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Recent NILP SUCCESS STORIES
The diligence, creativity, and experience of Northeast Independent Living Program’s Hard-working staff assist many people to move from tough situations to greater independence. Check out just a few examples of our recent accomplishments.
- A sampling of the good work NILP does in peer counseling so far this year includes our assisting a 39 year old man with a spinal cord injury who was able to take advantage of the peer counseling we provided to such a great extent that he increased his self-confidence, and chose IL goals that finally resulted in his moving to an accessible apartment. NILP continued the vital peer support, as he was able to speak with community members, and obtain assistance with acquiring furniture and household goods.
- A middle age consumer had been institutionalized and living in group homes for over twenty years. She was a member of the Peer Counseling Project at NILP. She grew in awareness of her abilities and strengths and received support. She is now living in her own apartment and is flourishing. She credits her involvement in the Peer Counseling Project (PCP) as a major contributing factor for her success.
- A 62 year old Essex County native has left the nursing facility she had been stuck in for nearly two years, and is now living back home with her daughter in the community of her birthplace, and her choice!
- A 57 year old woman has now been home from a nearby Rehabilitation Hospital just 28 days after NILP began working with her. Now happily Living in her home. A wonderful partner agency called Rebuilding Haverhill Together is now beginning to install a much-needed ramp.
- A 49 year old man has successfully completed his Independent Living Plan, and has left a local Nursing Facility and is now at home. We are still assisting him to make his Home more accessible for his specific needs.
- A 31 year old man was discharged from Oxford Rehab Nursing Home in Haverhill in December, and is currently living at home in his new, fully accessible (and affordable!) apartment with PCA services in place.
- A 29 year old (Middlesex County) native who completed his 2010 IL Plan goals so that he is currently living in his own apartment (Delete in Lowell) with PCA services in place. He is very pleased that he was successfully discharged from Wingate in Andover in January of 2011. The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) Budget hearings were held on March 4th, and several consumers and members of NILP attended and gave testimony on the important role that Independent Living Centers play in their lives. Additionally, On December 15th (at the Worcester Public Library), we provided consumer input for The MRC Marketing Strategy Team as they are developing a strategic marketing plan to ensure that complete and accurate information is reaching all stakeholders about the services that the agency offers. The Ways & Means hearing for the Department of Mental Health were held on February 18th, at Boston Public Library. The hearing was Chaired by Senator Anthony Petruccelli and House Assistant Ways & Means Chairwoman Martha Walz. As with all hearings this quarter, NILP was well represented at The Committee on Ways & Means public hearing, where 28 NILP participants, Board, and staff provided their own testimony at the State House. We trained our consumers to write the letters and/ or prepare testimony-this is skills training and advocacy NILP consumers presented their personal stories of how they would be impacted with the cuts. Together, we are educating the NEW legislators about our issues.
- Twenty-three participants, staff, and NILP Board members joined with other ILC’s from across Massachusetts at The March 14th SILC (Statewide Independent Living Council) Education Day at the State House. We are in the process of educating the new legislators who are not familiar with what we do. Participants had also contacted their personal representatives and invite them (or a staff person) to join you for lunch that day. We provided awareness to our representatives about how services reductions will affect them as concerns the governor’s budget for MRC.
- We worked in partnership with Lawrence ADA Coordinator, Peter Blanchette, to advocate for the City to acquire improved ADA accommodations for citizens. In fact, The City has acquired a $10,000.00 grant from Haverhill Lowe’s, in partnership with Superintendent John Lavoie, (along with Carpentry students and teachers) at Greater Lawrence Technical School to build a ramp at The Lawrence Police Station. Two highly regarded ADA/Self-Advocacy Trainings were provided at The NILP on January 10th, and March 10th educating consumers and service providers on the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Be sure to stay tuned to more exciting Success Stories this summer!
NILP Receives a New Roof!
The NILP home on 20 Ballard Road, Lawrence recently received a new roof as a result of extensive fundraising and support from the following:
- Agnes M. Lindsay Trust, Manchester, NH
- Essex County Community Foundation-Webster Family Fund, Danvers
- The Stevens Foundation, North Andover
- RiverBank, North Andover
- A portion of the proceeds from the NILP Annual Golf Tournament
The existing roof had been leaking and causing extensive damage for several years when the decision was made to raise the funds to obtain a new roof. Executive Director June Cowen made it a priority to be completed before the oncoming winter of 2010-2011. Director of Development, Kevin T. Farrell researched and submitted funding proposals to several possible funding sources.
The above process took over one year. Meanwhile seven bids were received from roofing contractors in the area. A bidder’s conference was held and a process defined to make the final selection. The Wooster Roofing Company of Tewksbury, MA won the bid and they began work on October 18th and completed the job on November 2, 2010 minus a couple of weather related days.
Additional donations are still being sought to pay for the balance of $13,000.00 remaining. Checks may be made out to: NILP and mark New Roof in the memo box on the bottom left side of your check. Send to NILP, 20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, MA 01843. If you would like to use your credit cards, Visa or MasterCard, please call 978-687-4288 and ask for Kevin Farrell. Your support of NILP is greatly appreciated!
The Northeast Independent Living Program’s 30th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting was a Great Success!
7th Annual Golf Tournament for IndependenceThe Northeast Independent Living Program (NILP), a community based, consumer controlled non-profit organization located in Lawrence, hosted its 7th Annual Golf Tournament for Independence at Meadow Creek Golf Course in Dracut. NILP raised over $22,000 at this year’s tournament which will supplement the agency’s programs that sustained funding cuts due to the state’s fiscal crisis. Northeast Independent Living has been providing advocacy & services to people with disabilities throughout the greater Merrimack Valley for 30 years.
Assistive Technology Exchange Program
Do you have Assistive Technology devices you no longer need and want to get rid of, or are you looking for a device such as a computer monitor or wheelchair? Well, go to the Assistive Technology Exchange at www.getatstuff.org. The goal of getATstuff is to help get assistive technology devices that are no longer being used to people who need and can benefit from them.
PCA Recruiting Resource
All of us who use personal assistance services know how difficult it can be to find the right PCA. Well now there is a service that may help in your search for PCAs. For a small fee you can now access a database of people looking for work as a PCA.
Go to www.rewardingwork.org or call 1-866-212-WORK (9675)
You can get a free trial subscription before paying to see if it is something that will be of benefit to you. If you do not have access to a computer and want us to assist you please call and ask for a Skills Specialist in the APD program.
PCA Service Agreements
Many of you may be wondering why you are asked to fill out a service agreement form for the PCA program. NILP, as your PCM (Personal Care Management) provider agency, is required by MassHealth (now known as the Office of Longterm Care) to have a copy of this assessment. Also, for people who require the assistance of a surrogate there is an additional surrogate agreement form that needs to be filled out. For those of you who have been on the program for years you will be asked to fill one out yearly. For those whose evaluations are brand new you will need to fill one out quarterly the first year and annually after that. Everyone who has a surrogate will always be required to have quarterly reviews.
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