Programs
NILP provides advocacy and services to all people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities that do not fit within the parameters of the broad program descriptions below are encouraged to ask for general information and referral which will then direct them to the program that is best suited to meet their disability specific needs.
Adults with Physical Disabilities Program
Program works with adults who have physical disabilities such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Independent Living services include Personal Care Assistance, peer counseling, accessibility advocacy, and referral for durable medical equipment.
A Smoother Transition
Works with adolescents with disabilities and their families to facilitate the transition from both institutional and public schools into the adult human services system. Specialized services include advocacy and information during the development of Individualized Education Plans and social/recreational activities.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing IL Services
The DHHILS program works with people who are culturally Deaf, late deafened, and hard of hearing in order to provide an environment that is communication accessible where a comprehensive array of IL services are available to assist in living independently. Unique services include ASL classes and peer mentoring.
Services to Mental Health Consumers/Psychiatric Survivor Community
Works with people with psychiatric disabilities through individual and group empowerment, peer counseling and community organizing to promote a message of hope and recovery and to fight against stigma and human rights violations. Unique services include coordinating Lawrence Organizing Voices of Empowerment (the LOVE Group), the Peer Counseling Project, and providing peer advocacy and technical assistance at Tewksbury State Hospital.
IL-VR
The Independent Living/Vocational Rehabilitation Program provides pre-vocational IL assessment, Peer Counseling, Information and Referral, Advocacy and Skills Training to eligible MRC consumers. Additional services, such as Money Management, Transportation, Benefits Counseling and Housing services all optimize a person's readiness for vocational choices, planning, and implementation.
Aging and Disability Resource Consortium
The Merrimack Valley Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) is a collaborative project between NILP and Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley that has a "no-wrong door" entry point of service for people with disabilities and elders, looking to access community-based long term services. Services such as centralized information and referral, intake, and case management processes will be streamlined between agencies, to make it easier for consumers to acquire long term services regardless of age or disability in an efficient seamless manner.
ADA Consultation
The program
works with Department
of Public Health
providers that
are presently
not accessible,
to educate them
on accessibility
requirements
under the ADA,
and assist them
in coming into
compliance. Click
here for a full
list of services.
