Whether newly disabled or a person, who is aging with a disability, use of adaptive skills, access to resources, and support from peers is essential to sustained well-being. The Independent Living Skills (ILS) program helps people with disabilities and older adults learn how to take care of themselves and become more independent.
Who Is Eligible?
Any individual living with a disability or classified as an older adult in Orange County can qualify for services provided by the ILS program. Generally, participants are aged eighteen or older.
Referral Process
Potential consumers learn about independent living skills training through the Dayle McIntosh Center from other organizations, friends and family, word-of-mouth, social media, and outreach events.
Basic Independent Living Skills Topics
Peer Support: Looking at how feelings, thoughts, and beliefs can affect goals. It means understanding strengths and areas to improve. The aim is to develop a sense of pride and self-worth.
Self-advocacy: Learning skills like decision-making, problem-solving, evaluating risks and outcomes, and finding support when necessary.
Time and Task management: Learning to organize tasks efficiently, setting priorities, estimating time for each task, avoiding overload, breaking tasks into smaller steps, setting realistic daily goals, practicing patience, and finding personalized strategies for success. It’s all about being practical and effective.
Daily Living Skills: Performing housekeeping tasks, doing laundry, shopping, preparing simple meals, arranging transportation, following safety procedures.
Social Skills: Interacting with others, using effective communication, engaging in the community.
Money Management: Making and following a budget, using banking services, understanding how credit works, paying bills online.
Computer Skills: Combining an Independent Living Skill with technology, such as
- Learning basics of email for future services and to keep in touch with people
- Learning how to organize digital files
- Learning basics of calendar, note taking, and/or task managers to help with time and task management
Program Success Story
A person seeking help from the ILS program initially wanted to improve their communication skills. They lived with their brother and wife but wished to move out due to personality clashes. Dissatisfaction with their job stemmed partially from communication problems with colleagues. The ILS Instructor and the person collaborated on enhancing communication abilities, expressing ideas and emotions effectively, setting boundaries with family and coworkers, and making work more engaging, like turning tasks into self-made games. They also explored ways to connect with the community and make friends. Eventually, the person found a job they liked in another state, saved up, and moved out with a roommate. They appeared enthusiastic about this new phase of life and achieved greater independence through the ILS program..
For more information about the ILS program call 714.621.3300 or complete the online form.
