OrthoIndy Foundation is celebrating over $10 million in grants to organizations throughout the state who make a significant impact in the health, mobility and overall well-being of individuals and their communities. These are some of their stories.
accessABILITY is a Central Indiana-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering their peers with disabilities to lead and control independent lives fully included in community life. As individuals with disabilities themselves, they work alongside individuals to reach the level of independence and community access desire. Knowing that no two journeys are the same, the team at accessABILITY takes a personalized approach by providing peer support, experience, and resources.
Through their overarching goal of independence, accessABILITY works to ensure individuals with disabilities can live independently in their home. Susan Ferguson, Chief Program Officer, sums it up best: “accessABILITY fills the gap in services. Where you’ve been told ‘no’ by other agencies, we are here to tell you ‘yes’ and find a creative solution to achieve your goals.”
One vital service they provide is a home modification program. This provides support and services to individuals with disabilities to make one’s home accessible and personalized to meet their specific needs. One example of its impact is a consumer who needed home modifications for safety. This consumer is a 62-year-old widow with severe arthritis. Her arthritis hinders her mobility, so she uses a cane to walk most of the time. She worries about being safe in her home without grab bars in the bathroom and rails at the entrance steps to her home. This consumer was so concerned about falling in the bathtub that she limited her bathing. She is very active in her church and attends every Sunday for service and has bible study and sings in the choir. She is very social with friends and family as well. The lack of these needed home modifications was beginning to affect her community connectedness, which we know would affect her overall wellbeing.
Her accessABILITY advocate was able to connect with a handyman and plan for the grab bars in her bathroom and handrails at her front and back doors. She also needed a ramp at the back door. These simple modifications made her home more accessible and safer so that she can age in the home she is accustomed to and comfortable in and stay connected to her community.
These simple modifications provided the consumer with the safety they needed to be able to safely remain independent in their home.
Consumers often say that “accessABILITY empowered them to navigate challenges, making them more resilient and stronger today.” And that they feel “well taken care of” by the advocates on staff to ensure that they’re getting the help and guidance they need.
The OrthoIndy Foundation
In December of 2012, OrthoIndy established and funded the OrthoIndy Foundation, whose Mission Statement reads as follows:
The mission of the OIF is to improve mobility and function, specifically for the residents of Central Indiana –with a particular emphasis on veterans and the elderly– by benefiting the end users to increase self-sufficiency, promote wellness, and improve the quality of life for those affected by orthopedic issues.
Since it’s founding, OrthoIndy Foundation has been there for hundreds of people. Learn more about the foundation here, and learn how you can contribute and become a volunteer by clicking here. You can read more of our success stories here.
