Causes: Civil Rights, Disabilities, Disabled Persons Rights, Homeless & Housing, Human Services

Mission: Mission:Paraquad champions equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy. Vision:We envision an integrated society free of barriers and discrimination where disability is viewed as a natural part of human diversity.

Results: Through Fiscal Year 2022 (which runs through September), we anticipate that:
•Paraquad will serve 2000 individuals with direct services and respond to 5,000 inquiries for information and/or referrals.
•1,400 individuals with disabilities will be helped through our Independent Living Skills training.
•60 youth will be helped through our Youth and Family Services programs. 100 individuals will work with our Employment Specialists to improve their job readiness skills and obtain employment.
•150 individuals will participate in our Continuing Education classes for those with developmental disabilities.
•More than 300 individuals will benefit from exercise and education at the Stephen A. Orthwein Center.

Target demographics: people of all ages who have a wide variety of disabilities, including physical, cognitive, visual, auditory, and mental/emotional.

Direct beneficiaries per year: more than 1,260 people with disabilities in the greater St. Louis area and we responded to almost 4,400 phone or electronic inquiries about services and resources.

Geographic areas served: the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, including St. Louis City and St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, and Warren counties in Missouri. We also serve individuals from Madison, Monroe, St. Clair, and Randolph counties in Illinois.

Programs: Paraquad is one of the nation’s oldest Centers for Independent Living. We provide five core services to address the needs of people with disabilities: information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, transition services (both from nursing homes to independent living and from youth to adulthood), and advocacy. The majority of our staff and Board of Directors are people with disabilities, following a peer support model that governs Centers for Independent Living and aligns with the principle, “Nothing about us, without us. ” Our Information and Referral Services connect people with both internal programs and external community resources that may assist individuals in achieving independent living. The Independent Living Program supports people in pursuing their goals for independence, which can include attaining benefits and finding affordable, accessible housing and transportation. Paraquad’s Peer program matches participants with peer mentors who have similar disabilities to offer mentorship and the motivation and support to achieve personal goals. Paraquad’s Assistive Technology Reuse Program provides pre-owned durable medical equipment at no cost to people with disabilities. We also have an on-site demonstration apartment with high- and low-tech equipment and products to make people with disabilities aware of what is available. We also help people with disabilities who would benefit with assistance using the phone or internet via Missouri’s Telecommunication Access Program. We provide services for youth with disabilities that include:
•Youth Group -- providing peer support and the development of advocacy and social skills.
•Summer Youth Blast -- a summer camp that develops independent living and work-readiness skills.
•Educational Advocacy -- assists the student and parent with advocating for the student’s needs during the Individual Education Program process.
•Youth-to-Adult Transition -- creates a plan for each youth that addresses their future employment, education, housing, independent living skills, and recreation. Paraquad’s Public Policy and Advocacy Team works to develop and implement systems changes that promote independent living and to eliminate or amend systemic barriers for people with disabilities. We provide customized trainings to individuals, groups and organizations on civic engagement, advocacy, and community organizing. Paraquad’s AccessibleSTL program provides training and technical assistance for organizations working to increase inclusion in the St. Louis region. We also provide site evaluations to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Paraquad hosts the St. Louis chapter of People First, a national self-advocacy organization led by people with developmental disabilities to promote equality for people with disabilities to live as they choose and participate in the community. Paraquad is a hub of resources and knowledge, focused on shaping the future for people with disabilities. We are always thinking about what is next, both for our individual participants and for the disability community as a whole, seeking innovative initiatives that create change and further progress. New programs, including our Stephen A. Orthwein Center for post-rehab and adapted exercise and our LaunchCode partnership, show our commitment to grow and expand our programs in ways that best serve our participants and community. The Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad is a 22,000 square foot specialized and fully accessible fitness center that facilitates lifelong fitness for individuals with disabilities and older adults who benefit from exercising in a supportive, adaptive environment. Membership provides access to the adaptive fitness center, group exercise classes, and education programs, with staff available to assist with transfers, equipment setup and consultation on exercises. Paraquad’s Employment Program offers assistance and support to help individuals with disabilities receive training, obtain a career, and be a successful employee. Paraquad works closely with those involved in the program to develop a plan that meets the individual’s goals and needs. The programs include:
•Continuing Education classes for adults with developmental disabilities that focus on basic academics and the hard and soft skills needed at work.
•Paid Summer Work Experience Program for high school students.
•Paraquad's Job Development and Placement Specialists help individuals improve their job readiness skills and obtain employment.
•Our Job Coaching and Retention Program provides on-the-job support to individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, helping them build the hard and soft skills needed to maintain employment and thrive in the workplace.
•Ticket to Work Program provides Social Security disability beneficiaries the opportunities and supports needed to work, increase self-sufficiency, reduce reliance on Social Security cash benefits, and become financially independent.
•Work Incentives Planning and Assistance - specially trained Paraquad staff provide in-depth counseling to assist participants who are working or who are preparing to work make a successful and profitable transition to the workforce.
•The Bloom Culinary Training Program, which provides training and job placement in the food service industry.
•Our partnership with LaunchCode which provides a training program, apprenticeship opportunities and job placement assistance for employment in the technology field. Paraquad’s Deaf Way Interpreting Services has provided the St. Louis area with sign language interpreting services that empower Deaf people or people who are hard of hearing to have clear, effective communication in any situation. We also offer American Sign Language classes. Paraquad’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) is a Medicaid-based, consumer-controlled program designed to assist people with disabilities with receiving the attendant services needed to safely live in a home setting of their choice instead of living in a nursing home.