Agency Details:

Citizen Advocacy of South-Central Indiana Inc.

Citizen Advocacy of South-Central Indiana, Inc (CASCI) facilitates and supports one-to-one matches between individuals with disabilities (Partners) and other members of our community (Advocates) for advocacy and friendship.

Description:
Citizen Advocacy of South-Central Indiana, Inc is a community-based program which facilitates the recognition, promotion and protection of the rights and interests of people with disabilities through Volunteer Advocates. Too often, people with disabilities have almost all of their interactions with paid health care workers and human services professionals. Citizen advocacy efforts help people with disabilities integrate more fully into their community. CASCI matches Advocates whose personal qualities and talents "fit" those of their Partners. There are a variety of roles that a citizen advocate may adopt such as a friend, mentor, assistant, ally, or protector. Advocates provide practical assistance and provide freely-given companionship, helping their Partner fully integrate into the community.

History:
In the 1960's, advocates for people with disabilities realized that too often people with disabilities have almost ALL their interactions with paid health care givers and human services professionals. With health care providers, there is often a constant turnover. Although friendships may develop, they are often not long lasting. Key service providers in the area worked together to enable the formation of this independent organization, that is free of any connection with any service provider or agency so the one advocating for the partner, or person with the disability, will be free from any conflict of interest. In 2001 CASCI was awarded a grant from the Governors Planning Council for Persons with Disabilities and CASCI began. CASCI survives today through donations, fund raisers, and grants.

Contact people:

Diana Reynolds, Coordinator, (phone), (email) Jo Gilbertson, Co-President, (phone), (email)

Address:

PO Box 1732 Bloomington, IN 47402

Web Site: http://casciweb.org

Last updated on November 3, 2009