The individuals served by this program live in their own apartments around the Metro North area. They all have demonstrated the ability to manage many aspects of their lives independently, and generally enjoy active and productive lives. However, they do have some needs and, for the most part, a willingness to accept limited assistance and support in order to live as independently and successfully as possible. All of the individuals have a predetermined number of hours with their Provider set by DMR to provide support so they can continue to live independently as possible.

The focal areas of Individual Support include Rights and Dignity, Individual Control, Social Inclusion, Personal Growth and Accomplishment, and Personal Well Being. These are reflected in each participant’s Individual Support Plan and in their Vision Statement. The latter is developed by the individual together with their Provider. Within each of these focal areas, everyone served by Riverside Individual Support requires supports tailored to address his or her own specific needs.

At Riverside Individual Support, we understand the importance of having the individual build a relationship with their Provider. We are committed to working towards a real understanding of the particular needs and preferences of each person, as s/he experiences them, and as the family members, guardians, and others involved in their lives understand them.

Riverside’s long history working with children and adults with developmental disabilities helps us to meet the needs of the people we serve in ways that are respectful for each person’s individual needs and preferences. We understand that the only way to build a real relationship is by building trust over time. The people who receive Individual Support are able to voice and exercise their own choices about things that affect their lives. This is true for everyday decisions, such as what to have for dinner or how to spend the evening, as well as for more important choices, such as what goals to strive for or where to live. Our goal is to have the individuals exercise as much self-determination as possible.

The individuals we serve work with paid support staff, family, friends, and others to explore new possibilities – increasing their ability to make informed choices. Individuals have a meaningful role in the selection of who provides their support services. They are asked to interview, evaluate, and comment on staff, services, policy, and practice to the fullest extent of their ability.

In living on their own, these individuals are faced with the need to make decisions on a variety of issues each day. Many of them work, either independently or in a supported work environment, and successfully get themselves up, dressed, and to work every day. Others have appointments, either medical or social, which they schedule and attend with little assistance. They are generally aware of the areas in which they benefit from support, and are able to express that need to paid supporters.

All people need to feel a sense of belonging in their own communities and to feel emotionally connected to people they care about and who care about them. The individuals served by Riverside Individual Support are no different. They have needs and desires for relationships with friends and family. They need to participate in the life of the community – their own home, their neighborhood, and the larger environment – including Riverside, the organization that provides support to them in their homes.