Since 1979, The Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) has been teaching people with significant disabilities and the Deaf how to gain more control over their lives and how to access tools and services to live more independently. VCIL employees conduct public education, outreach, individual advocacy and systems change advocacy to help promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities into community life.
Preliminary data for our FY ’10 (10/1/09-9/30/10) show that VCIL responded to over 1,550 requests from individuals, agencies and community groups for information, referral and assistance and program services for individuals living with a disability. VCIL Peer Advocate Counselors (PACs) provided one-on-one peer counseling to 535 individuals to help increase their independent living skills and assisted 315 households with financial and/or technical assistance to make their bathrooms and/or entrances accessible. We provided 255 individuals with assistive technology and delivered meals to 485 individuals through our Meals on Wheels (MOW) program for individuals with disabilities under the age of 60.
VCIL’s central office is located in downtown Montpelier and we now have five branch offices in Bennington, Chittenden, Orleans, Rutland and Windham Counties. Our Peer Advocate Counselors are available to people with disabilities throughout Vermont.
During FY ’10, 24 residents of Hartfordreceived services from the following programs:
· Home Access Program (HAP)
· Meals on Wheels Program (MOW) (over $5,000 spent on peers)
· Peer Advocacy Counseling Program (PAC) (over $800 in PAC hours)
· Sue Williams Freedom Fund (SWFF) (over $2,300 spent on peers)
· Information, Referral and Assistance (I,R &A)
To learn more about VCIL, please call VCIL’s toll-free I-Line at: 1-800-639-1522, or, visit our web site at www.vcil.org