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United Way of Salt Lake takes over disability help hotline

Posted at 12:19 AM, Jul 31, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-31 02:19:41-04

An information line is connecting Utahns with disabilities with the services they need. United Way of Salt Lake recently took over the program.

United Way 211 helps those with disabilities get connected with food assistance, housing, transportation, employment , education and government disability services.

"Our information specialists are really like counselors. They provide good, accurate quality information,” says 211 director Amy Bosworth. “Getting a person to the right service and then looking past that to other services they might not even realize would be helpful for them."

For some callers, a disability is something new and 211 operators help find them what they need. Instead of an answering service, callers talk to a person.

I think often times when people dial 211 they're surprised by the outcome of the call. They're very happy that someone is there to listen to the issue that they're facing," said Bosworth.