Pennsylvania Council of Independent Living

The Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL) is a private, non-profit, 501 (C) (3) association representing all CILs in the Commonwealth. Dedicated to the independence and empowerment of persons with disabilities, the PCIL promotes the development and expansion of a statewide network of consumer-directed CILs. CILs, whose staff are 51% or more of persons with disabilities, offer a variety of services over and above their four core services. These may include nursing home transition, transition for students leaving high school, deaf interpreter programs, lending libraries, etc. The PCIL exists to provide statewide advocacy, technical assistance, training, and statewide collaborations designed to engage in collective systems change, promote the availability of independent living options, and to provide outreach to unserved or underserved areas. The PCIL also exists to develop public awareness campaigns as well as programs that educate the public as to the numerous barriers which continue to preclude individuals from fully participating in the communities where they choose to live.

The PCIL member benefits include insurance programs, training opportunities and collaborative projects, discounted programs and services.

Each Center for Independent Living (CIL) provides four core services including information and referral, advocacy, peer mentoring and independent living skills training.

Information and Referral

Each CIL maintains information on available services in their communities. Files on accessible housing, transportation, employment opportunities and resources for persons with hearing and visual impairment are just a few examples.

Advocacy
Empowering people with disabilities to speak for themselves and assert their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights is an important component of the four core services provided by CILs. CIL staff also advise and assist people with disabilities in advocating for the elimination of barriers and practices that preclude one’s access to the greater community at large. Public awareness is another component available to individuals and the community to break down the physical and attitudinal barriers that exist.

Peer Mentoring
Peer helpers are matched with persons with similar disabilities to manage, remove or cope with the barriers they encounter. Goals are set by the person with a disability (consumer).

Independent Living Skills Training
Individually designed training to increase confidence and self-reliance is offered to consumers in areas such as income benefits, social or recreational opportunities, self-care, transportation, education, communication, assistive technology, budgeting, housing assistance and job readiness. The consumer sets the pace, decides the goals and does the work with CIL staff serving as role models, advocates and supporters