SAIL-Services We Provide

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Systems Advocacy Individual Advocacy
Peer Support Information and Referral
Housing Referral Independent Living Skills Training
De-Institutionalization Assistive Technology
ADA Compliance Reviews Older Blind Alaskans OBA
Deaf Services Benefits Counseling
ORCA / Recreation SAIL Taxi Voucher Program
Community Education Aging and Disability Resource Center


Systems Advocacy

Photo of person catching a salmon Systems Advocacy is defined as outreach and educational activities designed to raise awareness of both needs and capabilities of persons with disabilities. This education is targeted primarily at legislators, public officials, city/borough and state employees, and other public employees.

The aim of this service is to create equal access and community integration for individuals living and working in Southeast Alaska.

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Individual Advocacy

Staff assists individuals with disabilities to resolve conflicts that impede the ability of consumers to live independently. This individual advocacy is provided one-on-one to assist with Social Security entitlements, Medicare, Veterans benefits, and other personal rights violations involving disability concerns.

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Peer Support

Peer support offers the opportunity to share ideas and means of coping with a disability. This kind of support gives an individual a chance to explore options, make informed decisions, and achieve self-control over his or her own life.

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Picture of two friends on an activity Photo of people kayaking in Alaska

Information and Referral

SAIL offices are community-based information and referral centers. Staff are knowledgeable about community agencies and service providers and refer requests for services to appropriate resources. Free information resource libraries are maintained. Library items are available in a variety of alternative media such as Braille, large print, or on cassette tapes and closed-captioned videos to meet needs of consumers.

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Housing Referral

Picture of smiling person on a boat ride Staff provides assistance with the location of appropriate shelter. Services include a housing registry with pricing and accessible units, applications for home modifications, and filing for Section 8 housing.

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Independent Living Skills Training

Staff works individually and in small groups with consumers who need education and demonstration of techniques for daily living. Activities may include something as simple as phone use following vision loss or as complex as training in the use of voice-activated software.

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De-Institutionalization

SAIL staff work with individuals and institutions to promote the least restrictive, appropriate environment for maximum independence. The adequacies of home and community supports in relation to individual needs are explored rather than nursing home care if not necessary.

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Benefits Counseling

This program offers assistance with social service applications and understanding of entitlements.

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Assistive Technology

Picture of adaptive skiing in Juneau Alaska SAIL maintains an assistive technology equipment loan closet. Staff provides workshops and training's to consumers, providing training to utilize technology. The Juneau office offers computer access for consumers with Internet access and voice recognition software. The consumer service fund assists with purchasing adaptive equipment, home modifications or other services to promote independence.

SAIL's Juneau Loan Closet is located off-site, so in most cases, there is a 24 hour request period (e.g. you request to borrow a wheelchair on Thursday at noon, we should have one for you to borrow, if available, by noon on Friday). Your patience is appreciated while we process your request.

Also, if you have equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, showerchairs, etc. that you would like to donate to SAIL for a tax-deduction, we are always looking for such high-use items. Please call your local SAIL office for information on how to donate equipment for future Loan Closet users.

The Loan Closet requires your generous cash and equipment donations to survive, so thank you for serving future generations of individuals with temporary equipment needs!

The Juneau office, in partnership with the Lions Club, offers a wheel chair loan program.

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ADA Compliance Reviews

Picture of OBA in front of a lake  on a trip Staff experienced with the regulations regarding access and building codes can assess sites for compliance with ADA standards. There is a fee for this service and a written report is provided following the survey.

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OBA

The Older Blind Alaskan Program serves individuals 55+years of age who have significant vision impairment. This population has been identified by the state of Alaska as underserved. This program offers a support group that helps people adjust to vision loss and provides educational and recreation opportunities. SAIL also offers vision services to all individuals regardless of age.

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Deaf Services

Picture of person at an ORCA Lua Event Deaf Services provide oral and sign language interpreter services to individuals who are deaf/hearing impaired. The Deaf Services program also provides interpreter training, community education, and recreation opportunities. The program is partially funded by a City and Borough of Juneau Social Services block grant.

Sail has a direct TTY-only line, which is (907) 523-5285. There is also an after-hours/weekend pager for Interpreter Requests, for which the phone number is (907) 463-7490.

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Community Education

SAIL offers school and workplace training about disability etiquette and awareness, assistive technology, and ADA compliance.

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Aging and Disability Resource Center

ADRC Information for Alaskans Under a new federal grant, SAIL and the Kenai Peninsula Independent Living Center (KPILC) will become Aging and Disability Resource Centers. An ADRC is a "one-stop resource center" where persons with disabilities and the elderly get complete information about services which help them continue living independently.

If you are thinking, "that's a perfect match for SAIL," that's what we thought, too. Information and referral is one of the five core services that our Center for Independent Living provides, along with advocacy, independent skills training, peer support, and de-institutionalization. ADRC is in lock step with SAIL's mission, "Empower Southeast Alaskan's with disabilities by providing and promoting options to live as active, productive, and involved citizens in their community of choice." SAIL and KPILC are the first two of five "single points of entry" for seniors and people with disabilities to get information and referral services. ADRC sites will also provide prescreening for Medicaid and other services provided by the Alaska Division of Senior and Disability Services.

The grantee, Alaska Housing Finance Corp., is contracting with the Statewide Independent Living Council. The Older Persons Action Group, publisher of the Senior Voice, is a sub-grantee for ADRC. The Senior Voice will provide monthly information on the project as well as non-English and Native language services as needed.

For more information about the ADRC,
or if you would like printed materials for your center, please download:

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RecWorks!

RecWorks! Logo

RecWorks! is a grant-funded pilot project, designed to demonstrate that participation in recreation can build pre-employment and ultimately long-term employability skills. The motto of the program is: “From Enjoyment to Employment.” RecWorks! is a strength-based exploration of the talents, interests, and skills of an individual (identified through a process called "Discovery"), in concert with some focused pre-employment training geared to build on positive employment outcomes. Additionally, participants are supported and encouraged in their personal development through participation in ORCA (Outdoor Recreation & Community Access). The RecWorks! philosophy is that positive recreational opportunities build confidence and myriad skills, thereby enhancing an individual’s prospects for employment matches. DVR is an integral participant in this project.

Optimally, SAIL, Inc staff will work with students on this project both individually and in small groups. Educational materials will be provided in an engaging format, geared to the cognitive levels of the students involved. Recreational activities will reflect the interests of the group members. Lessons learned in both the recreational and classroom periods will be related to skills required for successful participant employment.

Please contact your local SAIL office for more information about RecWorks in your area.

Click here to download the RecWorks! Brochure.

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SAIL Taxi Voucher Program

Accessible Taxi

Last-minute trips, as well as trips outside of public transit's service area and hours, for persons with disabilities and seniors just got a lot cheaper. SAIL and Juneau Taxi & Tours joined forces via government grants to create the Taxi Voucher Program, allowing persons with disabilities or age 60 and older to ride for 40 cents on the dollar.

Registered persons (via a short application) will be able to purchase vouchers that can be used to pay for taxi rides with Juneau Taxi and Tours. Each voucher has a $3 value, but only costs the consumer $1.20. Vouchers are used to pay the fare when you call and ride Juneau Taxi & Tours, including their new wheelchair-accessible taxicab. Vouchers, applications and details are available only at SAIL's Juneau office, 3225 Hospital Dr., Suite 300, or by calling 586-4920 v/TTY.

Grant funders include the City and Borough of Juneau, State of Alaska, and the federal government.

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ORCA/Recreation Services

O.R.C.A. - Outdoor Recreation Community Access ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) is the recreation program of SAIL. ORCA's mission is to promote inclusive recreation and adaptive outdoor pursuits for Southeast Alaskan's who experience disabilities.

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Click here to learn more about ORCA.

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