Three Disability Support Programs in Our Own Backyard

As an advocate, I love to inform the community of services and programs that support the everyday living practices of a person with a disability. Especially low or no-cost options, which are hard to come by.

Today I want to highlight three in our community:

1. Medical Equipment Loan Program (MELP)
   Are you aware that Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley (GESMV) maintains an inventory of non-motorized medical equipment that they loan out to anyone in the community for FREE? Say you break a leg and need a walker. Or maybe you are a caregiver for someone who needs mobility equipment, like a wheelchair, to get around. Don’t go out and buy these items! Call us or request equipment through our online form at GESMV.org. MELP has a rotating inventory of medical equipment from walkers and crutches to manual wheelchairs and bed rails. There are no income restrictions or requirements. The program asks for your contact information, the type of device you need, and schedules a pickup from our Dayton or Lima locations. Simply return the equipment when you no longer need it.
   Click here to request equipment on our website.
   For more information about our Dayton location, please call 937-528-6357.
   For hours and appointments in Lima please call 419-228-4821.
2. Although the MELP program loans lots of medical equipment, they do not have equipment that requires a battery, like an electric wheelchair or scooter. Luckily, the Access Center for Independent Living’s Recycled Equipment Donated for Independence (REDI) Program does. REDI has medical equipment ranging from medical beds to couch wedges. While ACIL does not repair donated items, every attempt is made to ensure devices are in working order before being placed in stock. ACIL makes these items available to individuals who are not eligible to obtain the equipment through Medicaid or Medicare, do not have insurance and cannot afford the equipment. There can be a waitlist for items. But if you are placed on the waitlist, an ACIL Independent Living Specialist will review your potential eligibility for new equipment from other resources in the community. The REDI Program has assisted many of my friends to remain independent!
3. United Rehabilitation Services (URS) also offers the Gorman Hewitt-Ayars Foundation, which is near and dear to my heart. I am a former board member of this great foundation, and I also attended URS and Gorman Elementary School as a child. This foundation supplies funds to help with a little bit of everything to enhance someone’s independence; from assistive speaking devices to bathroom modifications. The foundation does ask that applicants try to match funds whenever possible, but it is not a determining factor for whether or not the applicant receives help.

Many people with disabilities live on a fixed income, making it challenging to get the things they need to remain independent and experience a high quality of life. I’m thankful for low and no-cost options, because they help us balance a tight budget and feel less stressed. Know another program that provides free support services? Email me at s.cooper@gesmv.com and I’ll continue to inform my readers with a follow-up blog!