It is hard to believe most of us have been limiting social contact and working from home for more than six months. All our emergency preparedness didn’t prepare most of us for this weird situation. And now we are entering
Who can we count in Peer Support or other group classes?
Question: I have a question about peer support groups or groups where we teach IL skills. For example, a small group where consumers can connect with one another or learn about resources (e.g., housing), or teaching skills such as money management.
Personal reflection on chronic pain
Usually this blog focuses on regulations that impact Centers and Councils. I am going to have a completely different conversation today. If you aren’t comfortable with where this goes, that is okay. I will resume the more typical posts next
Help! Our Center is in a rut!
Request: Our Center is in a rut. We need some ideas to energize our future. As you know, our CIL has been stuck in a rut for quite a few years and we are trying to shake things up and
What is your CIL’s Environment?
Over the past 38 years I have visited quite a few Centers. Their locations varied, from the Executive Director’s house to store-front office space to large social spaces for the disability community to gather together and do their work. Here
Peer support is for you, too
Sometimes the job is difficult, frustrating. There is so much to learn and know. How can you keep up? Did you know that we do group technical assistance calls every month? If you aren’t on our mailing list for these,
A recap of core services and other service options for CILs
The recent update to the regulations, which I am attaching and which are found in 45 CFR Part 1329, provide definitions for some of the core services, but not all. In addition, the definitions are not all-encompassing. In other words, they
Philosophy of Independent Living – the Basic Fundamentals
Section 701 of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act starts out with the purpose of Independent Living. “The purpose of this chapter is to promote a philosophy of independent living, including a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination,
How do we move forward in our new reality?
In the week since the presidential election, it appears that some in our community are anxious about the future. You may see the need to acknowledge and support consumers at your center who are in this place. Ruth McCambridge said
Consumer Control? Disability Community?
I get to visit a lot of centers, and meet a lot of people who work for CILs or SILCs or are on the board of one. I see centers that are “service providers” and, in contrast, centers that are