A letter to our customers

Dear Valued Customer:

I am sure that by now you are quite aware of the various protocols that you must follow to keep yourself, your family, and others safe, as we meet this challenge of maintaining our health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Western New York Independent Living, Inc. (WNYIL) “Family of Agencies” (Independent Living Center in Buffalo, Mental Health Peer Connection, Independent Living of Niagara County, Independent Living of the Genesee Region, and Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service) are no different than your doctor’s office, local grocery store, or salon. In order to provide face-to-face services (when it’s necessary to do so), WNYIL has implemented safety protocols to ensure minimum health risk to you. Please read and adhere to the following protocols and I am sure that we will all get through this pandemic together and resume our favorite activities without restrictions.

  1. Please call your service provider to make an appointment before coming to any WNYIL offices. This will assure that your service provider can meet with you at a time mutually convenient for both of you.
     
  2. Your service provider will call you the day before your appointment to complete a required screening questionnaire to ensure you will be able to meet at your scheduled time. If you have not heard from your service provider, please call the office before you leave your home, to avoid making an unnecessary trip.
  1. Please put on a face covering before entering any WNYIL office. If you do not have a face covering to wear, inform your service provider when completing the screening questionnaire so staff can obtain one for you (if available), or reschedule the appointment for a time when you have a face covering to use.
     
  2. When you arrive at the office you will be met with a staff person who will perform a short four question screening questionnaire. If your answers are acceptable you will be asked to use the public hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water before taking a seat in the waiting area and your service provider will be contacted. If your responses are not acceptable, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment and will be advised to contact your medical provider for additional guidance.
     
  3. Please maintain proper social distancing (6 feet apart) inside the WNYIL office, whenever possible.
     
  4. Once your service provider greets you, you and your service provider will go to a location that has been kept as clean as possible to conduct your business in private. All furniture will be sanitized before and after your meeting to protect your health while in one of the WNYIL offices.
     
  5. Please do not hug, shake hands, or fist bump your service provider. They have been instructed not to have any physical contact with anyone until WNYIL feels it is safe to do so.
     
  6. As you leave the office please either wash your hands with soap and water or use one of the public hand sanitizers to once again safeguard you from any health risk.
     
  7. If you do not witness these safety precautions being followed, please feel free to bring it to the service provider’s attention and/or contact the Human Resource Department or the service provider’s supervisor to inform them of the inadvertent misstep in protocol.

We at the WNYIL “Family of Agencies” wish for you to remain healthy and safe through this time in our history. We ask that you follow all the above safety measures and feel free to become part of our fight to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Only with your assistance can we beat this unseen enemy, and only with your attention to health and safety will we win that fight. If you need any further information please contact Tina Brown, Chief Human Resource and Compliance Officer at 716-836-0822 extension 102, or contact me with any feedback, comments, or additions to our system. Thank you for looking out for your neighbors and friends.

Sincerely,

Douglas J. Usiak, CEO
716-836-0822 extension 117
dusiak@wnyil.org

Western New York Independent Living “Family of Agencies” Locations and Contact Information:

Independent Living Center of Erie County
3108 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
716-836-0822
www.wnyil.org

Mental Health PEER Connection (MHPC)
3108 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
716-836-0822

The Renewal Center
327 Elm Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
716-245-4200

Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC)
746 Portage Road
Niagara Falls, NY 14301
716-284-3141

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR)
319 West Main Street, Rear Left
Batavia, NY 14020
585-815-8501 extension 400

Independent Living of the Genesee Region Outreach Office
2407 North Main Street
Warsaw, NY 14569
585-815-8501 extension 421

Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service, Inc. (NFRRS)
1199 Harlem Road
Cheektowaga, NY 14227
716-821-5555