Living Independently Together, Inc.

01/14/2024

LIT florida is starting a new program. This program will have a huge impact. We are going to help adults with special needs, teens in foster care, and homeless people obtain a state issued ID. You cannot do anything without a state issued ID. You can't get into the Social Security Office without an ID. In order to get an ID you have to have a social security card. To get a social security card you have to have an ID. The first step in helping someone get an ID is getting their birth certificate. In Georgia it costs approximately $58 to get 2 certified copies of a birth certificate expedited to you via fed ex in 5 business days. In Florida it costs about $30 plus shipping for 2 certified copies. In Florida a State issued ID is $25 plus a $6.50 tax collector fee. I will use my niece as an example. She currently gets $625 in SSI benefits, her rent and utilities come to $500 a month. Her phone bill is $55 a month. That leaves her $45 a month. Now, if she could get to Social Security to report her changes she could get more in SSI benefits. However, it is going to cost her $89.50 to get a new Florida ID. Our goal for 2024 is to help 200 people obtain a State Issued ID. This is going to cost $17,900. We are setting a goal to raise $20,000 this year. We have admistrative costs, post office box fees, and internet fees. Please make a tax deductible donation today. We are partnering with Fairlawn Church in Ft. Pierce Florida to help their homeless memebers obtain a state issued ID. They serve a huge homeless population.

04/23/2023

8 years ago I did something I would never imagine that I would do. I became a foster parent to my niece that I had met once in her short life. Fast forward 2 years later the state is pushing me to adopt her. My sister in law was helping me with her diagnostic testing. Much to my surprise she was diagnosed with ASD. We have been on a journey that had led us living in 3 separate states. I have pursued becoming a Registered Behavior Technician, and I am working on becoming a Behavior Analyst. I am about 40 years older than my daughter. What will happen to her when I die? I am not sure. I read about a group in Texas that is building a neighborhood for their clients to live in with 24/7 care. I have taken that vision and expanded it just slightly. I envision a “Sam’s club size therapy building!” A one stop shop for all of your therapy needs! In addition where are kids like Tori going to live when they become adults? I envision a community where parents and children with special needs live close to each other in their own homes. Parents don’t have to worry about the care their children receive because their children have staff and volunteers that make sure they are safe. Parents can buy a house in the community, and their children live in an adjacent apartment/condominium for free. The children get all of their therapy services, and can live independently, but Together with their families. Hence the name Living Independently Together, FL. I know there is a need for a community like I envision. There is a need for planning! There is a need for advocacy for these families! I did not chose this life! It chose me, and I will not give up the fight until we make sure these kids have a safe, secure, and loving place to become adults!

04/13/2023

Warning! This is not a political post! I repeat this is not a political post! This is a post about just one of many crises!

Applied Behavior Analysis in this country just like mental health care is broken! I have spent time and money to become a Registered Behavior Technician. I have applied to several positions, and have received 0 response. Behavior Analysis is a relatively new career field meaning that most of the growth and advancement has happened in the last 20-25 years. The same time that awareness for Autism has grown. all of these ABA companies are not able to serve their clients because there simply aren’t enough Registered Behavior Technicians and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. However, there are over 60,000 +- individuals with the skills, certifications, and desire to help people. I was able to get the training for free. But, I had to pay for my background check, fingerprints, BACB membership, testing, and application. A lot of these “mom and pop” organizations do not offer health insurance coverage, vacation, or the supervision to get to the next level. The companies that are willing to train you to become an RBT want to charge between $299 and $500 for the education. While that might be cheap, it’s hard for someone wanting to change careers with a starting salary of $15-$20 per hour. When I do become a BCBA, and I land my executive leadership role I am going to change that. For the last 10 years I have wondered what my purpose was. I guess I have found it. I am an advocate for a dear sweet child with Autsim, and now I am venturing into another area of advocating. Private equity firms have bought up ABA practices. They have VP’s of real estate, VP’s of employee relations… etc. I am all for free enterprise, and capitalism. But at what point does the greed of making the all mighty dollar come before the needs of the families that struggle to understand what their children’s needs are?

06/15/2022

We are officially in crisis mode! Tori has been approved for 40 hours of respite care a week. We contacted a respite care provider, jumped through all of the hoops, and in the 11th hour the caregiver cancels! Parents of children are not okay. We are broken, we are at our wits end! We are tired from fighting the good fight! All we want is services that our children are entitled to! You want to know what tough is? Tough is your child not being able to communicate her needs, and she is angry because her older sister attempted to help, and her choice was not what your child wanted. So, instead of telling you what’s wrong your child throws a fit in the middle of target! After 20 minutes of restraint to keep her safe, and to keep her from destroying the store you decide to walk out with her screaming at the top of her lungs! My hats off to the parents in Vero Beach! Not one person said a smart ass comment to me! They saw us walking and immediately cleared the isles for me to get her safely out of the store and into the car! Yes! I have had the opposite happen where two adults attempted to kidnap tori because they didn’t understand what was going on! So! No! We are not okay! No, we do not have the help that we need with this child!

06/07/2022

We are actively seeking Volunteers! Please help us to get organized! If you are interested in helping us develop our Website, solicit supplies for "Tori's Closet," or serve on our Board, please fill out the form below!

Thank you for your Interest in the Living Independently Together Board

05/30/2022

We've been busy doing the prep work that will help us to do great things! We need your help to achieve our goals. If you'd like to hear more about our plans, please reach out!

If you are interested in being a part of our Board or our volunteer team, please complete our Google form!

Thank you for your Interest in the Living Independently Together Board

05/07/2022

Great news! We attended a conference in Las Vegas and learned so many great things. We are ready to start receiving applications for board members, and we have about to launch our first program! If you have an interest in serving on the board email [email protected] ! We are definitely going to change the world!

11/30/2021

It's Giving Tuesday and a great day to donate to Living Independently Together!

We're fundraising for Tori's Closet, a program of Living Independently Togeth… Living Independently Together Florida Inc needs your support for Tori's Closet

11/24/2021

We hope that all of you have a happy Thanksgiving!