Meet Melody Burba, Independent Living Specialist at the Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL).
As a person with a disability, Melody feels fortunate to be able to help others with disabilities develop a plan of action that addresses something that they need or helps them accomplish something important to them.
“My favorite aspect of my job is watching as individuals learn skills for living life more fully,” said Melody.
While Melody enjoys helping people to gain independent living skills and fully enjoy their lives as people with disabilities, her position as an Independent Living Specialist can challenge her on occasion.
“I am passionate about advocacy in general. Transportation, home care, community access, service dogs and disability accommodations are important to me because they enable people with disabilities to live independently in the community and maintain control of their lives. The most challenging aspect of my job is working with other organizations that have a different perspective on living in the community,” she said.
Working with organizations may sometimes push Melody outside of her comfort zone, but she feels comfortable knowing she always has the support of ACIL.
“I went to college at Wright State University. An instructor gave me the advice to never work anywhere where my personal philosophy does not align with the employer. ACIL works to ensure that people with disabilities can live, work, and play in the community of their choice. Disability is at the core of identity and I am a very passionate advocate for myself and others with disabilities. I am fortunate to work at ACIL where my personal philosophy aligns perfectly with the organization and I use my advocacy skills to help others every day,” she said.
Melody’s advocacy skills have been acknowledged and appreciated by ACIL since she first started working as an Independent Living Specialist.
“I am fortunate to have shared the experience of living with an older sibling. Sadly, my sister is no longer with me, but thanks to my position at ACIL, I have many colleagues and friends who are people with disabilities,” she said.
In addition to helping others live independently, Melody helps to facilitate ACIL’s immersive disability awareness training, appropriately titled, “Think This is Easy?”
“I help facilitate the training to raise awareness about disabilities as well as the physical and social barriers that people with disabilities face daily. I am also always looking for people with disabilities that want to be a volunteer to facilitate our disability awareness training,” she said.
You will likely find Melody cooking or reading when she is not working or otherwise advocating.
I like to make main dishes and salads. I have a creative approach to cooking because of dietary restrictions. I find a recipe that sounds good and then I substitute ingredients and add additional ones based on what I have available to me,” she said.
Melody enjoys reading a variety of genres including mystery, psychological, thrillers, as well as books about personal development and/or mindfulness.
“Most people do not know that I love to read. I actually begin and end each day by reading a book,” she said.
Do you need to reach out to Melody about learning an independent living skill? Is there an advocacy-related issue that you would like to discuss with her? Contact her at 937-341-5202 Ext 106 or [email protected].
