Every three years the NJ Statewide
Independent Living Council examines and updates the State Plan for
Independent Living (SPIL), a document that outlines the three-year plan
to support and enhance New Jersey’s Independent Living Services and the
network of Centers for Independent Living.
A new SPIL has been
drafted for the coming 3 years and your input is needed. Independent
living is not about us at the centers, it is about you in the community.
Please take a moment to read the plan, and take the survey included. Let us know how best to support you!
CAMPERSHIP COVID19 LETTER UPDATE
May 13th, 2020
Dear Families,
We want you all to know about the Summer Campership summer activity scholarship program this year. We realize that this year poses challenges that none of us have ever had to deal with before. We at the Progressive Center want you to know that the Camp Scholarship program is still operational despite the public health crisis, and we want you to know that we will work with recipients to make sure they are able to use the funding in the way in which it is intended.
The purpose of the program is to assist youth with disabilities (ages 4-25, who reside in Mercer County, NJ) in having a positive summer experience. For many that has been a day or sleep-away camp, but these are not the only options. In the past recipients have used the funding for enrichment classes such as sewing, driving, cooking, and crafting. We will certainly entertain virtual activities held on software platforms this year. There are other ways in which the money can be used, for example, it could be applied toward rental reasonable costs associated with recreational destinations (for the camper only). We may consider applying to a day pass to parks or activities which have an entry fee (again only for the Camper). There may be other options as well, we are willing to be as creative as possible to make sure this opportunity for Campers can continue this year. What the program cannot do is purchase physical items like recreational equipment, and it will not pay for memberships or other programs which begin before Memorial Day extend passed Labor Day, 2020.
I’d like everyone to know that we are committed to supporting the participants of the Campership Program, while still staying within the scope of the program’s design. I encourage anyone who has applied, or would like to, to please reach out and share your ideas with us. Although we may not be able to approve all ideas, we will consider them thoughtfully.
For more information on the program, or to obtain an application, please visit:
Thank you all very much.
Be well.
Reed Thomas
Independent Living Resource Specialist
reed.thomas@pcil.org
Head on over to our events page either on our website or Facebook and be in the know! PCIL is proud to offer weekly recreation events over ZOOM!
As it is clear that social distancing measures will be around for a while
longer (yes, longer than any of us thought or wanted!), we have setup recreation activities to be done through the Zoom video conferencing platform.
The first of these activities will be held next Friday, April 24th from
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
This will feature the return of Ken Wilkie, professional cartoonist. Ken
has led two workshops in the past (which were a lot of fun) and will now be conducting a drawing workshop. Not only is drawing fun & enriching, but it requires very little supplies! All you’ll need is some paper, a pencil (or pen, or crayon, or marker…) and you’re ready to go.
If you are interested in taking part in the drawing activity on the 24th,
please email me at reed.thomas@pcil.org to let me know who will participate, and if you need any help setting up and using the Zoom platform. You must email to register and receive the Meeting ID & Password. These emails can be received right up until noon on April 24th.
We will be hosting activities every Friday afternoon until distancing
measures are lifted, so stay tuned for more fun opportunities to take part in art, music, drama, and other fun stuff!
The zoom platform also allows you to interact, ask questions, reconnect
with friends, as well as having a positive experience (something we all could use right now!).
If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, it is a free software product that can be
accessed through a web browser, desktop app (on windows or Mac), or mobile app (on smart phones or tablets).
For more information please visit:
Attached is a great explanation of the COVID19, Novel Coronovirus that is easy to understand.
March 17, 2020
Dear Client, Staff and PCIL Community
As the Progressive Center IL (PCIL) continues to monitor the rapidly changing information on CoVID-19 from reputable health officials, we are working to maintain a safe work environment and protect the health and well-being of our clients, staff, and community.
We want you to be confident in knowing that we are sensitive to your needs and concerns. At the moment we are carefully assessing the impacts of the virus within the community as we determine the outcomes of our large group activities and events.
To keep “everyone’ safe and well during this COVID19 situation, PCIL
offices are being staffed by a skeleton crew as of March 17, 2020 and are
not scheduling any in office face to face appointments and not encouraging
drop in visits.
Until further notice PCIL will be doing business and offering all and any
assistance by phone and email.
All recreation activities are postponed through April.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions and for resources
needed, continue to use 609.581.4500 to phone us or info@pcil.org for
email.
Thank you for your understanding.
Scott
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is just around the corner! Throughout the month of March, ACL hopes you will join them in celebrating the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.
Each year, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities partners with the Association for University Centers on Disabilities and the National Disabilities Rights Network on a DD Awareness Month social media campaign.. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life and the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.
The campaign is accepting submissions of videos, toolkits, news articles, photos, personal stories, promising practices, and more to include in their resource guide. The campaign is also accepting artwork by people with disabilities which it will highlight online.
Visit Administration for Community Living for details throughout March!
On Election Day, November 5, 2019 from 7 am – 8 pm, Disability Rights New Jersey will have attorneys available by telephone to answer your questions concerning any disability-related voting problems you might experience.
800-922-7223or609-633-7106 (tty)Mciccone@drnj.org
Please take a moment to help us improve our website by taking this survey. Your responses will help us in designing our new website!
Please take a look at the following message from NJ Transit on their upcoming Public Hearing to receive comments from interested parties concerning programs developed pursuant to the Senior Citizen & Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program Act.
New Jersey’s Centers for Independent Living are a vital part of the disability community, yet are consistently underfunded. For this reason, the New Jersey Association of Centers for Independent Living is asking for state funding in the amount of 4 million dollars to be divided amongst the 11 Centers across New Jersey. Please sign our letter endorsing our efforts and showing the Governor the importance of disability-led organizations!