A Better Living Environment (ABLE) Cooperative

Vermont nonprofit corporation, which operates as a consumer cooperative.

ABLE is not running yet, its purpose is to provide home care services to its members, who are low-income people with disabilities. Members must qualify for a Vermont Long-term Medicaid program and self-direct. ABLE members will pool their resources to obtain the consistent and flexible personal care services they need in order to live independently, which allows them to increase their involvement in the community through employment, attending school, and volunteering. ABLE would serve 12+ members and employ one full-time services coordinator, 7 full-time Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), 8 part-time PCAs, with oversight by a five member-directed Board. This organizational structure does not currently exist anywhere in the country or in Vermont. A Better Living Environment Cooperative would be a first of its kind to allow people with disabilities to work together to reach greater community inclusion. All of this would not have been possible without the direct-support of the Vermont Center for Independent Living(VCIL) and Boston College’s National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services, along with countless other community partners.