Heartland Independent Living Center provides many programs and support services to help people live independently at no cost to them. Our Five Core Services and additional programs are designed to help those with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in their communities.
Explore your area of interest by clicking it below, or keep scrolling to read more about all the ways we help people maintain their independence.
Our Five Core Services
Our five core services are critical to our mission. They include information and referral services, individual and systems advocacy, peer support, independent living skills training, and transition.
Information and Referral Services: We maintain a comprehensive database to provide information to individuals and families. If we don’t have the information you need, we’ll locate it for you. Our website also has a variety of online resources available.
Individual and Systems Advocacy: Heartland ILC works in the community to remove barriers for individuals with disabilities, including accessibility to public services, education, and benefits. Our services extend from self-advocacy, helping people learn to advocate for their personal rights, to systems advocacy, or partnering with consumers and organizations to change policies that keep those living with disabilities from living independently.
Peer Support: We match individuals with similar disabilities to encourage and support one another. This service helps people adapt to life with a disability or transition through different stages of life.
Independent Living Skills Training: Our Independent Living Specialists (ILS) work one-on-one with individuals to develop an Independent Living Plan, set goals, and learn the skills they need to maximize their independence. Some of these skills include:
- Using community resources;
- Budgeting
- Transportation skills
- Cooking
- Self- advocacy
- Household management
- Nutrition
- Organizational skills
- Stress management
Transition: We support individuals with disabilities or who are aging to move from nursing facilities to a quality community setting. Our program aims to eliminate barriers, improve in-home services through MO HealthNet, and ensure continuous quality improvement. We also support youth who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as they transition from secondary to post-secondary life.
Consumer Directed Services
The Consumer Directed Services Program (CDS) allows adults with significant physical disabilities to manage their own care. Eligibility requirements include MO HealthNet (Medicaid) eligibility and the ability to self-direct care.
Key features of this program include:
- Participants can hire their own assistants, including family members (aside from a spouse), friends, or from our registry.
- Individuals can get help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, meals, and housekeeping.
- Individuals can stay in their homes or transition from nursing facilities.
- HILC handles payroll while participants direct their own care.
For more information or to apply, call our Intake Specialist at (573) 861-2273.
Interested in becoming a CDS attendant?
Start by applying for a background check through the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR). Call (573) 861-2273 to request a form be mailed to you.
Please note that all prospective personal care attendants must visit HILC prior to being employed by a CDS program participant and bring a valid, state-issued photo ID, social security card, and $14.25 for registration costs. Print a CDS attendant application.
In-Home Care Program
Heartland ILC’s In-Home Care Program helps individuals maintain independence in their home by providing assistance with daily living activities such as house cleaning, meal prep, laundry, grocery shopping, grooming assistance, feeding, and toileting. Specialized services are also available for respite care and Healthy Children and Youth.
All Heartland ILC staff are screened and trained, certified in CPR, and have passed a full background and drug test.
Funding options for this program include HealthNet (Medicaid), Veterans Administration Benefits, private pay, and private insurance.
An extension of the In-Home Care Program is the Individualized Supports and Services (ISS) program, which provides daily living assistance to those with developmental disabilities.
Interested in becoming an IHC aide?
Assistive Equipment Loan and Donation Program
The goal of the Assistive Equipment Program is to remove barriers and improve independence and quality of life for those with disabilities. Some items loaned or donated include wheelchairs, transfer benches, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, bedside commodes, and lift chairs.
The program has two grant-funded initiatives:
Recycling Grant: Heartland can accept and redistribute donations of assistive equipment, ensuring equipment reaches those in need.
Demonstration Grant: This grant enables individuals to try equipment at Heartland ILC or have smaller items demonstrated in their homes, ensuring they find the right equipment to meet their needs.
Care Closet
Available to consumers of Heartland Independent Living Center, the Care Closet provides access to a number of personal care products and cleaning supplies once every three months.
Disability Awareness Education
Heartland Independent Living Center provides Disability Awareness Education (DAE) to schools, faculty, and parent-teacher organizations. The program covers disability etiquette, “People First” language, and interaction with service animals. It includes discussion sessions with individuals with disabilities and has been adapted for emergency responders to better serve people with disabilities in crisis situations.
Dental Assistance
Made possible through a partnership with the Franklin County Dental Board, which is funded with a grant from the Franklin County Area United Way, Heartland ILC offers dental assistance to those who lack dental insurance coverage and have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
Additional Services
HILC has a number of additional programs and services available to those with disabilities, their families, and the community, including:
- Assistive Telephone Technology: The Missouri Telecommunications Access for Telephone (TAP-T) program provides access to basic voice telephone calling for individuals with disabilities through the delivery of adaptive telephone equipment such as text telephones, voice carry-over phones, phones for hearing carry-over, amplified phones, Braille phones, hands-free phones, and photo phones.
- Assistive Internet Technology: The Telecommunications Access Program for Internet (TAP-I) is for people who cannot access the internet or email on their computer because the regular computer keyboard, mouse, or monitor is not accessible. The TAP-I program will provide alternative keyboard, mouse, and software for use on an applicant’s home computer at no cost to them.
- Emergency Communication Devices: HILC will provide qualified individuals with a free emergency dialer, which enables them to speak to an emergency operator by pushing a button.
- Low Vision Technology: HILC offers a Low-Vision center for those 55 and older, featuring a variety of magnifying and lighting devices. HILC Low-Vision services are provided using equipment and program materials provided by Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB).
More Information on Heartland ILC Services
For more information on any of our services, call us at (573) 861-2273.
