The Independent Living Program is a
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers ...
(VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program aimed at making sure that each eligible
veteran
A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military.
A military veteran that h ...
is able to live independently to their maximum capacity. The program is commonly referred to as VA ILP. The program is a two-year program that can be extended up to 28 months. There is an enrollment cap of 2700 participants per year. VA ILP may include the following services:
*
assistive technology specialized medical, health, and / or
rehabilitation services
* services to address any personal and / or family adjustment issues
* independent living skills training connection with community-based support services
* individualized equipment to assist with possible
employment,
volunteer
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...
opportunities or to decrease
social isolation
Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society. It differs from loneliness, which reflects temporary and involuntary lack of contact with other humans in the world. Social isolation ...
* animals to assist with coping or independent movement
* attendant care during the period of transition
*
transportation
Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land ( rail and road), water, cable, pipel ...
when special arrangements are needed
* peer counseling
* training to improve awareness of rights and needs
Who Qualifies
In order to qualify for the ILP a veteran must meet the following criteria:
* Be eligible to enroll for VR&E services
* Have service-connected disabilities that inhibit the ability to pursue an employment goal
* Have a Vocational
Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determine that employment goals are not currently feasible
It is noteworthy to mention that enrollment into ILP does NOT affect any benefits the veteran is receiving from
VA or the
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability and survivor benefits. To qualify fo ...
.
Enrollment is limited to 2,700 eligible veterans annually.
Process
Once the veteran has been identified as qualifying for the ILP, an evaluation of the veteran's
independent living
Independent living (IL), as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at society and disability, and a worldwide movement of disabled people working for equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect. In the context ...
needs will be conducted. The VRC assigns a VA consultant to conduct an Assessment of Needs at the home of the veteran. The Assessment of Needs is used by the VRC to create an Individualized Independent Living Plan (IILP). Based on the amount required to fulfill the IILP, the IILP is either approved at the Local (up to $25,000), Regional ($25,000 to $75,000), or Central/D.C. (over $75,000) level. Upon approval, the plan is implemented.
Individualized Independent Living Plan
The IILP, as mentioned above, is created by the VRC with input from the VA consultant. Care is taken to ensure the IILP is consistent with the principles and goals of the Veterans Affairs Administration. The philosophical framework for the IILP is composed of the following nine principles.
1. Enhance participation in
activities of daily living
Activity may refer to:
* Action (philosophy), in general
* Human activity: human behavior, in sociology behavior may refer to all basic human actions, economics may study human economic activities and along with cybernetics and psychology may st ...
(ADL)
2. Assist the veteran in participating to the maximum extent possible and desirable in family and community life
3. Provide the most effective services and assistive technology based on sound
research
Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness t ...
evidence
4. Provide required holistic evaluation and services for all veterans who qualify
5. Develop rehabilitation plans that provide services to address all identified independent living needs
6. Consider the veteran's expressed interests and desires, but provide services based on objectively identified needs
7. Establish goals and measure/verify outcomes
8. Provide services that produce a sustaining influence that continues after rehabilitation services are completed, and
9. Explore the possibility of paid or volunteer employment, when feasible
References
July 10, 2008 Hearing on ILP- House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Guidelines for the Administration of an Independent Living Plan
http://www.asknod.org
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Vocational rehabilitation