How many non-profit organizations can tell you that for every dollar invested into their cause, there is a direct savings impact on your tax dollar for both the County and State? Well, we at Western New York Independent Living "Family of Agencies" Can! For every $1 invested into the Independent Living Philosophy there is at least a $4 savings connected to our work. Please read on and see what I mean.

Our efforts to divert people with disabilities from institutional care and assisting people with disabilities out of nursing homes, psychiatric centers, group homes and other State, County, and private funding facilities, resulted in a net savings last year of over $20 million dollars.

Our work in assisting people with disabilities to manage their own personal care attendant resulted in over a $2 million dollars in savings for the County and State. Our employment programs, assisting people to find jobs last year had an economic impact of over $8 million dollars, taking people off County State, and Federally support programs.

This doesn't even get into our work of our Family Member Agencies of: Independent Living Center, Mental Health Peer Connection, Native American Independent Living Services, and Independent Living of Niagara County, where their Educational programs teach people with disabilities how to manage their own lives, Empowers the person with a disability to set personal goals and pursue meaningful activity, to become an Equal partner in our communities as a tax payer, as a neighbor who cares, and as another person who will contribute their skills and resources in assisting our region's growth.

Please help us as the areas largest organization of people with disabilities help ourselves, so we may in return help our communities. Your contribution will assist us this year in purchasing a wheelchair lift equipped van to continue providing needed transportation that assist people with disabilities to get to work (until they buy their own vehicle), find housing, and seek medical treatment.

Please become a member of Western New York Independent Living "Family of Agencies" and know that every penny stays here providing Education, Empowerment and Equality for our neighbors with disabilities.

Contact Community Development for more information, 836-0822 ext 181

Systems Advocacy provides the implementation of community change activity that will enhance, and increase a person with a disability to access full community participation, and provides assistance in accessing Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living services for people with disabilities in Western New York.