Hi! I’m Davey! I’m starting a new charitable organization called Access Togetherness! (accesstogetherness.org)
This organization is focused on offering services for disabled adults in Atlanta who want to live autonomously and independently while having access to engage in community and even living in group settings with their peers.
Currently, we operate from our house, where multiple disabled adults receive daily supports and care, have jobs outside the home, and where we have social events. We are essentially functioning in a group living module here, but also offer services and social events to others to create community.
Why do we need an organization for this?
Many disabled adults suffer from lack of inclusion, discrimination, not having access to a social life, poverty, food and housing insecurity, are unable to drive or navigate any type of transportation alone, and would just end up sitting alone in their room for their whole life, even though they desire to have friends, jobs, and purpose just like anyone else.
While there have made great gains in our society to pull disabled people out of the harms of institutions, there has also not been adequate support for integrating them into an ableist world. Some of those supports (like the medicaid waiver program, SSDI, SNAP, vocational rehab) have difficult to impossible applications, wait times of 2 years to 15 years, often with 10,000 people on the waitlist and no political push to assist them. These are some of the only programs that would help you pay rent, have food, get a job, and have support staff. I can tell you, I have navigated ALL of them. Most are insufficient for a normal quality of life. Implementing the medicaid waiver took most of my time for a couple years. Mostly, I see wealthier mothers quit their jobs in order to obtain these benefits for their kids so they have the time to do it. Often families without multiple parents, or without wealth, simply cannot access them. However, when the family grows older and dies, the disabled person is left alone, completely at risk for houselessness, and for their benefits to get canceled if they have no one to maintain them. (thus ending their insurance, jobs, food money, etc)
About 28.7% of the USA population has a disability. Often people don’t realize this because the world is not designed for their inclusion. Many simply don’t see disabled people, and think they are a special interest group. And largely, the pain of having disabilities is living in a world that is not designed with the disabled in mind.
What do we do?
We aim to create thriving communities where disabled adults can live fulfilling lives, build meaningful relationships, have lives that feel supported and typical, and reach their full potential.
Support Services:
Life skills training:
- Offer training in daily living skills, such as cooking, cleaning, communication, and budgeting.
- Personal care assistance: Provide assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming, and light nursing care.
- Transportation: Offer transportation services to help residents access essential services and participate in community activities.
- Health and wellness support: Provide health and wellness services, including health education, fitness programs, and access to healthcare resources.
- Counseling and therapy: Offer counseling and therapy services to address mental health needs, provide emotional support, and resolve interpersonal conflicts that arise in group living.
Community Engagement:
- Social activities: Organize social activities and events to foster a sense of community and belonging.
- Volunteer/ work opportunities: Connect residents with volunteer and job opportunities in the community. We work with a couple nearby companies that accept disabled adult into a supportive workplace where individuals can earn their own money and enjoy learning and social benefits of work
- Community outings: Plan outings to local attractions, conventions with other neurodiverse and disabled groups, and events that members are interested in.
Advocacy and Education:
- Advocacy: Advocate for the rights and needs of individuals with disabilities that live in the housing
- Education: Provide education through life skills training, job training, and adult learning/ ongoing educational courses and tutoring
- Benefits navigation: Assisting individuals and their families applying for and maintaining benefits for disabled adults
What would my donation do?
- Currently we have three adults living in the home with one support person. Other support staff comes to the home for one of the disabled adults, but we would like to pay one support person so they can dedicate their time to everyone in the house without serious financial loss, and then move on to have donation money for other support staff to assist the other adults.
- We would like to pay for the costs of filing the 501c3 (about $800)
- Cover the cost of the QTBIPOC grant writer who is helping us shape our organization and research grants, and possibly have enough to pay for writing grant applications!
- Honestly, everyone here that works or is being served is LGBTQIA, you’d be supporting queer and trans people!
- Currently we are offering one tenant free rent until he gets a job (fingers crossed they say yes next week!) because his parents can no longer fund him. Donations would offer help in at least paying some/utilities
- Another tenant pays lowered rent. Donations would help lessen the number of hours Davey has to work outside the home to cover this financial loss.
- Help us throw a couple events- One is “FOOD GROUP”, a social event where we make a meal together and talk about nutrition along with kitchen skills and then have fun eating together! Another one will be a “Make Me Over” where we hire a hair stylist, and possibly a makeup artist, or massage therapist to come give haircuts, massages, makeup and then shoot some photos for everyone. And another might be a Wardrobe shopping trip where we try on outfit combos suitable for work or events to learn about appropriate attire for our bodies.
- It would probably make you feel pretty good to give something once or monthly, or to share this with someone you see as a collaborator/ partner/ volunteer!
What do we stand for?
I fully believe that a supported life is a free life. That communities function best with actual diversity. That community can support those that can’t support themselves because no one fully lives independently.
I have watched peoples lives become a story of struggle and eventually end from lack of support and access needs that go unmet.
And I fully believe that it is my life purpose to give my own kid a really wonderful life. Why not share this with anyone we can reach?
Our Guiding Principles are:
Accessibility: Creating an environment that supports each person’s unique access needs.
Independence: Empowering residents to live as independently as possible, respecting their agency and autonomy.
Belonging: Fostering a sense of community and connection among residents through counseling, and shared experiences and activities.
Self actualization: Creating life goals with each individual and helping them thrive and achieve their visions.
Health: Prioritizing physical, mental, and emotional well-being through comprehensive care and support.
Learning: Providing opportunities for continuous education and skill development.
How can we join in to support otherwise?
- Share this fundraiser
- Contact me to become a collaborator, partner, or volunteer! Email me [email redacted] if you have more ideas for collaboration, want to offer services, donate other items, or work with us during an event.
I’m disabled, how can I join in the household or a social engagement?
- Email me [email redacted] (dot) com and get on our mailing list or ask me anything!
THANK YOU FOR READING ALL OF THIS!!!
**If you want a donation letter, please email me at [email redacted] (dot) com**
Organizer
Davey Swinton
Organizer
Atlanta, GA