30 Years of Options for People with Disabilities
WNYIL Inc. now operates as a family of agencies which includes, the Independent Living Center of Western New York (ILC), Mental Health PEER Connection (MHPC), OAHIIO "The Good Path", Native American Services (NAILS), Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC), Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR), "Taking Control" (A Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, CDPAP), and our Transportation Department. All six agencies retain the philosophy of consumer control and focus on the individual, providing EDUCATION that EMPOWERS individuals with disabilities, in the hope for EQUALITY for all.
2010:
In July of 2010, Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR) became a family member of the WNYIL Independent Living Inc. Family of Agencies, serving Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties.
In August 2010, Native American Independent Living Services (NAILS) officially changed their name to OAHIIO, meaning "The Good Path" at their 2010 annual "Haudenosaunee Championship Smoke Dance & Social."
During Disability History in October 2010, The WNYIL, Inc. partnered with People Inc. to heighten awareness, within our WNY communities, on the important historical background of our friends, family members and our neighbors living with disabilities.
2009:
NAILS began a support group at the Buffalo Veterans Affairs Hospital for veterans and their families dealing with mental and/or physical disabilities.
The WNYIL Inc. held their first annual "Cruisin' Night" fundraiser, in order to raise money for a wheelchair accessible van.
2008:
In July 2008, the WNYIL Inc. received funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo Perry Fund to provide transition training to Buffalo area High School seniors with learning and developmental disabilities. The WNYIL Inc. Peer Mentoring Program had begun in the fall of 2007 with funding from NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and the Perry Funds allowed expansion of the program to double the number of High School students participating in 2008. Over 100 High School seniors have participated in the Peer Mentoring Program at the WNYIL Inc. from the Fall of 2007 to the Winter of 2009.
The WNYIL Inc. partnered with the University at Buffalo Center of Assistive Technology on the Knowledge Translations for Technology Transfer.
2007:
In July of 2007, Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC) became a family member of the WNYIL Independent Living Inc. Family of Agencies.
The "Taking Control" Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) expanded to both Franklin and Niagara Counties.
2006:
WNYIL Inc. received funding from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) for Aging Services - to assist the WNYIL Inc. in reaching out to the elderly disabled community in order to facilitate linkages to the Senior Networks in our services.
2005:
The Independent Smart House, model home, displaying assistive devices for individuals with disabilities, is opened.
The WNYIL Inc. receives "The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation Grant" to be used for the purchase of augmentative communication equipments to assist students in the area school districts while they are in the waiting process of being approved for one of their own.
The "Taking Control" Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is now available. The program establishes an employer / employee relationship between the consumer (participant) and the onsite homecare professional (personal assistant).
2004:
The WNYIL Inc. facilitated a Rally for Mental Health at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center in Buffalo where 110 people attended.
The "Taking Control" Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) begins at the WNYIL Inc.
2003:
April 2-6, 2003, WNYIL Inc. staff participated in the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer's Stakeholder forum on Vision Technology in San Francisco, C.A. Staff ran five focus groups with manufacturers, researchers, and consumers from around the world.
On January 30, 2003, two individuals from the University of Kansas, Beach Center on Disability, and staff, trained 30 mentors to work with the first two groups of students with disabilities.
2002:
The WNYIL Inc. expanded by 10,000 square feet with the help of generous gifts from the Wendt Foundation, the Cummings Foundation, the Buffalo Host Lions, and M&T Bank.
RRTC-ILM developed a computer-based tutorial on culture brokering to enhance the skills of IL specialists and peer counselors who work with foreign-born consumers.
The WNYIL Inc. saved taxpayers over $20 Million by keeping consumers out of institutions.
NAILS gained certification for providing job coaching services.
2001:
The WNYIL Inc. created "Lead the Way," a board training and leadership development class for consumers with developmental disabilities.
Mental Health PEER Connection, Jewish Family Services of Buffalo and Erie county, co-sponsored, "Break the Stigma" (a mental health fair).
AZtech recruited wheelchair users for a long-term study by the T2RERC on Universal Design.
2000:
AZtech joined the WNYIL Inc. Family of Agencies.
Mental Health PEER Connection created the Peer Benefits Advisement program.
AZtech staff assisted T2RERC with the Stakeholder Forum on Hearing Enhancement in New York.
WNYIL Inc. became the first Center for Independent Living (CIL) to win a Rehabilitation Research & Training Center grant (RRTC). The RRTC on Independent Living Management became the fifth WNYIL Inc. member agency.
1999:
T2RERC participated in the first international Stakeholder Forum on Wheeled Mobility.
1998:
Taped the first "Points of View" quarterly public access program, shown on ten cable systems across New York.
Began the "It's in The Bag" mental health anti-stigma program for elementary school children.
NAILS established outreach offices in Niagara Falls and on the Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Reservations and co-sponsored a week-long Seneca Nation Education Fair training where representatives from the six nations partnered on program between Native American Nations and the State and Federal governments.
1997:
WNYIL Inc. began the Peer Transportation Program for Erie County's recipients of mental health services.
1996:
WNYIL Inc. united with Action for Mental Health (AMH).
NAILS expanded to offer Family Support Services (FSS).
1995:
Native American Independent Living Services (NAILS) began operation.
1994:
Kicked off Porky Parker Disability Awareness Program for elementary school students.
1993:
WNYIL Inc. became partners with the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer (T2RERC) to commercialize new assistive devices.
1992:
The WNYIL Inc. expanded services to, and advocated for, the rights of recipients of mental health services.
1990:
The WNYIL Inc. expanded outreach efforts with weekly radio interview programs.
1989:
WNYIL Inc. set up the Library Resource Room with a community-accessible computer.
1988:
The WNYIL Inc. added computerized print-to-Braille transcription service.
1987:
The WNYIL Inc. launched the "Be Parking Considerate" campaign.
1985:
The WNYIL Inc.'s services expanded to offer: sign language interpreters and an interpreter resource library.
1984:
WNYIL began providing 17 services, including career guidance, housing assistance, and architectural barrier consultation.
1981:
The WNYIL Inc. acquired a wheelchair lift-equipped van.
1980:
The WNYIL Inc. was awarded the Federal Title VII Grant.
1979:
In 1979, a group of students with disabilities at the State University of New York at Buffalo, call the "The Independents," investigated the independent living movement and existing centers.
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