A person doesn't have to have a lesson every single time he or she is on the ice.
Are you sure you can't afford to just go to practice at least once a week, when you only have to pay the admission fees, not for a lesson? I am wondering how much of the staff refusing to take you is really about money, and how much is actually about staff not being willing to adjust their schedules so they can take you (I am a staff for similar agency, and I know most staff will not adjust their schedules, they just make up other excuses to not take clients to activities). If you have skating in your IP, the staff need to adjust their schedules to take you to the rink, and if they can't, the program manager needs to find staff for you who can do it. If staff can't do it, then they at least could try to find a volunteer to take you to the rink just to practice (without the cost of lesson).
I probably sound kind of harsh here, but it is because, as someone who works in the same type of job, I know the standards of service the agency and staff are supposed to follow. I go way out of my way, change my schedule week to week when needed, to make sure people get to do activities they want and need to do. I even left my family over Christmas to take a client out of state for a few days so she could have a good holiday. Maybe my standards are just so much higher that most staff just can't live up to my own expectations. I really wish you could skate more, if that is what you want to do.
Ok...Treesprite has broken into my thoughts,and I do believe that all you guys have earned to hear about my true life. Which makes me feel soooo good. So hear it is....I am part of a Supportive-Living Program run by the State that has lost a lot of it's Staff from cuts and a lot of them Retiring because of Connecicut's economy being so bad. In which case,it has left the Staff that are left with more work to do,and less time to do things with people. They now only do things when they have the time. Staff also just work with their own people. So,unless a day comes were they CAN get an extra Staff for me,then it's not guaranteed. We also try to be as independent as we can be,as some people in the world make fun of Disability people. In my money Department....we can only have a curtain amount of money in our accounts ($1600). Which is just enough to pay bills. We also used to have to spend down way back when we had Roomates. But the Staff have said too,that what it is..is the Rent. Staff say we all (including me) make very little extra money,and our Complex takes all our extra money for the Rent,and doesn't use all the money they get from the Rent. I have tried to get more hrs. at my Store (Shoprite). But it's not in their budget at the time. I also want to say that it was my Case Worker that bought my to the Rink 3 years ago,and helped me sign-up for Ice-Dancing...and...uh....I don't know if you guys know what an IP. is. But that's the ONLY reason I go Skating, (because,it's in my IP.),and according to Staff and my Case Worker....anything in my I.P. (Individual Plan) is protected,and can NOT be taken away from me. In short...they have said,that IF Skating was NOT in my IP., I would NOT be going. So....that's me. I am so glad I was able to you all about my life....Bexause,I know you ALL can be 100%... trusted.