Our Services

CIL Opportunities is a private, non-profit organization serving people with disabilities, families, and the community in Adams, Franklin, and York counties on issues and needs related to diverse disabilities. CIL Opportunities was founded in 1992 and is governed and staffed mainly by people with disabilities.

Dedicated to the integration of people with diverse disabilities in all aspects of life in our communities, CIL Opportunities focuses on:

  • Eliminating barriers
  • Ensuring civil rights and equal access
  • Promoting independent living

CIL Opportunities provides free and confidential disability related services to people with disabilities, family members, individuals, and local businesses and organizations without regard to age, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation/identity, religious background, or severity of disability. All services and special projects prioritize self-determination by people with disabilities and include:

Peer Mentoring/Support/Counseling

Staff and volunteers provide consumers with emotional support as they work toward their IL goals.

Life Skills Training

Staff teach consumers (including students) daily living skills (e.g., budgeting, using public transportation, training attendants, using a computer) to increase opportunities to live independently.

Advocacy

Staff assist consumers in learning what to do if they believe their rights have been violated and helps them gain the confidence to speak for themselves and on behalf of other people with disabilities.

Information and Referral

Staff and volunteers offer up-to-date information on critical issues and provide referrals to other helpful community resources.

Transitioning

Staff assist consumers who want to transition from school to work/college AND consumers who have a goal of transitioning from nursing facilities back to the community.

IM4Q

IM4Q operates according to the belief that the best way to evaluate a service is to ask the consumers who use it. So, as part of a statewide initiative by the PA Office of Mental Retardation, the IM4Q Project involves people with developmental disabilities serving as “monitors” to conduct one-on-one quality of life interviews with consumers. CIL Opportunities is responsible for the two-county area funded by the York-Adams Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program.

HCBS

The Office of Long Term Living (OLTL), a division under the Department of Public Welfare, funds consumer-directed personal assistance services for Medicaid eligible people with disabilities to maintain independent in their own homes. Under this program, consumers choose service coordinators to assist them in complying with regulations under this program. CIL Opportunities is a current provider of service coordination which includes empowering consumers to achieve their self-identified IL goals along with providing personal emergency response systems (PERS), home modifications, and durable medical equipment (if deemed eligible by OLTL).

CIL Opportunities also provides advocacy for consumers (regardless if chosen as a service coordinator) applying for HCBS services.

Transition to Nursing Facilities or State Hospitals

CIL Opportunities advocates and assists consumers with IL goals of transitioning out of nursing facilities/state hospitals. This is an unfunded service of which empowers consumers to live the American Dream … independence. Staff work with consumers in their current living situation on skills building and independence goals in preparation for moving day. We also advocate for consumers who have applied for the nursing home transition program through the PA Department of Aging.

CIL Opportunities collect household items from individual donors to assist consumers when moving out (e.g., kitchen items, TVs, bedding, and clothing).

Youth

CIL Opportunities advocates and assists youth consumers with IL goals of transitioning to college, work, and/or independent living setting. Staff work with students and their schools and parents to work on skills, transitioning, and employment practices.

Guidelines and Programs

CIL Opportunities provides ADA Accessibility Guidelines consulting when requested from local business and organizations. Certified staff are very knowledgeable about compliance issues and resolution guidance. We work with local townships, County officials, Housing Authorities (Executive Director is a member of an accommodation board for the local housing group), and other interested organizations to ensure accessibility for all.

CIL Opportunities provides disability awareness trainings to local business, organizations, housing staff, realtors, civil groups, churches, youth groups, sporting facilities, and other interested individuals/groups. Our trainings are created and facilitated by staff, board of directors, and volunteers.

Transportation

CIL Opportunities assist local transportation providers with disability verifications of applicants as well as empower consumers to apply, advocate for, and utilize their local public transportation. Staff work with individuals in learning how to “ride the bus” and navigate stops/pick-ups, and teach them their ADA rights when using the program.

Consumer Library

CIL Opportunities created a consumer library that is open to the public during business hours (free of charge) encouraging people with disabilities and family members to learn computer skills, work on resumes, and research resources for their self-identified IL goals. The library is fully accessible to all disabilities and includes 4 work stations, a CCTV, Braille machine, book resources, and leisure reading materials.

Volunteer Program

CIL Opportunities’ volunteer program consists of students and people with disabilities from the community learning job skills while volunteering at the CIL. We encourage a work environment and provide job-like duties around the office which are tailored to each student’s/consumer’s self-identified IL/employment goals. We also assist with working on their resumes and doing mock interviews in preparation for their employment goals. We can also provide a business suit/attire for an interview if the situation presents itself. CIL Opportunities, through its volunteer program, provides for some light rehabilitation duties for consumers who may need to work on speech, typing, or other physical activities due to a recent set-back in their health.

Go-To Agency

CIL Opportunities is the go-to agency for local organizations who need assistance in providing services to consumers for Home Modifications/Durable Medical Equipment/Assistive Technology needs.

What is PennCares PennWorks™

PennCares PennWorks™ is a new Certificated Integrated Competitive Employment Readiness initiative for Youth and Adults with Physical and Intellectual Disabilities. PennWorks develops training, job exploration, certification and employment supports.

Recognizing that adults with disabilities represent a large and untapped workforce, the Center for Independent Living Opportunities was invited to join the PennWorks initiative in providing the access and training for this group.

Additional CIL Services

The CIL services described above is just a snapshot of what the CIL provides on a daily basis. Each person who chooses to reach out to the CIL has their own unique self-identified IL goals which creates for a case-by-case scenario of services/provisions daily. In addition, CILs are often called upon by other agencies/departments to provide unfunded services (i.e., emergency responses for natural and other disasters).

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