independent.
DisAbility Partners’ CyberPals Program was created decades ago to place donated, refurbished computers in the homes of people with disabilities for either a fee of $65 or 10 volunteer hours with the community. The program offers basic computer training, including introductory skills, classes on Microsoft Word, Excel and any other programs found to be needed and wanted among their clients. If the client takes the basic computer class CyberPals offers, they get a two-month warranty on the computer.
CyberPals tech Doug Schwark refurbishes the computers by ensuring they are in good condition from their motherboards to their hard drives. Each computer is basically given a factory reset, he said. Anyone can donate a computer, even broken computers or just computer parts, which can be used to repair or enhance other computers.
Independent living specialist Cindi Hall said that one of DisAbility Partners’ success stories is the fact that 51 percent of the organization’s employees are people with disabilities.
DisAbility Partners not only refurbishes and gives these computers away, but they also offer home installation. Independent living specialist Eddie Maney is aided by his wheelchair. Part of Maney’s job is to take computers, deliver them and set them up in clients’ homes. Hall described her work as an opportunity to give back to the community.
“The people. It’s the people, we get to give back and help people and we do it all for free,” she said.
“The opportunity to assist someone to be as independent as possible and remain in their own home is just amazing,” said Chuck Oaks, CyberPals coordinator. “A person’s independence is very important. I like helping and I like giving back. Everyone needs this opportunity and sometimes some help to become more
Cindi Hall, independent living specialist, and Chuck Oaks, independent living specialist and CyberPals coordinator, serve as key parts to DisAbility Partners and the CyberPals program. Photo by Jillian Kassor.
independent.”
Some core services that DisAbility Partners offers are information and referrals, independent living skills, peer support, advocacy and transition to community-based living. The information and referral sector was built to provide information about disability-related concerns and referrals to community resources for people with disabilities. This information is offered to individuals, businesses, schools, and state and local governments.
Peer support was designed to provide role models and advice to assist their clients with reaching their independent living goals. DisAbility Partners advocates at local, state and federal levels for system changes to increase independent living services and equal access.
Transitions to community-based living are addressed through helping clients readjust from nursing homes or other institutions into their homes or community-based living. This service also aids those who are at risk of going to a nursing home or another institution and assisting with the transitions of entering higher education, the workforce and the community.
Anyone can get involved by helping donate; those who are particularly knowledgeable about a topic are encouraged to teach a class to people with disabilities about banking, computer programs or any relevant independent living skill.
