Tell us what it’s like to live in Pennsylvania with a disability
The Statewide Independent Living Council is gathering information about the concerns and ideas that people with disabilities have about living independently in Pennsylvania. This information will be used to conduct planning and to use resources to improve the quality of life in the future.
1. Do you believe you have a voice in state and local programs that affect your life? ___Yes ____No
Why do you think that is true? What are your suggestions?
What should we do to increase your opportunity to be heard?
2. If you use Home and Community Based Services or know someone who does, do you believe that the programs have improved with the changes over the last 5 years? ____ Yes ____ No.
Please explain your answer. What changes would you make? What should our role be here?
Please explain your thoughts on the upcoming shift to Managed Long Term Care as Managed Care Organizations will be providing these services as they currently do for primary health care and behavioral health under Medicaid.
What should we do in addressing the proposed managed long term care changes?
3. Are you able to get Assistive Technology and Durable Medical Equipment that you believe that you need?
____ Yes ____ No
Please explain your answer.
What are your suggestions on these issues?
What should our role be in supporting improvements?
4. Financial Supports: These programs are important for individuals with disabilities of all ages in promoting independence and self-sufficiency. Please suggest order of importance from 1-4 in addressing these issues.
_____ Social Security
_____ Medicaid
_____ Trusts: Special Needs, Pooled
_____ The New ABLE Act Savings Accounts
Please comment on your priority here. How should we address these issues?
5. Public accommodation is your right under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please suggest order of importance from 1-5 in addressing these issues.
____ Public Parks
____ Libraries
____ Swimming Pools
____ Educational institutions (all levels)
____ Other – Explain __________________
6. Transportation is vital to independent living, but can be complex. Please provide your order of preference from 1-7 for us to address these issues:
____ Para-transit (Persons With Disabilities / Senior Shared Ride Programs, ADA Para-transit, Medical Assistance
Transportation Program)
____ Transportation Networking Companies (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
____ Amtrak and other high speed rail stations (SEPTA / PAT) with ADA Accessibility issues
____ Complete Streets / Curb Cuts ____ Mass transit
____ Increased accessible vehicles / vehicle adaptions ____ Airports and air travel
Explain why you picked these topics and what actions we should take:
7. If or when you have wanted to seek paid employment, have you found useful state or local programs that provided you with
adequate support to achieve that goal? ___ Yes ___ No. Please explain.
What is your experience with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation?
What is your experience with Employment Accommodations? What is your experience with support in seeking a job?
Please comment on your employment background. Which actions should we take to address these issues?
8. Do you feel that enough is being done to support people with disabilities to access housing programs in order to obtain
accessible, affordable, integrated, healthy and safe housing in the communities of their choice? ____ Yes ___ No
9. Please provide the order of housing priorities from 1-4 for us to work on.
____ Accessible Housing- available units, home modifications
____ Affordable Housing
____ Healthy / Non-Toxic Housing
____ Housing Discrimination
Please offer additional comments on the topics chosen. What we should do to address these issues.
10. Are you registered to vote? ____Yes ____ No
11. Can you vote at your local polling place on Election
Day? ____Yes ____ No
12. Please provide the order of preference on voting issues from
1-3 for us to work on.
____ Inaccessible polling places
____ Voting technology for various disabilities
____ Compliance of organizations receiving government funds
to register voters and support voting activities (National Voter Registration Act compliance)
What are your ideas on Voting Advocacy? How should we address these voting issues?
13. Are your healthcare providers (hospitals, community health
clinics, primary care physician, dentist, specialists, etc.)
adequately supporting you in living the healthiest life possible? _____Yes _____ No
14. Please provide the order of healthcare priorities from 1-6 for us to work on.
____ Inaccessible medical facilities
____ Lack of medical providers accepting Medicaid & Medicare ____ Limited availability of dental care
____ Lack of available medical specialists ____ Prescription drug availability
____ Disability awareness training for healthcare organizations and educational institutions
What are your ideas for work on these healthcare topics? What should our role be here?
15. Do you have an Emergency Preparedness Plan so you know
what steps to take to ensure your safety in an emergency? ____ Yes ____ No.
Please explain your answer.
16. Please provide the order for our priorities between 1-5
regarding Emergency Preparedness issues for us to work on: ____ Training of Emergency Responders and other community / government stakeholders
____ Elevators /escalators
____Provider emergency/ disaster plans
____Disability awareness-community itself and families ____Accessibility of emergency shelters
What are your ideas on these topics?
How should we address the issues regarding emergency preparedness?
17. Is there another issue not mentioned here for us to address?
