From The Executive Director by Mary D. Lopez, Ph.D.
I have been involved with Centers for Independent Living across the country. Unless the center is huge with a large number of employees and large influx of cash, the center usually flies under the radar screen of the average citizen. Average citizens do not usually even think about disabilities or the needs of people with disabilities unless one affects their own lives, personally. However, those who do “find” us, always express gratitude that they have.One thing that our consumers say is that they appreciate coming through our doors, or one of us going through theirs, and knowing that they will not be “gawked at.” We are accustomed to working with people of all ages and all disabilities, and because most of us, ourselves, have disabilities, the topic of disability is not new to us. What is new to us is our individual consumers. Bob and Sue might both have Cerebral Palsy, but Bob might have a high school degree and use a motorized wheelchair while Sue might have a Ph.D. and be a wheelchair athlete who participates in the Paralympics. Yes, the disability might manifest itself in different ways, but what is also different is a person’s personality, aspirations and goals. We try to adhere to the idea of consumer control and “nothing about us without us,” and to help you to design your own plan for getting your own independent living needs met because they can be as individual as you are.
We stay busy here at the center trying to stay up-to-date on issues that affect people with disabilities, especially because information and referral is a key way for us to let our consumers know what possibilities exist for people with disabilities. I am back and forth to Richmond working on a Disability Issues Platform and attending Disability Commission meetings and Debbie often goes to Washington, DC to learn about employment issues for people with disabilities (email Debbie Titus at dtitus@ieccil.org to learn about job opportunities for people with disabilities).
Roberta and Andrew are also out in the community handing out emergency preparedness kits to our Consumer-Directed program participants. (Do you have your emergency preparedness kit ready to go? See our Summer 2006 newsletter for a full article on emergency preparedness or contact us for a copy of the article.) In addition, Stephanie and John are out in the community making presentations to groups on what IEC can do to assist people with disabilities to achieve their own independent living goals.
There is always so much to do and so many people to meet. And, while none of us can meet everyone, I’m hoping our faithful consumers will help people know about us at IEC. Please help us fly above the radar and tell your friends about us!
From Summer 2007 Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 3
