Improving Social Connection Among 

People with Disabilities

Administration for Community Living

March 30, 2021
Today’s Webinar

• Highlight current research on social 

isolation and loneliness for people with 

disabilities 

• Identify replicable strategies for social 

engagement and connection from the 

Center for Independent Living network

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Announcements

• Commit to Connect 

– National campaign to combat social isolation and 

loneliness in all communities 

– Visit https://acl.gov/CommitToConnect to learn more 

– Upcoming webinar on ‘National Network of 

Champions to Address Social Isolation’ in mid - April 

• ACL and Federal Communications Commission 

w ebinar on Emergency Broadband Benefit 

– April 15 @ 3pm ET 

– Registration info coming soon!

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Presenters

• Sean Barrett, Team Lead, Office of 

Independent Living Programs, ACL 

• Anne Ordway, Program Specialist, 

National Institute on Disability, Independent 

Living, and Rehabilitation Research, ACL 

• Maia Santamaria, Executive Director, 

NWGA Center for Independent Living

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Office of Independent Living Programs 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
What is Independent Living? 

Philosophy 

Culture 

Federal Programs 
Independent Living: A Culture 

• Shared identity shaped by: 

– A common history of oppression; 

– The lived commitment to advancing the human and 

civil rights of people with significant disabilities; 

– The art, music, literature, and other expressions that 

individuals with significant disabilities create based on 

their lives and culture; and 

– The pride, identity and purpose claimed by people 

with disabilities.* 

*adapted from Steve Brown Ph.D , What is Disability Culture? Institute on Disability Culture, 

2001. 
Independent Living: The Programs

• Independent Living Services (ILS) 

Funding to States for the purpose of supporting and expanding the 

independent living network in a state (56 awards)

• Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

Funding to community based organizations for the purpose of providing 

independent living services to individuals with significant 

disabilities (352 awards)

• Training and Technical Assistance Centers

Funding to provide training and technical assistance to CILs, State 

Independent Living Councils (SILCs) and other eligible entities (2 awards)

• Section 21

Funding to address traditionally underserved populations (3 awards)
IL Programs and Philosophy

Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act

Purpose : 

...To promote a philosophy of independent living, including 

consumer control, peer support, self - help, 

self - determination, equal access, and individual and system 

advocacy, in order to maximize the leadership, 

empowerment, independence, and productivity of 

individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full 

inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the 

mainstream of American society
Independent Living Programs 

Historical Milestones

• 1972 The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is founded in Berkeley, 

California 

• 1973 The Rehabilitation Act passes

• 1978 Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act established federal funding for 

independent living

• 1979 First 10 states receive Title VII funding 

• 1992 Rehab Act restructured: Creates CIL Program, SILCs established

• 2014 The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) enacted

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Independent Living

The philosophy + the culture + the programs = 

INDEPENDENT LIVING
Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

• Consumer-controlled, community - based, cross - disability, 

nonresidential, private nonprofit agency for individuals with 

significant disabilities (regardless of age or income) [45 

CFR1329.4]

– Majority of Board must be persons with significant 

disabilities

– Majority of staff, and people in decision - making positions 

must be individuals with disabilities [Sec. 725]

– People with disabilities are always considered the primary 

person being served, not family members
Independent Living Core Services

CILs MUST provide : 

“independent living core services” 

(A) information and referral services; 

(B) independent living skills training; 

(C) peer counseling (including cross - disability peer counseling); 

(D) individual and systems advocacy; and 

(E) Services that facilitate the transition from institutions to 

community living , diversion from institutions to community 

 living , and transition of youth from secondary education to 

post-secondary life

(The Rehab Act, as amended, §7(17))
COVID - 19 Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 

Act of 2020 (CARES Act) 

• Project Period: Jan 20, 2020 – Sept 29, 2021 

• Directed to utilize the entirety of the funds to respond to 

the COVID - 19 pandemic and the surge of needs of 

individuals with disabilities to access or reconnect with the 

services and supports they need to remain safely in their 

communities.

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CIL CARES Act Areas of Emphasis 

1. Service coordination during and after the COVID - 19 pandemic; 

2. Services and activities that assist individuals with disabilities 

who are at risk of being institutionalized to remain in their 

communities; 

3. Services and activities that assist individuals with disabilities to 

move from an institutional setting to a home in a communitybased setting; 

4. Services and activities that address the shortage of accessible 

housing; 

5. Partnerships with local agencies that address food insecurity; 

and 

6. Systems advocacy to ensure health equity in medical settings.

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The OILP Team 

1. Reyma Mccoy - Mcdeid, Commissioner of the 

Administration on Disabilities and Acting Director, OILP

2. Sean Barrett, Team Lead

3. Regina Blye - ILS

4. Kimball Gray - CIL

5. Veronica Hogan - CIL

6. Peter Nye - CIL

7. Jennifer Martin-CIL

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The National Picture: Serving a Diverse 

Population 

Who received services ? 

• 55 % female 

• 48 % identifying as a minority 

• 43% 25 – 59 years old 

• 39% 60 years old or over

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Leadership

Who leads these programs ? 

• 76 % of Board Members and 64 % of staff had a significant 

disability

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Services and Goals 

• CILs work with each consumer to set independent living 

goals. Consumers often come to CILs looking for a specific 

service or services. CILs guide the discussion from the 

specific service(s) to what the consumer wants to 

accomplish by having that service. The consumer 

establishes a goal based on the discussion and the CIL and 

consumer determine the services that will help the 

consumer reach the goal(s). 

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Services and Goals 

Services Provided: 

• 837,623 Core Services provided 

• 379,347 other services 

• 72,708 goals met!

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Resources 

• CIL Annual Report: 

https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2020-

11/PY19CILReport508%20FINAL_0.pdf

• CIL page at ACL.gov: 

https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disabilitynetworks/centers-independent-living

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Improving Social Connection among 

People with Disabilities

Anne Ordway, PhD

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and 

Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) 

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

March 30, 2021
We have a need for social connection.

• C hanges to our social connections since the start 

of the pandemic 

• Not new concepts but n ew insights into what it 

means to be socially isolated, lonely, or both 

• Opportunity to build on today’s imperative to 

address the social impact of COVID-19

2
What are social isolation and loneliness?

• Social isolation: having few social relationships 

or infrequent social contact with others1

• Loneliness: the feeling of being alone regardless 

of the amount of social contact2

Social isolation ≠ Loneliness

3
What does current research tell us?

• Identified as a public health concern in the US 

and internationally3 

• Associated with adverse health outcomes4, 

increased morbidity5, early mortality6 

• Two thirds of adults reported social isolation 

during the pandemic7 

• Younger people more at risk for loneliness during 

the pandemic8

4
Many studies do not include disability.

• Research mostly focused on the experience of 

older adults 

• Disability included only as a risk factor for social 

isolation and loneliness 

• Lack of early research on the impacts of COVID19 on people with disabilities9

5
What do we know about disability?

• Pre - pandemic, individuals with TBI, SCI, serious 

mental illness had high levels of loneliness10 - 13 

• Younger people are more at risk for loneliness 

during the pandemic 

• Urban residents feel more isolated than rural 

residents during the pandemic14 

• New novel surveys (e.g., COVID - DIS, NSHD) 

include questions on social isolation and 

loneliness15

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Don’t forget social participation!

Social participation? Community living and 

participation? Community integration ? 

• A treasure trove of research on all aspects of 

social participation for people with disabilities 

• A substantial knowledge base may be overlooked

7
What are the next steps for research?

• Intervention research on social connection 

targeting now and beyond the pandemic 

• A range of interventions centered on the 

individual, family, and health care providers 

• Comparative effectiveness research on in - person 

vs. remote/digital interventions

8
Anne Ordway 

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services 

330 C Street SW, #2203 

Washington, DC 20201 

(202) 795 - 7313 

Anne.Ordway@acl.hhs.gov

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Using Peer Support to Address Social Isolation

Presented by Maia Santamaria, Executive Director

NWGA Center for Independent Living
Welcome!

About Us

Mission Statement 

“To empower people who 

have disabilities so that they 

may determine their own 

future; to work towards a 

more user - friendly, 

accessible community.”

Northwest Georgia 

Center for Independent 

Living is an organization 

serving 15 counties in 

the northwest Georgia 

area. We serve all 

disabilities and all ages.
Our Staff

• Maia Santamaria Executive Director 

• Christina Holtzclaw Assistant Director 

• Avis Elliot Business Manager 

• Kathy Baker Program Manager 

• Jill Baldwin Project Manager 

• Erna Dobbs I&R Coordinator 

• Tereasa Lowry IL Coordinator 

• Quinn Durrant IL Assistant All of our staff have disabilities and are 

therefore well - suited to provide peer 

support to our consumers. We are a 

small team but we are experienced, 

dedicated and passionate about our 

work.
Peer Support is the Foundation of NWGA CIL

• Provided to consumers 

• Provided among board members, management and staff 

• Provided to community partners who are consumer-led
Enter the COVID-19 Pandemic...

Our Center’s Infrastructure Changes: 

We were building the airplane as we were flying it!

• Keeping the team safe & healthy 

• Developing remote working culture 

• Incorporating influx of CARES Act funds 

• Adding equipment & accommodations 

• Finding and learning new digital platforms that are 

accessible 

• Changing policies
Enter the COVID-19 Pandemic...

Our Concurrent First Response to the Pandemic

• Checking on our consumers to see what they needed/wanted 

• Finding accessible PPE (such as clear masks) 

• Reaching out to community partners 

• Helping community organizations who serve people who 

have disabilities 

• Finding that contacts with people took longer & longer 

• Finding that people wanted group interaction
And so, we evolved to hold weekly group Peer Check-ins!

• Providing technology and training for consumers 

• Supplying/teaching on an accessible platform – Zoom 

• Providing a safe space, including a disclaimer 

• Providing most up - to - date and scientifically accurate 

information as possible 

• Team & consumers listening and sharing information, 

stories, fears, successes, coping strategies
Using Peer Support for everyone, not just consumers...

• Realized how much our team needed each others’ peer support 

• Increased our team meetings to two hours twice a week 

• Received peer support from other CIL directors and national 

organizations 

• Exchanged peer support with collaborative partners
Recognizing the increased impact of social isolation on people who 

have mental/emotional disabilities...

• Offered Emergency Mental Health Preparedness in Rural 

Communities at 2020 APRIL Conference 

• Hired an IL Coordinator who is trained in IL peer support and is 

also certified to provide mental health peer support 

• Along with management, she has been instrumental in making 

community connections with other organizations comprised of people 

who have different types of mental/emotional health issues 

• She has been able to provide peer support & education to these groups 

and their members, thus reaching more people and engaging the 

community 
And then came the holidays...

• We recognized and responded to the added stress 

& social isolation of the holidays 

• Coping with the Holidays event 

• Celebrating the Holidays event
Now that the vaccines are here...

• Recognize that this is a new phase with peer support needing to 

focus on different topics: 

• Educating about vaccines 

• When and where to wear masks & socially distance 

Offering our courses again: EmployABILITY, You & Your Money and Living Well 

•

• 

Transitioning team to working in the office 

• Peer supporting team with regard to working with consumers in person 

• Incorporating the best of new practices in working with consumers 

• Staying flexible & responsive to consumers, ourselves and our community
Taking a look at the challenges we have faced:

• Engaging residents and staff in nursing facilities during lockdown 

• Nursing Transition Coordinator contacts residents as possible 

• Called social workers 

• Wrote letters to social workers 

Put out press releases to community specifically about our transition & diversion services 

•

• 

The Digital Divide 

• Provided technology to those who wanted 

• Contacted local newspapers, radio & TV stations to outreach to consumers and community 

• Have done press releases, newspaper interviews, and radio shows to get the word out 

about peer support calls & our services
Taking a look at the challenges we have faced, continued:

•Lack of transportation 

Limited public transportation, taxis, Uber or Lyft 

•

• 

Lack of available housing 

• Lack of accessible, affordable housing during bets of times; 

unhoused populations has increased due to COVID so the 

challenge is even greater 

• Have assisted with hotels in a few cases
And through it all, the lessons we have learned:

• Team learned how to work remotely and productively 

• Team grew even stronger 

• Learned to engage with consumers differently now 

compared to before the pandemic started 

• Even more Peer Support 

• Electronic Signatures 

• Zoom 

• Very limited consumer visits with masks and social distancing
Q&A Time!

Contact us! 

http://www.nwgacil.org info@nwgacil.org

706-314-0008
Questions?

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