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Services

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Table of Services

Information and Referral Independent Living Skills Training Peer Counseling Individual and Systems Advocacy
Life Transition Services Employment Services Support Groups National-Award-Winning HIV/AIDS Project
Technical Assistance on Accessibility Issues Youth Mentoring Project Representative Payee Project Emergency Financial Assistance Fund
Wellness Project Community Access Award Project Web Site Community Education
Public Services Programs Social and Recreation Project Other Services

Description

  1. Information and Referral — EOCIL offers pertinent information regarding other programs’ services, and in many instances, makes referrals to other programs to attain more comprehensive independent living services. Information and referral may be related to financial assistance, housing, medical services, ADA information, training opportunities, legal services, accessible transportation, etc.
  2. Independent Living Skills Training — EOCIL offers teaching of specific skills/disciplines and discussion of personal issues and concerns to enable a person with a disability to live independently, e.g., managing attendants, family issues, utilizing adaptive equipment, sexuality, assertiveness training, mobility training, wellness education, budgeting and self-advocacy.
  3. Peer Counseling — IL specialists are often individuals with disabilities and are considered role models. They share personal experiences about daily living, physical accessibility and modifications, attendant management and intimate relationships. They will have positive attitudes about disabilities and are successful at dealing with disability-related issues. Peer counseling covers adjustment to disability issues and may include training on specific independent living techniques, such as transferring from wheelchair to car, how to use an interpreter, accessing community resources, etc.

    Through peer counseling, family members can also come to understand the concept of independent living: how important it is for their family member(s) to take control of their own lives and how to provide constructive, healthy support.
  4. Life Transition Services — EOCIL has been a vital link for people wanting to move from parent housing, group home living, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities into the community. By providing the five core services and assistance in obtaining accessible housing and Personal Assistant Services (PAS), EOCIL has assisted many individuals with disabilities to leave custodial care for independence every year and have allowed hundreds more to stay out of nursing homes and remain in the community. EOCIL also assists young people with school-to-work transitioning.
  5. Individual and Systems Advocacy — People with disabilities continue to experience discrimination in mainstream America. Civil and human rights are denied through attitudinal, economic, physical and communications barriers.

    Individual advocacy is delivered through direct services as described in a participant’s Independent Living Plan or in his/her self-directed goals. An example of individual advocacy would be providing the training that would help a hearing-impaired or deaf individual the know-how to request a personal listening device — reasonable accommodation — at a movie theater.

    Systems advocacy is provided through the staff, volunteers and board of directors at EOCIL. Issues include, but are not limited to, equal opportunities for housing, transportation, employment, access to community activities and public services.
  6. Employment Services — EOCIL offers assistance in the career development process and integration of career goals into overall life planning for maximum independence. This may include information about education/training opportunities, job modification or accommodation in situations where the worksite can be adapted to the worker, as well as work readiness and job-seeking skills. Employment services also teaches individuals how to positively present their disability and any accommodation they may need on the job. By providing employers with disability awareness training and technical assistance, EOCIL staff also facilitates the inclusion of employees with disabilities in the workforce.
  7. Support Groups — EOCIL organizes and facilitates disability support and recreation groups that meet on a regular basis to share common issues and learn coping and success strategies. Support groups are initiated and offered by EOCIL staff with input from clients.
  8. National-Award-Winning HIV/AIDS Project — EOCIL provides independent living services, also known as Ryan White case management (RWCM), for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This is a national-award-winning project recognized for it best practices for providing quality services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. EOCIL’s HIV/AIDS project is a voluntary program, and its intent is to improve access to community resources and support services. Independent living services/RWCM is offered from a philosophy of client control, peer models and self-advocacy. EOCIL’s independent living specialists are available to access HIV-related needs, to provide information about available resources and to assist with the development of an independent living plan. Specialists are knowledgeable about the resources available to people living with HIV and AIDS, including medical providers, treatment programs, entitlement programs (i.e., financial assistance programs and Social Security), and housing.
  9. Technical Assistance on Accessibility Issues — EOCIL provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and assistance to clients, architects and business owners. Additional details are available at the following link: Grassroots ADA Trainer Project.
  10. Youth Mentoring Project — Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for students and job-seekers with disabilities through job shadowing and hands-on career exploration. With leadership, coordination and resource materials from our national member organization, local communities around the country organize their own activities that bring students and employers together for informational sessions about career opportunities and one-on-one mentoring with volunteers at public and private places of employment. Disability Mentoring Day enables students and job-seekers to spend part of a day visiting a business or government agency that matches their interests and have one-on-one time with volunteer mentors. This is an opportunity to underscore the connection between school and work, evaluate personal goals, target career skills for improvement, explore possible career paths, and develop lasting mentor relationships.

    The program’s history shows that students’ and job seekers’ participation in Disability Mentoring Day can result in an internship opportunity with the host employer, function as a first interview on the way to a part-time or full-time employment offer, or even a firm on-the-spot job offer. Disability Mentoring Day provides public and private employers with an opportunity to recruit interns, tap a pool of potential future employees, learn more about the experience of disability, develop lasting relationships with disability community leaders, demonstrate positive leadership in their communities and attract positive media attention. In addition, employers can get involved by enabling employees to serve as volunteer mentors, functioning as a Local Coordinator for a community, and sponsoring Disability Mentoring Day at the national or local level.

    Locally, young people with disabilities organize Disability Pride Celebration Days, which promote disability awareness and full community inclusion. Celebrations are held on July 26 and December 3 each year: July 26 is the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and December 3 is World Disability Awareness Day as established by the United Nations.
  11. Representative Payee Project — In some cases, the Social Security Administration may require its clients to have a representative payee to manage their Social Security funds. EOCIL operates a Representative Payee project to assist in these situations. This project is not highly promoted by EOCIL; it is one with which EOCIL struggles out of concern it shifts power from client to agency. However, in the rare cases where the client and EOCIL cannot locate a representative payee and the client's health, safety and independence is at risk because of loss of Social Security funds, then EOCIL may provide this service following the strict guidelines established to maintain client choice and control. This program is designed to be a short-term solution only; EOCIL's IL specialists work with individuals to develop the skills they need to petition the Social Security Administration eventually to allow them to manage their own funds.
  12. Emergency Financial Assistance Fund — The EOCIL Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, or EFA, provides short-term emergency financial assistance for individuals experiencing temporary financial crisis. It is to be used to assist clients through temporary, out-of-the-ordinary emergencies that would affect client independence. The fund is made possible through donations, grants and fund raising. The EFA Fund allows the client to get through the emergency by working with an IL specialist to stabilize the situation and develop a long-term plan to prevent recurrence of the crisis. Funds may be restricted donations or grants and maybe available only to specific disability groups or based on eligibility conditions placed by the donor.
  13. Wellness Project — EOCIL offers programs that promote wellness among people with disabilities. These programs may include, but are not limited to, recreation-based activities, information on accessible fitness centers, or support groups.
  14. Community Access Award Project — An EOCIL access advisory committee obtains recommendations from community members identifying businesses that are accessible to people with disabilities. The committee presents the Access Award to those entities that demonstrate exemplary efforts to promote full participation of men, women and young people with disabilities in all aspects of their businesses.
  15. Web Site — EOCIL’s Web site was established to provide disability-related information and services to the online community, as well as establish another avenue by which the general public can contact EOCIL regarding issues and concerns related to independent living. EOCIL’s Web address is www.eocil.org.
  16. Community Education — EOCIL strives to educate three groups about disability-related issues: individual citizens, community-based organizations and policy makers. EOCIL staff presents disability awareness workshops to businesses, service providers, religious organizations, educational institutions and government agencies. As a result of these presentations, someone close to an individual with a disability often refers that person to EOCIL.
  17. Public Services Programs — EOCIL staff work at local, state and national levels with new and existing organizations, community and legislative entities to increase the availability and improve the quality of community options and assure equal access of individuals to resources and facilities.
  18. Social and Recreation Project — EOCIL sponsors monthly, quarterly and annual social activities for clients. These activities include, but are not limited to:
    • Leadership development activities
    • Dances
    • Music and other concert packages
    • Shopping trips
    • Christmas/winter celebration potluck and city parade celebration
    • ADA community picnic celebration
    • Movie night
  19. Other Services — EOCIL offers a number of other services to address specific needs of clients and the community that are not available elsewhere.