Supported Life Institute-CTEC

SLI programs provide practical information to disabled individuals and their service providers, in a range of important topics related to the inclusivity of people with disabilities in their communities.  

In 2024, our Services and Programs accomplished the following:

Communication Technology Education (CTEC) provided:

• Assessment and training services to more than 400 individuals for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) needs
• Trained over 250 professionals, family members, persons with disabilities, and community members about AAC.
• Thanks to a grant from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, we expanded our AAC Device Trial Lending Library with new and updated equipment, allowing clients to trial various communication equipment during the evaluation process.
• Facilitated two monthly "Jazzy Talkers" AAC user groups averaging 15 participants each month.
• With the help of the Amplifying AAC Voices grant through USSAAC, we provided training to our AAC mentor team to help them increase their engagement and support of participants at our monthly "Jazzy Talkers" user groups.
• Maintained and promoted the web-based "STAR" training series on best practices for supporting and interacting with people using an AAC device to communicate.

 Conferences and workshops provided:

• Two annual conferences for people with disabilities, their family members and disability professionals on topics relevant to community inclusivity for those with developmental disabilities.
• These statewide conferences attracted more than 650 participants, of which half were people with disabilities.

Advocacy programs:

• Coordinated multiple self-advocacy groups and their activities within a ten-county regional area.
• Provided paid staff to eleven local People First Chapters and self-advocacy groups.
• Hosted two regional self-advocacy meetings per year, with average of 65 people in attendance.
• Provided facilitation and support services to people with disabilities who are on Board of Directors of a nonprofit agency in the field.