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.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program - Click here for Q & A

~ 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.

We are pleased to tell everyone about a state-of-the art project that we have created for youths participating in our AST program.

This new youth effort is called "Build- It-Yourself," and it teaches youth an introduction to electronics and how to design a computer game in which they work on all of the graphics, storyline and programming using a program called Scratch. Already, our TAP participants participated in this program along with three mentors from the NILP's Adults with Disabilities program. The participants also learned how to use PowerPoint. "Build It Yourself" teaches the consumer skills that they can be applied in the workplace, such as problem solving, teamwork, and creative thinking.

• "Build-It-Yourself" teaches youth with disabilities to use technology constructively in a unique global laboratory.
• The mission is to inspire, guide and prepare youth with disabilities to use technology to become the next generation of tech savvy builders.
• State-of-the-art Internet tools and technology, some of which were developed in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, are used to deliver a consistent, high-quality, high-value educational experience.
• The uniqueness of the opportunity is the match of "Twenty Something" mentors with a disability to youth, ages 14- 22, with a disability.
• The week long program leads the matched team through steps to build their own computer game. We have conducted a satisfaction survey for Teen Fest, and the results are overwhelmingly that the youths loved the program.

~ 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.

PART-TIME PROJECT ASSOCIATES 16 to 30 year olds wanted!

The Learning and Working during the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RTC) aims to support young people (ages 14-30) with serious mental health conditions achieve schooling and working goals. The activities of the center include research, training activities, and sharing of information, guided by young adult consumer and family input.

Click here to download the job description.

No Surrender 22
Date: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Location: The UMass Inn and Conference Center in Lowell (The former Doubletree Hotel, as in past years.)
Time: 8:30 am to 5 pm
(More Details to Follow)

Call: 1-877-733-7563 v 1-877-PEER-LNE
Tuesday - Sunday evenings 4 - 8 p.m.
A Friendly Voice - 6 Nights/Week

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Jo Bower, Director
NE Recovery Learning Community/NILP
20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, MA 01843
Phone: 978-687-4288x130v/ttty
Email: jbower@nilp.org

Sponsored by: The Northeast Recovery Learning Community & The Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community

~ 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.

~ The Long Term Care Options Counseling Program (LTCOC)

The The Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc. (ESMV) and Northeast Independent Living Program (NILP) developed the first Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) in Massachusetts in 2003. We found then that we had very similar missions which is to provide the people in need of long term care support the choices they need to live a life of dignity and independence. This meant that we believed in promoting the full integration of long term care information and referral services, benefits and options counseling on all available options, and assuring access to publicly funded and privately funded services to benefit those in need of long term supports. We employ a "No Wrong Door" approach in our ADRC and have a wide circle of partners that include; The Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Mental Retardation (DMR), Massachusetts Rehab Commission (MRC), The Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP) and The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) and the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) as well as numerous other health and social service program providers. Learn more about the Long Term Care Options Counseling Program.