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Core Services |
As one of Pennsylvania's fifteen CIL's (Centers for Independent Living), LIFT is required to provide four core services: Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Instruction, Information and Referral, and Peer Counseling, These are briefly explained below, along with the other services LIFT offers. If you have any questions about or services, please contact us.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which became law on July 26, 1990 thrust disability issues into the forefront of American life. Many communities have had to consider how to make their businesses, streets, parks and other facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. LIFT's accessibility service provides information, advice, and technical assistance on various topics including:
The Accessibility Counselor provides technical assistance to businesses, local municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and residential home owners.
Please contact LIFT for advice regarding your responsibilities under the ADA or for specific advice about barrier removal (modifying steps, phones, doorways, restrooms, etc.) to increase accessibility to people with disabilities. We can help with fundraising ideas, such as applying for grants or securing donations for modifications. What ever the need, LIFT seeks to improve the community's accessibility in the most reasonable and cost-effective way.
LIFT has just received AutoCAD 14. With this computer program LIFT's Accessibility Counselor can visit a site, return to the office, and produce a blueprint to show a contractor exactly what the consumer needs.
Consumer training is provided to teach an individual with a disability to exercise his or her rights and to be a self-advocate. This assistance is available not only to consumers, but also to their families and to organizations that want to teach people self-advocacy skills.
We teach consumers how to achieve the independent life-style they desire. This is accomplished through periodic advocacy workshops, teaching individual consumers how to handle situations requiring advocacy, providing information which affects the individual's quality of life, and encouraging consumers to become involved in issues which affect them.
At this writing, LIFT facilitates ten consumer advocacy groups throughout our six county service area. These groups consist of people with and without disabilities who advocate for positive change within their communities.
The Independent Living Skills (ILS) program offers an individual with a disability an opportunity to develop the skills needed to live as independently as possible. The program provides a person with a disability the encouragement to explore the process of becoming independent through following a curriculum designed by a center for independent living. Participants are expected to learn from lecture, role play, and direct community involvement. They acquire information on available services and programs in their local community, gain practice in daily living skills, and interact with role models, all of which promotes independence.
The ILS program is administered in two ways: individually (formal or informal) or group (formal or informal). Determination is based on an evaluation given by the ILS Coordinator and approved by the Executive Director. The ILS program curriculum is designed to meet the individuals needs, capabilities and goals of the participant regardless of type of instruction (individual or group).
| Instruction is provided in the following living skill areas: | |
| Attendant Care Management | Self-Care Daily Living |
| Functional Ability & Equipment | Communication |
| Health Care/Medical Issues | Housing |
| Financial Management & Budgeting | Transportation |
| Civil Rights/Law & Advocacy | Social & Recreational |
| Self Help and Personal | Educational/Vocational |
| Employment | |
LIFT provides information and/or refers individuals to service providers or options more suited to their needs. If we cannot help you, we can utilize our extensive resource library, computerized database, and interagency network to find the person who can. If you would like to request information from LIFT concerning a disability issue, go to our "Information and Referral page from the LIFT home page. Simply fill out the Information and Referral form and click on the submit button. We will respond to your request as soon as possible.
With LIFT's peer counseling, a person with a disability can speak to a staff person who shares the experience of having a disability. We can discuss feelings about similar experiences and emotions, share tips, and explore social and recreational options. Our ultimate goal is to empower consumers to make their own choices.
For further information about LIFT's four core services, please contact LIFT at (814) 781-3050 or toll free (800) 341-LIFT (5438). Or email us at lift@liftcil.org