Plans are underway to establish a Saipan-based satellite center providing information and referral services in pursuit of the State Independent Living Council’s goal to promote independence among individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n
SILC member and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Director Tee Abraham disclosed the satellite center will be instituted in collaboration with the Hawaii Center for Independent Living.<\/p>\n
The Hawaii-based agency has succeeded in acquiring for Saipan some $58,162 in seed money to operate the center for the first year, according to Ms. Abraham.<\/p>\n
The funding, she added, limits the managing agency to rent a facility that would serve as a central office for the project.<\/p>\n
“Hawaii will hire a satellite center for independent living director to operate the center. But this person will establish a roving office and provide home services or transactions with consumers through the phone, e-mail, cellular phones, radio phones, and etcetera,” said Ms. Abraham.<\/p>\n
Services offered to eligible consumers will focus on informational campaigns and referrals to individuals with significant disabilities.
\nThe initial funding year beginning October will only cater to Saipan consumers, Ms. Abraham noted.<\/p>\n
“They are still trying to establish a data base to identify the population of people with severe disabilities. Depending on availability of funds, we can maybe extend services later to Rota and Tinian,” she added.<\/p>\n
Ms. Abraham explained that operating the mobile service center out of Hawaii would be a very costly undertaking since most of its communication efforts will be conducted overseas.<\/p>\n
The vocational rehabilitation may be designated as the Hawaii Center for Independent Living’s contact office in Saipan, said Ms. Abraham.<\/p>\n
The VR office also receives federal funds to operate a comprehensive program designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide VR services to eligible individuals with disabilities consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice.<\/p>\n
This way the VR program will enable individuals with disabilities to prepare for and engage in gainful employment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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