1. Home Alone or Out and About: Enhancing
Usability and Community Participation for All
Lillie Greiman, University of Montana
Hayley Burghart, University of Kansas
Glen W. White, University of Kansas
Craig Ravesloot, University of Montana

2. Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living
The RTC/PICL started in October 2016 and will continue until late September 2021
This Center is a partnership between the University of Kansas and the University of Montana – Glen White and Craig Ravesloot: Co-directors
UM is primary on Home Base and secondary on Out and About
KU is primary on Out and About and secondary on Home Base

3. The Home Usability Program
People with disabilities learn to improve their home environment and thereby promote community participation
Empower consumers to evaluate their home environment and provide support to enhance their home’s usability
Consumers create a home environment that facilitates community participation.
Examine the effectiveness of the program for achieving these outcomes

4. What is Home Usability?
Our home environments matter. Our homes are where we prepare for our daily lives as well as places to rest and rejuvenate for future participation.
Individuals are best able to prepare themselves when they have a home that fits their needs.
Home usability is about ensuring that people with disabilities are living in homes that meet their needs, desires and abilities.
A usable home is a home where you are in control and have choice concerning all aspects of your home environment.

5. Usability and Accessibility
Usability matters when people either cannot find accessible and affordable housing and must make do with the space they are in, or if accessibility regulations do not address their specific needs and abilities
Usability and Accessibility are two sides of the housing coin.
Accessibility
Towards universal access, improved access for everyone
Community focused: measurement, codes and standards
Usability
Working to improve current home environments
Individually focused: form, function and design

6. Examples
The consumer has difficulty entering and exiting her bathtub for bathing.
Solution – Grab bars and non slip bath mat. Paid for by grant funds and Medicaid Waiver
The consumer experiences frustrations with his ability to control his home entrance.
Solution —the consumer identified the need for a SMART lock system so he can control who comes and goes from his apartment. This was then expanded to an Insteon HUB which allows him to control much more than his front door (i.e. lights and AC). Paid for by Medicaid Waiver
The consumer has difficulty getting prepared for her day with her PCA inside her home.
Solution—During a home visit, the consumer identifies that the bed she is has currently is too large, she would like to downsize to a twin to give her more space in her bedroom. Consumer is not on Medicaid waiver and has very limited resources to contribute.

7. Community Resources for Home Usability
Home modification/repair services
Funding programs/resources
Population specific (e.g. veterans, low income, older adults)
Need specific (e.g. ramp programs, home repair services)
Fair housing organizations
Physical/Occupational therapists
Property management companies
Cleaning services
City officials

8. Out and About Program
Skills training and information sharing to help consumers address barriers to community participation.
Consumers face barriers that extend beyond their homes including:
Personal barriers such as secondary health conditions
Pain, depression, fatigue, pressure sores, the list goes on
Environmental barriers outside the home
Lack of transportation, inaccessible businesses, etc.
Working with CILs to incorporate trainings that provide consumers with the skills to eliminate these barriers to meet community participation goals.

9. Skills Training
Goal Setting: Identifying what consumers want to do in their communities, what barriers they are facing, and how they will be able to achieve their goal.
Problem-solving: Working with the ILS to set an action plan to address their needs. Connecting consumers with community resources and information and empowering them to be active in achieving their goals.
Advocacy: Gaining the skills and knowledge about laws and rights, skills in public speaking and advocating for oneself and other’s interests.
Networking: Connecting with people in the community, joining social or support groups. Working with peers to achieve goals can provide support and accountability.

10. Information Sharing
Online fact sheets and resources, examples include:
What are your rights and when should you state them?
Negotiation skills: How to make a business more accessible
Cooking and eating well for health
Getting and paying for Assistive Technology in your state
Tips for online social networking
Videos of skills training: Goal setting and tracking progress
Print versions and alternate formats of all materials available by working with IL Specialist

11. Current development: Needs Assessment
We think that LIVING in the community may be different from PARTICIPATING as an equal member of the community.
Seeking the opinions of consumers and CIL staff on one essential question:
What skills and information do people need to be as active as they want to be in their community?
*The Needs Assessment is available today, if you are interested in providing your opinion on this topic. You will also have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a $100 gift card.

12. Questions and Discussion
Home Usability
Out and About
What is a home usability problem that you’ve experienced?
What personal/community resources did you use to address your problem?
What kinds of creative solutions have you seen working with consumers in their homes?
What are the biggest barriers to addressing these needs and how can we address these barriers?
Did addressing this home usability problem help you get out into the community?
What other barriers did you encounter out in the community?
What resources are available and valuable in your community for overcoming these barriers?
What skills and information are essential to have the freedom and choice to be as active as you want in the community?

13. More discussion questions
When it comes to social networking, how can we engage youth and those transitioning from facilities?
For example, is social media a useful platform?
What barriers might those transitioning face that are different from those who have been living independently?

14. Thanks for joining us!
If you want to continue this discussion, we will have a table at the Mentoring Mixer from 5:30 – 7:00
We’ll continue to unpack these home usability barriers and discuss resources and solutions you have identified
Please take a few minutes to complete the brief survey about Home Usability and we are available if you need assistance.
If you’re interested in providing your opinion on Out and About, come pick up a survey and enter the drawing for $100!