Tateya Topa Ho (Without Walls) is an inter-tribal Independent Living (IL) Center program that has come together to provide IL services to individuals with disabilities living on reservations/tribal land and unserved areas throughout South Dakota.

In order for IL services to benefit Native individuals with significant disabilities living on reservations, the services must be provided on a local basis for the individual to become independent in their own environment rather than having to leave their home, family and communities.The IL Services and support systems are provided by Native individuals with disabilities or a local/tribal service provider.

The purpose of IL Services is to enable individuals with disabilities live more independently and make choices that lead to a more independent and satisfying lifestyle.

We provide four core IL services to consumers with disabilities.

• Information and Referral
• Advocacy
• Peer Support; Both individual and Peer Support Groups
• Independent Living Skills Training

IInformation and Referral Services inform and guide individuals to seek out, identify and make use of various services and programs available that are of special interest to any persons with any type of disability or other interested individuals or groups at the local, state, federal or tribal level.

IIndependent Living Skills Training is provided to teach individuals to function independently in their home community or at work. These skills may include:

• Food Preparation and Shopping
• Homemaking Skills
• Budget Management
• Leisure Activities/Recreation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication Skills

Advocacy teaches persons with disabilities to represent themselves. Tateya Topa Ho will guide them through the confusing tangle of benefits, paperwork and hearings if needed so they will receive the benefits they are entitled to.

Peer Support is an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain understanding and information from others who have gone through similar experiences. The objective is to explore options and to solve problems that sometimes occur for people with disabilities.

Tateya Topa Ho is a result of persons with various types of disabilities and advocates representing all nine tribal nations coming together with a shared vision of improving opportunities for Independence for Native Americans with Disabilities. Tateya Topa Ho started in 1994 with funding through a Federal Grant from the Department of Education. In 1996 Tateya Topa Ho entered into a merger with the Native American Advocacy Project to strengthen the voice of Native Americans with cross- disabilities throughout South Dakota. Tateya Topa Ho IL services of NAAP is one of four Independent Living Centers in the state and serves Native Americans on all nine tribal nations.