SCIL Serves 5 counties in Illinois: Menard, Logan, Sangamon, Christian and Montgomery.
SCIL's Mission:
To increase opportunities for equality, integration and independence for all persons with disabilities through advocacy, services, and public education.
SCIL promotes the Independent Living Philosophy:
Independent living is the belief that all persons, regardless of disability, have the right and responsibility to control and direct their own lives and to fully participate as equal members of society.
News and Updates
Free Cell Phone and Minutes
The local Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois (CAPCIL) is assisting persons to acquire a free government-supported cell phone and minutes. In addition to the minutes, the cell phone will come with voice mail, carryover minutes, call waiting, and national and international long distance service. For more information about this program, you can contact Michelle Pickford with CAPCIL, at 217/632-3137 or by e-mail at mpickford@capcil.org.
YMCA National IDEA Survey
Please take the YMCA's National IDEA Survey
A survey of whether the rights of students with disabilities and their parents are protected. It looks at whether parents are treated as equal partners in their children's education. Click on this link to begin the survey, http://ideasurvey.org
SCIL's 25th Annual Meeting
Springfield Center for Independent Living (SCIL) Holds 25th Annual Meeting
The Springfield Center for Independent Living’s 25th Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. The event was held at the The Wedeberg Conference Center at Memorial Medical Center from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The evening included: an awards ceremony, an hors d’oeuvre buffet, and the announcement of the winners of the 50/50 Raffle.
Each year, SCIL honors individuals who have made valuable contributions to SCIL and people with disabilities in the community. The 2010 Awards given were: the Jack Genskow Personal Assistant of the Year award presented to Tim Burgess, to honor his outstanding dedication and selfless attitude as a person employed as a personal assistant; and the Tom & Dolores Krause award presented to Frank Kircher, Debbie Gerstenberger, and Linda Roberts to honor exceptional work by members of the SCIL Board of Directors. A dedication of the “There’s No Place Like Home” plaque was made with the reading of the names of the individuals who have chosen to leave nursing homes to live independently in their own homes during this past year. The appointment of SCIL’s incoming Board President, Julie Hubbard was made and a certificate of appreciation was presented to the retiring Board President, Jeff Schumacher. President Julie Hubbard announced the reappointment of Deborah Johnson-Small and Jim Solenberger to the SCIL board.
The winner of the SCIL 50/50 Raffle Fundraiser was announced at the end of the meeting.
SCIL is a not-for-profit service and advocacy agency that promotes the independent living philosophy. Its mission is to increase opportunities for all people with disabilities through advocacy, services, and public education. SCIL serves Christian, Logan, Menard, Montgomery, and Sangamon counties in Illinois. SCIL services are free.
Web site worth visiting
disaboom.com is a wonderful site for people with disabilities. Please check it out!
Thousands of people from all parts of Illinois ventured to a capitol rally February 17th to tell policymakers: "We can't wait for a state-budget solution that protects critical services for children, families and communities."
Too many of those priorities - from education to health and human services - are suffering badly from funding cuts and delays in payments to their providers. Ultimately, kids and families suffer most.
To add your voice and plea to the "we can't wait" campaign, visit www.abetterillinois.com
Access to Recreation Endowment Fund
The Sangamon County Community Foundation (SCCF) is building a new, permanent funding resource for accessible recreation projects in our community.
Through a challenge grant, community members like you can help SCCF DOUBLE our money...up to $135.000! The W.K. Kellogg Foundation will match each donation received into this fund. The Access to Recreation Endowment Fund will enhance, expand and create new accessible recreational opportunties for people with disabilities. By contributing to the Access to Recreation Endowment Fund, your donation will help SCCF take full advantage of this challenge and build the Endowment to a minimum level of $270,000! The funds will be invested for accessible recreation projects forever and you will be supporting a great cause right here in Sangamon County.If you support accessible recreation projects in Sangamon County and would like your tax-deductible gift to be DOUBLED! Make checks payable to SCCF-A2R or contribute online at www.sccf.us Checks can be mailed to Sangamon County Community Foundation, One West Old State Capital Plaza, Suite 816, Springfield, IL 62701. Phone number: 217-789-4431.
SCIL in partnership with the Computer Banc
We have a fantastic partnership with the Computer Banc. If you know someone with a disability who is seeking a low-cost computer, we can send a referral letter on their behalf to the Computer Banc. A single person with a disability and no children will be required to pay a $100 refurbishment charge. This only covers the cost of new parts to bring the systems up to its original specifications. If it is a family with children with disabilities, the refurb fee is based on the household income,but will not exceed $100.00. Their hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
CURRENT ADVOCACY ISSUES
The Olmstead Implementation Act
Health Care Justice Campaign
click here to read more
A New Guidebook Filled with Wheel-Chair Accessible Vacation Ideas
101 Accessible Vacations
101 Accessible vacations is published by Demos Publishing and is the first book of its kind. It is a must have resource for wheelchair- or scooter-users, slow walkers, and travel agents. It's a guide to barrier-free travel.
101 Accessible Vacations is available at bookstores, through the publisher (800-532-8663) or on-line at www.101AccessibleVacations.com. Visit the web site to read a sample chapter, and see the table of contents for more information.
Information via email from author, Candy Harrington.
Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities
Now, you don't have to choose between your work and your health care coverage. Click on http://www.hbsdillinois for more information.
Free Fishing License for People with Disabilities
Do you know anyone who has a disability and loves to fish? The fee for a fishing license is no longer a problem for some individuals who have disabilities! Thanks to Christina Bormida, Reintegration Specialist at Springfield Center for Independent Living for passing along this important information!
On the Department of Natural Resources website http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/programs/camping/discounts.htm there is information about how to get a free fishing license for people with disabilities. Illinois residents with a class 2 or class 2A disability are not required to purchase a resident sport fishing license. Your doctor will need to fill out an application called “Application for Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card” and bring this application to your nearest Driver Services Facility.
There is no fee for the ID card. You can print out the application from the following address: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/idcards.html and click on Application for Disabled Person Identification Card. The application has definitions of a class 2 or 2A disability for the doctor to refer to. When you receive your ID, you carry this with you to replace your fishing license.
Please contact Karen DeLay @ 523-2587 v/tty or 1-800-447-4221 if you would like additional information about this article or have questions about SCIL.
Work From Home?
Do you need funds to work from home? Or do you need money to begin, maintain, or upgrade your home-based business? If you answered yes to either question, the Telework Loan Program offered by the Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) may be your answer. The Telework Loan Program offers cash loans to qualified Illinois residents with disabilities who are 18 years or older. You can use that money to purchase equipment or home modification for your home-based business. If you qualify, you can borrow as little as $500 or as much as $40,000. Your interest rate will be 5.5%, which is lower than banks, and you could choose an extended term of up to 15 years depending on the purchase. Longer terms mean lower monthly payments.
Let me tell you about one of our success stories. Have you had a great pizza, lately? IATP is proud to announce the recent opening of a pizzeria called Angel’s Place of Cicero, located in the western suburb of Chicago at 2521 South Central Avenue (708/329-1976). Angel’s Place of Cicero is owned and operated by John Garcia, an entrepreneur with a disability, an entrepreneur with commitment, perseverance, talent, and ability to pull together community resources. John is one to take notice.
See SCIL's Calendar of Events
What is going on at SCIL? See Calendar of Events for information.
Sangamon County Emergency Telephone System
Senior Safe Program
The Sangamon County Emergency Telephone System Department would like to inform you of a special program for Sangamon County seniors and citizens that are disabled. The Senior Safe program is offered by your local 9-1-1 center to have some helpful information on an individual prior to the arrival of medical or police personnel. Go to http://sangamoncounty911.org/about_sccds.htm for further information and to enroll.
