Lehigh Valley Center For Independant Living Inc

LEHIGH VALLEY CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, INC. (LVCIL), WAS INCORPORATED ON JUNE 11, 1990, UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND OPERATES AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. LVCIL IS A NON-RESIDENTIAL, VOLUNTARY DISABILITY SERVICES ORGANIZATION FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES, IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY BY PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TARGETED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS, AND TO HELP THE COMMUNITY EMBRACE ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY. LVCIL IS ONE OF EIGHTEEN CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. LVCIL IS GOVERNED, MANAGED, AND STAFFED AT ALL TIMES BY A MAJORITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; A CONCEPT KNOWN AS CONSUMER CONTROL.LVCIL IS FUNDED PRIMARILY THROUGH GRANTS, DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS, AND FUNDS FROM ITS FEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAMS.

LVCIL'S SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER REFERRAL SERVICE ("SLIRS") PROVIDES THE DEAF COMMUNITY WITH EASY ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY INTERPRETING SERVICES. AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THE ADA, FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS PERTAINING TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LED TO AN INCREASED AWARENESS FOR ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO ACHIEVE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE ADA. AS A RESULT THE NEED FOR RELIABLE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING SERVICES HAS ESCALATED DRAMATICALLY. DUE TO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE NORTHEAST PA OFFICE OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, ALLENTOWN'S DISTRICT OFFICE OF PA OVR, LOCAL SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AND THE DEAF COMMUNITY, LVCIL'S SLIRS WAS CONCEIVED, AND SINCE 2004 HAS OPERATED ON A 24/7 BASIS. LVCIL COORDINATES THOUSANDS OF APPOINTMENTS ANNUALLY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING AND LOCAL DOCTORS, HOSPITALS, LAWYERS, SCHOOLS, COURTS, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, AND OTHER BUSINESSES. PROGRAM STAFF ALSO OFFER OCCASIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INCLUDING ASL CLUB AND ASL CLASSES.

LVCIL PROVIDES SEVERAL TRANSITION AND EMPLOYMENT (T&E) SERVICES. CAREER PATH, ONE OF THE T&E SERVICES, OFFERS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR ADULTS, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON ADULTS AGES 18-25. THESE SERVICES ENCOMPASS AN EIGHT-WEEK WORK-ESSENTIAL SKILLS TRAINING CLASS FOLLOWED BY TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED WORK ASSESSMENTS, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND JOB COACHING. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED BASED ON A STRENGTH DRIVEN PERSON-CENTERED PLAN PROCESS, WHICH EACH PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCES ALONG WITH HIS/HER SUPPORT NETWORK. MANY PARTICIPANTS HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL AND ARE SEEKING THEIR FIRST SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED WITH AN INNOVATION AND EXPANSION GRANT THROUGH THE PA OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ("OVR"), AND IN LATE 2011 ACHIEVED SUSTAINABILITY AND MOVED INTO A FEE-FOR SERVICE PROGRAM. THE PRIMARY PURCHASER OF THE SERVICES IS THE PA OVR OFFICE, BUT THE SERVICES HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS AND UNDER PRIVATE PAY AGREEMENTS. THE PROGRAM NOW SERVES ABOUT 150 PARTICIPANTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

BASED ON LVCIL'S SUCCESS WITH TRANSITION AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, LVCIL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP LIFE SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES. IN THE LIFE PROGRAM, STAFF WORKS WITH YOUNG ADULTS IN HIGH SCHOOL TO HELP ACHIEVE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS SUCH AS COOKING, LAUNDRY, COMMUNITY TRAVEL, AND HYGIENE SKILLS. THESE SERVICES ARE ALSO DRIVEN BY A PERSON-CENTERED PLAN AND ARE TYPICALLY PAID BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON A FEE-FOR-SERVICE BASIS.