Advocacy
Advocates Help YOU Be More Independent
SAIL advocates assist persons with disabilities who have questions or concerns about a variety of issues.
We provide information about Social Services Applications, Social Security disability programs, employment, education, transportation, housing, and other services as needed.
Each of our advocates is a peer advocate, which means that we understand how a disability affects lives, because of our own disability or because of the disability in the life of someone close to us.
Advocates provide the Five Services of every Independent Living Center (ILC):
- Information and Referral –
Finding the right program or service to meet your needs and that you may be eligible for and help accessing those services - Advocacy –
Helping you represent yourself as an informed empower self-advocate - Peer Services –
Having a listening ear to talk about disability issues - Life Skills Training –
Getting skills to help you be more independent - Transitions –
Help through all of life’s transitions - YouthTransitions –
SAIL supports youth transitions including life skills training, such as advocacy and conflict resolution, resume writing, job skills training
SAIL is here to HELP you have access to ALL the choices available for you. SAIL’s advocates are trained to know many community resources and to be able to HELP you find more options when available.
Some things we may be able to help you with include:
Social Services
SAIL advocates can assist with the completion of SNAP, HEAP and Temporary Assistance applications.
SAIL also has Facilitated Enrollers who can help with Medicaid applications and Medicaid specialists who can assist those with Medicaid questions and issues.
Social Security
SAIL Advocacy staff can assist individuals with SSD (Social Security Disability) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) applications, function reports, reconsiderations, appeals and overpayment waivers.
Employment
SAIL Advocacy staff work with ACCES-VR (NYS vocational rehabilitation) and One Stop Career Centers, to assist individuals with job applications and searches, and resumé assistance.
Education
SAIL Advocacy staff assists individuals with FAFSA (Federal) and TAP (NYS) financial aid applications.
We will also support parents as they prepare for and attend IEP/504 meetings with their school’s CSE (Committee on Special Education).
Transportation
SAIL Advocacy staff will make individuals aware of accessible public transportation options in their region – CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority) and STAR bus (Special Transit Available by Request); GGFTA (Greater Glens Falls Transportation Authority) and FAME bus (Freedom And Mobility Express).
We will also provide information about volunteer ride services – Conkling Center (Warren/Washington), RSVP (Warren/Washington).
Housing
SAIL Advocacy staff will assist individuals with housing searches utilizing such resources as Craigslist, Facebook and housing lists.
We will also help people navigate their regional housing authority resources and assist them in applying for Section 8 applications and recertifications.