Westchester Independent Living

WESTCHESTER INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER ("THE CENTER") IS THE LEADING COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILIITIES BY PROMOTING INDIVIDUAL SELF DETERMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIETAL CHANGE AND FULL ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL) SERVICES ARE THE CORE SERVICES THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS PROMOTING SELF HELP, EQUAL ACCESS, PERSONAL GROWTH AND EMPOWERMENT. IL SERVICES INCLUDE: INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS ADVISEMENT, PEER ADVISEMENT, DEAF SERVICES AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS. THE INDEPENDENT LIVING TEAM WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO MUTUALLY EXPLORE THEIR INDEPENDENT LIVING NEEDS AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. PEER ADVISORS SERVE AS GUIDES TO OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ON DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES AND CONCERNS WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPS THEIR GOALS. THEY MEET ON AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP BASIS TO HELP FACILITATE THE TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE CENTER PROVIDES TRAINING FOR EVERYDAY LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS ARRANGING FOR TRANSPORT, JOB SEEKING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, WHEEL CHAIR MAINTENANCE AND ACCESSING TECHNOLOGY.

MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES THROUGH PEER ADVOCACY AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY TO PERSONS LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY. THE PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION PROGRAM OFFERS WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO HELP THEM GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE CENTER DEVELOPED CURRICULUM AND PERFORMED TRAINING SESSIONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY AWARENESS, BASIC SIGN LANGUAGE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. PROVIDE RESOURCE, REFERRAL, ADVOCACY AND SHORT TERM CASE MANAGING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGHER NEEDS ENROLLED UNDER THE EVERCARE MLTC.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION, REFERRAL AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE CENTER ASSISTS IN RELOCATING PEOPLE FROM OUT-OF-STATE FACILITIES TO COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL AND DAY PROGRAMS AND HELP INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN NURSING HOMES, PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES OR IN THEIR FAMILY HOMES TO BE RE-SITUATED INTO MORE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE NURSING HOME TRANSITION AND DIVERSION PROGRAM IDENTIFIES, ASSESSES AND PLANS THE TRANSITION OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE EAGER TO AND CAPABLE OF RETURNING TO COMMUNITY LIVING SETTINGS OF THEIR CHOOSING AND ASSIST IN THE DIVERSION OF PERSONS AT RISK OF BEING PLACED IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY. MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON PROJECT GOALS ARE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDULAS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING FROM AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING TO COMMUNITY-BASED SETTING. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE SERVICES SHOULD THEY WANT TO TRANSITION OUT OF A NURSING HOME. OLMSTEAD HOUSING AND RAPID TRANSITION HOUSING PROGRAMS ASSIT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TRANSTION FROM NURSING HOMES AND REHABS BY LOCATING HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY NY CONNECTS PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY, SENIOR, OR PROFESSIONAL.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM IS BASED ON SELF-AWARENESS, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EMPOWERMENT.ITS CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORTS THAT WILL ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGE THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROCESS THROUGH CLASSROOM TRAINING AND ONE-ON-ONE PEER MENTORING AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES.