Partner Highlight: Community Interface Services - Empowering Independence and Navigating Benefits with FDD Support

Community Interface Services, a nonprofit based in Vista, California, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities—such as cerebral palsy, autism, and seizure disorders—across San Diego County and beyond. Driven by a person-centered approach, they firmly believe that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are the best advocates for their lives. This belief is at the heart of their work, as they advocate for self-direction and autonomy in accessing services.

The organization's mission centers around empowering these individuals to participate in the community and achieve greater independence. To accomplish this, Community Interface Services offers a wide range of programs designed to foster inclusion and personal choice. These programs include:

• Community Living Services: Assisting individuals in finding and maintaining their homes within the community.

• Employment Services: Providing support for employment and job skills development.

• Social Support Facilitation: Encouraging social connections and community involvement.

• Community Building: Offering support in pursuing post-secondary education and volunteer work in community-based settings.

• Financial Management Services: Helping participants manage their support through self-determination and finances based on personal preferences.

A recent grant from the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities has further empowered Community Interface Services to expand its impact. This funding has enabled the addition of three new Work Incentives Benefit Practitioners to their team. These practitioners provide specialized counseling on benefits and work incentives through the Social Security Administration, focusing on the San Diego Regional Center's adult and transition-age youth clients. This expansion is vital in supporting individuals' journey toward employment and independence.

For many who rely on public benefits like Social Security, the prospect of working can evoke worry and fear, often discouraging them from pursuing employment. The Work Incentives and Benefits Counseling services aim to change that by educating individuals with disabilities and their families on the incentives available to those who choose to work. This service also assists those already employed but facing challenges with their benefits due to their work income.

One such success story is Andrea, a participant at Community Interface Services. Andrea temporarily lost her benefits due to her work earnings. With the guidance of a Work Incentives and Benefits Counselor, she navigated the Social Security system, understood the necessary communications, and gathered the appropriate information to reinstate her benefits.

Andrea shares her experience: “It really helped a lot! Social Security sent me a check for a whole year of my benefit. My dad is now working on a CalABLE account to help me save.”

This story illustrates how essential these services are in supporting individuals with disabilities, ensuring they can work towards their goals without fear of losing critical benefits. With the support of FDD, Community Interface Services continues to make strides in helping people with developmental disabilities achieve greater independence, economic stability, and community involvement.

For more information on Community Interface Services and their work, visit their website: https://www.communityinterfaceservices.org/

Are you a nonprofit organization based in San Diego and Imperial County and seeking funding for a program? Visit www.foundationfordd.org/program-grants to learn more about our program grant opportunities.