Information & Referrals

Our staff can assist you with benefits advisement, budgeting, skills training and more. Most individuals receive information and referral services through single face-to-face contacts or one or two telephone calls, with information provided verbally, through printed material and/or referral to another source.

Architectural Barrier Services

Locations: ILC-EC, ILNC, ILGR

Advice, information, or assistance regarding removal of architectural barriers from publicly or privately owned residences or other buildings or constructed facilities, whether already built or in the planning stage. This includes preparation of detailed plans.

Benefits Advisement

Assistance provided during the application process to obtain economic benefits. This service does not include the representation of individuals at hearings or appeals.

Budgeting and Financial Literacy

An Independent Living Specialist can help you create a budget and offer suggestions on how to cut costs and work savings into your plans.

Business/Education Training

Education, training, and technical assistance to improve access, engagement, and employment of people with disabilities.

Communication Services

Services directed to enable individuals with disabilities to better communicate such as: interpreter services, including tactile interpreter services for deaf-blind individuals; Braille training; and reading services.

Family Services

Provided to the family members of an individual with disabilities when necessary for improving the individual’s ability to live and function more independently, or his or her ability to engage or continue in employment. Education is provided to the family members for their personal benefit.

Independent Living Plans

Location: Mental Health Peer Connection Only

Everyone who comes to MHPC gets the opportunity to develop at least one Independent Living Plan, with the Peer they are working with, to determine what goals the individual would like to obtain while receiving services at MHPC and take the steps needed to obtain that or those goals.

Independent Living Skills

Location: Mental Health Peer Connection Only

Often times people with mental health issues have difficulty with learning and implementing daily tasks that are needed to live as independently as possible in the community. Our MHPC Peers teach and role model skills needed to achieve independent living, such as learning how to budget, houseclean, do laundry, and travel throughout the community.

Life Coaching

Designed to provide support to individuals with a mental health diagnosis in achieving personal and/or professional goals. These goals increase and improve their quality of life in mental and physical health, housing and community integration, daily needs, independent living skills, and life management skills.

Life Skills

Our staff can visit your home to instruct in basic cooking, housekeeping, shopping, “to do” lists, laundry, and traveling in the community.

Person Centered Plans

Trained Peers assist those with mental health issues to develop their own unique plan involving the individual’s community, support system, and assets to obtain one’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

Recreational Services

Provision or identification of opportunities for involvement of individuals with disabilities in meaningful integrated leisure-time activities; participation in community affairs and/or other integrated recreation activities that may be competitive, active, or quiet.

Resources for People with Developmental Disabilities

Services are available through the Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

Transportation Training

Instruction provided to people with disabilities to increase the ability to travel independently.

Contact the location near you for assistance:

• Independent Living Center of Erie County, 716-836-0822
• Independent Living of the Genesee Region, 585-815-8501
• Independent Living of Niagara County, 716-284-4131
• Mental Health Peer Connection, 716-836-0822