Guest:  Sarah Lanzo

Topic:  ILNC's Walk, Run & Roll

Duration:  5:36

Published:  April 22, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Sarah Lanzo, Director of Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC), and I’m your host Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Sarah.

Guest:  Thank you Ernie, how are you today.

Host:  Not bad. We're delighted to have you and you're our guest today because you've got an exciting event coming up. But first, for the benefit of our listeners that might not be familiar with ILNC, you provide a number of services to help people with all kinds of disabilities to improve their lives. Can you tell us something about your organization?

Guest:  Sure Ernie, ILNC is an Independent Living Center so what that means is we help people with any and all disabilities, help themselves. So, we basically we will help any person that comes to us, set some goals and reach to them, we basically teach people how to fish all day every day.

Host:  All right, and in case somebody wonders, they don't need a doctor's appointment to connect with you, you just need to say, I've got a disability, how can you help me improve my life.

Guest:  Absolutely. You're right, they do not need a doctor's appointment they don't need a doctor's note and they don't need a diagnosis by the doctor, they just need to be willing to tell us that they do have a disability and they would like some support in reaching some goals and that they're willing to work with us in the process of doing so.

Host:  And I believe you have a few programs that are not found at just every Center for Independent Living, such as Addict to Addict Niagara.

Guest:  You're absolutely right. We do have some special programs that are unique to ILNC specifically Addict to Addict. Added to Addict Niagara is a program that works with people who identify as having substance use disorder and we will work with them when they state they are ready to do something different. So what that means and what that looks like is when a person who has been struggling with their addiction wants some support or is ready to maybe go to rehab or just to have some conversations about what medically assisted treatment, or just even going to meetings what recovery might look like. We can help them help themselves.

Host:  And something else that's fairly unique about you is you have services for deaf people by a deaf staff person.

Guest:  We sure do. We're very lucky to have peer services offered by a deaf staff person and it's a very unique part of what we do here and we're very grateful to have her as part of our team.

Host:  All right. before all of our time slips away from us, you're here to tell us about Walk, Run & Roll 2021 which helps you do some of these delightful services that you've been talking about, what's the scoop?

Guest:  I certainly am, so ILNC second annual Walk, Run & Roll, you can actually sign up for it already, but we're actually presenting it as an opportunity to take a walk, run or roll with us between May 31 And June 6. And you can contact us by, you can actually give us a call or you can register online at runsignup.com/ilncwalkrunroll, and when you sign up, it's a suggested donation of $30 and you get a really awesome t shirt that I'm super excited about.

Host:  That's great. We'll ask you to give us a phone number at the end of the program, but you said this was the second Walk, Run & Roll. Since this is a pretty much do it on your honors sort of situation, how did that work out last year?

Guest:  It really worked out very well Ernie. This time last year, I think we were all finding ourselves very trapped inside and so my fundraising committee wanted to have some conversations about ways we might be able to get out and do some things a little differently and just make sure people were getting out of their homes. And so we wanted to have an all-inclusive way of doing something and so we ended up at the end of the summer having our first Walk, Run & Roll, and we want to do it again, we want to make sure people are getting out enjoying the summer air and just getting out of their homes.

Host:  And this is the epitome of doing things in safety because all participants, choose their own route.

Guest:  They sure do. And their own pace.

Host:  That's great and they've got a week to do it in. And so, if you could tell us what number people can call to get more information about your event.

Guest:  So, if you want to call you can give us a call at 716-284-4131 extension 146. Or if you want to just go online and register you can go to runsignup.com/ilncwalkrunroll

Host:  That sounds exciting. Thank you so much for being with us, Sarah,

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You’ve been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Sarah Lanzo, Director of ILNC, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.