HTML version - Prospectus on Disability The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is rapidly emerging as the national leader in effectively addressing the needs of it's citizens with disabilities. This is particularly true of the state's Vocational Rehabilitation, Attendant Care and Independent Living Center programs. Most recently, Pennsylvania has applied for federal Medicaid waivers that allow recipients to manage and control the services that they receive. Each of these initiatives are exceptional due to their adherence to an established set of guiding principles that simultaneously empower the consumer and free the state of unnecessary control over the individual. Extension of the following ten principles into all programs and services is a necessity for citizens with disabilities to become and remain equal partners in society. To read more about the report please download the PDF document. Download - Prospectus on Disability *Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view the document HTML version - PCIL Uniform Construction Code Project PCIL has obtained a special project grant from the DDC to ensure compliance with the UCC or ACT 45 of 1999 in our communities. The project is a collaborative and statewide effort between PCIL, the PA CILs, EPVA, and the PA ADA Coalition. PCIL is providing for the CILs on a local level to administer training to the construction, architectural, design and disability community on the UCC. There are going to be 5 regional trainings across the Commonwealth over the next several months. Brain Black, Director of Building Codes and Standard, and Domenic Marinelli, Director of Advocacy, from the Eastern Paralzyed Veterans Association (EPVA), are going share their expertise on the code issues and specifications. Jennifer Depaul, regional advocate, is going to be assisting with the logistics and assisting Brian and Domenic. The CILs are going to be the community based contact and resource points to host the trainings. Please contact your local CIL for training schedules, etc. The PA ADA Coalition is contributing a significant amount of funding to the project as it meets their mission of full and equal access for people with disabilities. The expected outcome of the regional training events is to educate the participants on the UCC to ensure a collaborative effort in making PA more accessible. Also, the UCC requires that inspectors be certified as Building Codes Accessibility Specialists. As you may be aware, we already have ADA or accessibility specialists at CILs. PCIL is providing for staff at each CIL to become trained and certified as Building Codes Accessibility Specialists. This will allow for authoritative advocacy to enforce the new code. Tentatively, the CILs, collectively, have identified 23 staff persons to become certified. After these persons become certified, they are going to hold 13 local trainings, in their respective CIL service areas, to disability rights advocates. Again, this is going to allow for local enforcement of the UCC. Overall, the project is a statewide effort to: Educate the construction, architectural, design and disability community on the UCC. Create local certified accessibility specialists to be a resource for the construction industry. Promote a partnership between the Independent Living movement and the construction industry. A partnership of all the organizations involved in the implementation of the project as we all have a common goal of an accessible Pennsylvania. Download - UCC Project Fact Sheet *Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view the document HTML version - PAS Project Final Report HTML version - PAS Community Forum Findings Report The goal of this project is twofold: to identify barriers from individuals, and the community of persons with disabilities; as well as those barriers inherent in government systems, and to make recommendations toward a comprehensive cross disability, consumer controlled Personal Assistance Services (PAS) to serve people of all ages. Contained herein are those barriers identified both from stakeholders and consumers of services, as well as those financial, administrative, political, and policy barriers presented by government-- the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal system. This project commenced October1, 2000 and ended June 30, 2002. Download - PAS Project Final Report Download - PAS Community Forum Findings Report *Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view the document The Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL) is implementing the Consumer Training Institute for a second year. The Consumer Training Institute is funded by the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC). The purpose of this project is to increase and maintain the protection and advancement of the civil rights of people with all types disabilities on a local, statewide, and national level. The PCIL will work with the PA SILC, Pennsylvania's Statewide Action Team, and the 15 centers for independent living (CILs) in a collaborative effort to design a training institute that will provide for outreach and education of consumers who are traditionally unserved and/or under served. The Statewide Action Team is comprised of a Community Organizer at each of the PA CILs that advocates for systems wide change on a local, state, and national level. In addition, this network fosters, promotes, and develops local coalitions of consumers and disability rights advocates, in their respective regions of the Commonwealth, that advocate for equal access and the advancement of independent living options for the disability community. The local coalitions are known as Regional Advocacy Teams. The Consumer Training Institute continues to parallel the statewide advocacy issues the Statewide Action Team is focusing on to create measurable systems wide change. These issues are Ticket to Work, Medicaid Buy In, and Shared Ride Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities. This concept and practice allows for a unified effort and advocacy vision throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the Consumer Training Institute supports the activities and enhances the skills of consumers involved in the Statewide Action Team. Fundamentally, the consumers and CIL Community Organizers will be on a closer level of knowledge regarding the above mentioned disability related issues affecting systems wide change. For consumers who are not involved with their Regional Advocacy Teams, this project works to empower those consumers to get involved to create positive change in their communities. HTML version - DPW Backup PAS Study The "Backup Personal Assistance Services (PAS) and Employment findings" contained in this document are the Phase I outcomes of a two (2) phase project, undertaken by the Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL), pursuant to an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's (DPW) Ticket to Work Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and Statewide Advisory Committee on Employment (ACE). The overall goal of the project is to research and to incorporate best practices from around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and nationally addressing the issue of backup PAS for persons working or who wish to work and develop a priority system for backup PAS for individuals who use this service and are employed or seeking employment in two locations in Pennsylvania. Phase II of the project includes using this Backup PAS and Employment Finding Report as a foundation for the development of a piloted administrative structure of priority backup PAS for the targeted consumers identified above in collaboration with PAS providers, Local Advisory Committees on Employment (LACEs) and consumers in Pittsburgh and Schuylkill County. After the pilots end, recommendations will be developed that delineates how a reliable backup PAS system can be implemented in other parts of the state. Download - Backup PAS and Employment Findings Report *Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view the document
Search this site or the web Site search Web search | Download Adobe Acrobat Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view these documents. PAS Final Report | UCC Project Fact Sheet | Prospectus on Disability
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There are going to be 5 regional trainings across the Commonwealth over the next several months. Brain Black, Director of Building Codes and Standard, and Domenic Marinelli, Director of Advocacy, from the Eastern Paralzyed Veterans Association (EPVA), are going share their expertise on the code issues and specifications. Jennifer Depaul, regional advocate, is going to be assisting with the logistics and assisting Brian and Domenic.

The CILs are going to be the community based contact and resource points to host the trainings. Please contact your local CIL for training schedules, etc.

The PA ADA Coalition is contributing a significant amount of funding to the project as it meets their mission of full and equal access for people with disabilities.

The expected outcome of the regional training events is to educate the participants on the UCC to ensure a collaborative effort in making PA more accessible. Also, the UCC requires that inspectors be certified as Building Codes Accessibility Specialists. As you may be aware, we already have ADA or accessibility specialists at CILs.

PCIL is providing for staff at each CIL to become trained and certified as Building Codes Accessibility Specialists. This will allow for authoritative advocacy to enforce the new code. Tentatively, the CILs, collectively, have identified 23 staff persons to become certified. After these persons become certified, they are going to hold 13 local trainings, in their respective CIL service areas, to disability rights advocates. Again, this is going to allow for local enforcement of the UCC.

1. Educate the construction, architectural, design and disability community on the UCC.
2. Create local certified accessibility specialists to be a resource for the construction industry.
3. Promote a partnership between the Independent Living movement and the construction industry.
4. A partnership of all the organizations involved in the implementation of the project as we all have a common goal of an accessible Pennsylvania.

Download - UCC Project Fact Sheet
*Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view the document


HTML version - PAS Project Final Report

HTML version - PAS Community Forum Findings Report

The goal of this project is twofold: to identify barriers from individuals, and the community of persons with disabilities; as well as those barriers inherent in government systems, and to make recommendations toward a comprehensive cross disability, consumer controlled Personal Assistance Services (PAS) to serve people of all ages. Contained herein are those barriers identified both from stakeholders and consumers of services, as well as those financial, administrative, political, and policy barriers presented by government-- the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal system.

This project commenced October1, 2000 and ended June 30, 2002.

Download - PAS Project Final Report
Download - PAS Community Forum Findings Report
*Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view the document



The Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL) is implementing the Consumer Training Institute for a second year. The Consumer Training Institute is funded by the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC). The purpose of this project is to increase and maintain the protection and advancement of the civil rights of people with all types disabilities on a local, statewide, and national level.

The PCIL will work with the PA SILC, Pennsylvania's Statewide Action Team, and the 15 centers for independent living (CILs) in a collaborative effort to design a training institute that will provide for outreach and education of consumers who are traditionally unserved and/or under served. The Statewide Action Team is comprised of a Community Organizer at each of the PA CILs that advocates for systems wide change on a local, state, and national level. In addition, this network fosters, promotes, and develops local coalitions of consumers and disability rights advocates, in their respective regions of the Commonwealth, that advocate for equal access and the advancement of independent living options for the disability community. The local coalitions are known as Regional Advocacy Teams.

The Consumer Training Institute continues to parallel the statewide advocacy issues the Statewide Action Team is focusing on to create measurable systems wide change. These issues are Ticket to Work, Medicaid Buy In, and Shared Ride Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities. This concept and practice allows for a unified effort and advocacy vision throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the Consumer Training Institute supports the activities and enhances the skills of consumers involved in the Statewide Action Team. Fundamentally, the consumers and CIL Community Organizers will be on a closer level of knowledge regarding the above mentioned disability related issues affecting systems wide change. For consumers who are not involved with their Regional Advocacy Teams, this project works to empower those consumers to get involved to create positive change in their communities.



HTML version - DPW Backup PAS Study

The "Backup Personal Assistance Services (PAS) and Employment findings" contained in this document are the Phase I outcomes of a two (2) phase project, undertaken by the Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL), pursuant to an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's (DPW) Ticket to Work Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and Statewide Advisory Committee on Employment (ACE). The overall goal of the project is to research and to incorporate best practices from around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and nationally addressing the issue of backup PAS for persons working or who wish to work and develop a priority system for backup PAS for individuals who use this service and are employed or seeking employment in two locations in Pennsylvania. Phase II of the project includes using this Backup PAS and Employment Finding Report as a foundation for the development of a piloted administrative structure of priority backup PAS for the targeted consumers identified above in collaboration with PAS providers, Local Advisory Committees on Employment (LACEs) and consumers in Pittsburgh and Schuylkill County. After the pilots end, recommendations will be developed that delineates how a reliable backup PAS system can be implemented in other parts of the state.

Search this site or the web

Site search Web search | Download Adobe Acrobat Adobe Acrobat Reader is required in order to view these documents. PAS Final Report | UCC Project Fact Sheet | Prospectus on Disability

Copyright© 2002 Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living · All rights reserved · PRIVACY POLICY | USER AGREEMENT