Reachout Wireless for free phones
and monthly service
for persons with disabilities.

There is a government assistance program called Reachout Wireless for free phones and monthly service for persons with disabilities.  The participants must have at least one of the following:
Medicaid, SSI, TANF, LIHEAP, Food Stamps, Section 8, and  free lunch
for children from low income families. 

Contact www.reachoutmobile.com
or call 877/940-9444
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For local information on Right To Know, 
contact the Western Illinois Area Health Education Center at (217) 223-0452

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, including those with disabilities. Unfortunately, women with disabilities are less likely to receive breast cancer screening and more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of cancer than their non-disabled peers.

If you or someone close to you has a disability or a special need, you may have to take additional steps to protect yourself and your family in an emergency. A limited number of kits are available for Adams Co. thru WCICIL.
Click Here for more info or call us
at (217) 223-0400
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A program that modifies homes for those
with disabilities has been bigger in 2008. WCICIL and Two Rivers Regional Council are partnering to administer grants serving Adams, Brown, Pike, and Schuyler Counties.
"The real success of this program is that
it allows individuals to remain in their
homes that would otherwise have to be
put in nursing homes" said an WCICIL ILS
Staff. "Sometimes just a ramp or
an accessible bathroom modification
has made a huge difference to those
I work with in our regional area" he added.
 

For those interested in applying for
the IHDA State Grant Program, contact
WCICIL at 217-223-0400

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WCICIL Youth Sevices
Specialist

Dustin Gorder is the Youth Services specialist for the West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living in Quincy. Gorder will be responsible for the coordination of youth programming, accessing resources for students and parents regarding Individual Education Plans (IEP) and 504 plans for educational needs. Gorder is also available as a liaison to assist in navigating the special education system within the WCICIL’s six county area for students with disabilities. Gorder received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Quincy University in 2003.

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Board of Directors announce
WCICIL Executive Director

On March 28, 2007, the WCICIL Board of Directors proudly announced the new WCICIL ExecutivesDirectorahGlendasZFarkasy.SThe new Executive Director was warmly received by the WCICIL staff and local press, who highly anticipated her appointment.

WGEM TV interviews Glendasky
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Scholarship Program for College Students with Disabilities
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars announced it will help students with disabilities through an academic internship program. Click Here for more info

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To address this issue, the WCICIL partnered with the Western Illinois Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to present a women’s health seminar, Partners in Pink, on April 22, 2010. Four area health care professionals spoke on topics pertinent to women’s health, with the main focus being on the handicap accessibility of our local hospitals and clinics. If you missed the seminar and would like information on the topics and our local facilities, call the Western IL AHEC office at (217) 223-0452.

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A Disability Mentoring Day to Remember

Josh, a 16 year old Macomb high school Junior, took part in a unique mentoring experience on September 24, 2007. Josh, who is blind, was able to spend the morning with Patricia Bissell, a former Independent Living Specialist with WCICIL, to learn about her career and what she does on the job. Patricia, who is also blind, was able to give Josh a unique perspective on her employment and how she has adapted to being blind.

The highlight of the day was when Josh and Patricia (along with her guide dog Whisper), traveled to Galesburg where they were interviewed together on a half hour live radio program (WGIL Galesburg 1400 AM).

Josh, who has had a long standing interest in ham radio, got a hands on tour of the radio studio.
Josh and Patricia spoke like seasoned pros during the interview. They discussed a number of topics including what employment with the CIL is like, Josh's high school program, and adaptive equipment advances for the visually impaired such as screen reading programs, braille writers, and bar code readers. Josh also spoke about his desire to train for and enter into a possible career in tech support and development of screen reading software products.
The day was a wonderful success and will likely be an event Josh remembers for years to come!
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Quincy Noon Kiwanis Awards Funding
To WCICIL For Youth Services

The Quincy Noon Kiwanis awarded
$250 to the West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living for their Youth  Services. This generous award was used to purchase educational and entertainment items plus a carrying case to transport them. These items will be used for the
youth to provide an enriched learning and entertaining environment during  meetings scheduled between the Youth
 Services Specialist and their parent(s).

NEW WCICIL SUPPORT GROUPS

A CROSS DISABILITY SUPPORT GROUP
Every first Thursday,  at WCICIL
from 10am - 11pm
For further details,
please contact
our Program Director at
(217) 223-0400,
or cilpd@adams.net

Low Vision Support Group
First Thursday of the month at WCICIL from 10am to 12pm
For further details,
please contact our
Program Director,
Dale Winner at
(217) 223-0400,
or cilpd@adams.net
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WCICIL Home Sevices
& Re-Integration
Co-Ordinator

Jenny Kelly is the Home Services & Re-Integration Co-Ordinator for the West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living in Quincy. Jenny Kelly will be responsible for the coordination of home services, and accessing resources for Community Reintegration . Jenny is also qualified in Personal Assistant Training to improve the home services system within the WCICIL’s regional area for people with disabilities. Jenny Kelly received her bachelor’s degree from Quincy University in 2002.
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Volunteer
Carpenters
A WCICIL consumer is posing with the volunteer carpenters from the Mid-Central Illinois Regional Council of Carpenters who built this ramp for him in one day. This is one of two projects the union is planning on building this summer as a part of the Quincy Area Ramp Project. The cost of materials
was covered by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, the Paul H. and
Anne B. Gardner Memorial
Fund. If you are interested
in volunteering on a build you may call 223-0400 ext. 7. We can use the help!

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Incidence and cost of FAS

"An estimated 27 million American children are at risk for abnormal psychosocial development due to the abuse of alcohol by their parents." (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services) Click here for cost calculator. The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women do not drink ANY alcohol. None, Zip, Zero, Zilch.  Questions?