New York City Consortium for Independent Living

AmeriCorps Project

Harlem Independent Living Center has been successful with its application to the NYS Office of National and Community Service to act as the lead agency on behalf of the New York City Consortium for Independent Living, for an AmeriCorps Initiative. We propose to sponsor 20 AmeriCorps Members that will be shared among the six ILCs. Our goal is to create an accessible society where persons with disabilities realize their full potential throughout their lives.

The overall theme of our project is "Creating New Opportunities". The projects we have developed are beyond the current availability of public funds, yet are reflective of critical community needs. "Creating New Opportunities" will focus on three areas:

Housing:

Assistance with locating affordable and useable housing is the most requested service at ILCs. AmeriCorps members will survey accessible subsidized units to ascertain occupancy by people with disabilities; develop a housing database; outreach to private sector; provide information on low cost ways to increase access; and assist individuals with their housing search.

Youth:

Working with youth as they mature into adulthood is one of the most important ways ILCs can serve our community. ILC staff and volunteers are role models who can urge youth and the adults around them to set substantive goals for the future. AmeriCorps members will provide peer counseling and self-advocacy training, and assist students and families with setting achievable transition goals in partnership with schools.

ADA 2000

The year 2000 marks the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. AmeriCorps members will assist ILCs to reach out to schools, colleges, businesses, civic associations, and other public and private institutions in order to involve them in a citywide celebration of this landmark event.

This year's AmeriCorps program is uniquely suited to Independent Living. AmeriCorps' national priority is to enroll individuals with disabilities as AmeriCorps Members. Independent Living Centers, run by and for people with disabilities, are expert in recruiting, training and employing people with disabilities. We will provide AmeriCorps members with disabilities the opportunity to work side-by-side with staff who also have disabilities. Members will also be able to learn from their peers to develop the self-confidence to work, as well as concrete skills for work.

NYC's Independent Living Centers reach over 20,000 individuals each year. This represents just 1.5% of the estimated 1.4 million New Yorkers with disabilities. The AmeriCorps program can assist ILCs to significantly increase the number of people with disabilities we serve, and positively impact upon the quality of life for all New Yorkers. We look forward to your support.

The NYC Consortium for Independent Living is a partnership of the six Independent Living Centers. Our goal is to create an accessible society where persons with disabilities realize their full potential throughout their lives. The members of the New York City Consortium are: Bronx Independent Living Services; Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled; Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York; Harlem Independent Living Center; Queens Independent Living Center and Staten Island Center for Independent Living.