Our Own Lives is a nonprofit organization that provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, and play in Southwest Colorado. Our Own Lives affirms the disability advocacy value that “We are all experts in our own lives” and is centered on providing services that are person-driven, affirming, empowering, and inclusive of disabled people at all levels of organizational planning, leadership, and employment.
Our Own Lives offers a distinctly different experience than traditional disability service providers. We do not believe it is enough to provide quality services if we are not including and affirming the disability community every step of the way and in all aspects of our organization.
Central to our values is the importance of empowering disabled people to have an active role in building up our community and our organization and making sure people have the opportunities to contribute and be valued on their terms. We apply these values at the individual level, affirming the person’s right to receive services and support without sacrificing their autonomy and control, at the group level by supporting people to plan and develop their own community events and social gatherings, at the leadership level though having an inclusive board and our elected Client Leadership Council, and at the organizational level through ensuring and increasing the representation of people with disabilities in employment, management, and executive roles within the organization.
Our Own Lives is an approved provider for Home and Community Based Services for people enrolled in the Developmental Disability (DD), Supported Living Services (SLS), Children’s Extensive Support (CES) and State General Fund Supported Living Services (State SLS) Programs. Our Own Lives provides a diverse array of services, including:
Employment Support including support finding a career and job coaching.
Homemaker Support (support for you to manage your home, including help to clean, cook, shop, and manage money )
Support to coordinate medical needs
Mentorship
Leadership and Advocacy training
Person directed behavior support
Community access and transportation
Host homes for people seeking around the clock support
Day Services and activities in individual and group formats
The mission of Our Own Lives is to provide quality support on our own terms, for us to be free to be ourselves. We center the disabled community to be heard, and we build each other up to change our world. We are all experts in our own lives.
Our Core Values
At Our Own Lives:
You are the expert, and in charge of your own choices.
And Together:
We create communities where everyone belongs.
We support and advocate for each other.
We are creative and embrace change.
We help each other, work together, and leave nobody behind.
Organization name
Our Own Lives
2023
Tax id (EIN)
92-3922045
Category
Human Services, Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, Health Care
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
325 S PINE STDolores, CO, US
Montezuma, CO, US
La Plata, CO, US
San Juan, CO, US
Archuleta, CO, US