Progressive Center For Independent Living


	The Progressive Center for Independent Living, Inc. (PCIL) advocates for the rights of people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyles. Through promotion of choice, self-direction and inclusion, PCIL works with people with disabilities and their families to ensure the same freedoms and civil liberties as everyone else. Mercer County Hunterdon County 1262 Whitehorse-Hamilton Road 4 Walter Foran Blvd. Madison Corporate Center Suite 410 Building A, Suite 102 Flemington, N.J. 08822 Hamilton, NJ 08690 Phone: 609-581-4500 Phone: 908-782-1055 Fax: 609-581-4555 FAX: 908-782-6025 TTY: 609-581-4550 TTY: 908-782-1081 Toll free: 877-917-4500 Toll free: 1-877-376-9174 We look forward to seeing you and serving you. top of page Message from Kareem Dale, Special Assistant for Disability Policy to President Obama Mr. Dale would like any personal stories from any person with a disability who has gone back to work, or has been rehired as a result of the economic recovery plan. This is an important request and is time sensitive. Mr. Dale is asking the disability community for your help in responding to this request, as it will assist him in facilitating full inclusion during the current administration. You can contact Kareem at kareemdale@sbcglobal.net. Thanks for your input! top of page Employment Opportunities at PCIL Case Management Services – Part or Full Time Non-Exempt case management for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Medicaid programs, individuals must be devoted to the coordination, rehabilitation, care and support of people with complex, clinical needs. The position aims to facilitate independence and improved quality of life, while acknowledging safety issues. Responsibilities include assessment, planning and implementation of services and referrals. · Applicant should have a minimum of a BA in a Human Services related field or equivalent or Social Services experience, LSW or CSW for TBI. Other programs such as Medicaid fee for service requires an LSW, CSW, experience working with individuals with disabilities a plus. · Demonstrate ability to function as an effective communicator. · Demonstrate ability to work effectively with professionals and with the public. · Ability to travel to all parts of PCIL catchments area · Knowledge of independent living philosophy · Knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and Access · Basic understanding of e-mail and Internet · Personal experience with a disability highly desired · People with disabilities encouraged to apply Transition Specialist – Part or Full Time Responsible for counseling students in all aspects of career transition readiness, job search skills, job placement issues, job retention, and student exit processes. Responsible for identifying exited students who are no longer employed or in school and ensure a reconnection with another placement, school, or DVRS. The Transition Specialist is responsible for initiating contact with, disseminating information to, and coordinating appropriate transitional services for high school students identified as having a disability. · BS in Special Education and/or 3-5 years experience in the field · At least three years experience with students with disabilities ages 14 to 21 preferred · Knowledge in best practices regarding transition services · Demonstrated knowledge of EC regulations and procedures · Demonstrated exemplary leadership and interpersonal skills · Demonstrated exemplary organizational skills · Effective communication skills · Dependable means of transportation · People with disabilities encouraged to apply All questions should be directly to Executive Director, Scott Elliott at 609-581-4500. Email resumes to Scott Elliott, Executive Director at scott.elliott@pcil.org. (Please type RESUME in the subject line.) Fax resumes to 609-581-4555 attention Scott Elliott. An application for employment can be found on our website at www.pcil.org. Please fill out the application and fax to 609-581-4555. We are not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. Please print out a copy and fax to 609-581-4555 Application for Employment.doc January 5, 2009 top of page Calling All PCIL Readers and Friends The Community Connections Project is going to host additional events in the New Year. As some of you know up to this point the events have been on the last Friday of each month. We want to hear from you . We want to get your ideas for additional events as well as the day and times that would work for you. Please call me at (609) 581-4500 ext #12 or email me at nicole.davis@pcil.org. Nicole Davis top of page Through a generous grant from the Kessler Foundation, PCIL is working collaboratively with Allies, Inc. to: Provide an employment program for 60 graduates with disabilities, targeting the time between graduating from High School and seeking adult employment services. Currently the grant is in the planning stage but we are projecting that the first round of applications will be out at the first of the New Year. top of page The University of Montana is looking for volunteers for a research study on Women's Personal Safety. Women with Disabilities Needed to Volunteer for " A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) for Women Research Study". If you are a woman 18 years older and have a disability, deafness/hearing loss or chronic health condition for a least one year. Contact Alliance for Disabled in Action -629 Amboy Ave, Edison, NJ 08837 1-(732) 738-4388 and ask about becoming a participant in the "ASAP Women Research Study"! If you are eligible for the study you wiil receive a small payment for your participation. top of page The Progressive Center for Independent Living has received a recreation grant from Mercer County through the Mercer County Office on Disability Services, Community Connections. PCIL will begin the Community Connections Project on Tuesday July 01, 2008. The purpose of this project is to strengthen and revive community interaction and increase socialization opportunities among the Mercer County individuals with disabilities (IWD) and their families and/or friends. The Community Connections Project will focus on recreation. Here is a list of recreation ideas: shopping trips, picnics, bocche ball etc. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or if you would like to attend a recreation event contact Nicole at (609) 581-4500 ext #12 top of page The Progressive Center for Independent Living, Inc. (PCIL) is a grant recipient of the Princeton Area Community Foundation through their Greater Mercer Grants Program. PCIL a non-profit organization working with people with disabilities was recently awarded a grant through the Princeton Area Community Foundation. This grant will allow PCIL to expand their current “Promoting Self-Advocacy” Program by providing self-advocacy skills training for students with disabilities, from low-income families in Mercer County high schools and to host various workshops for students and their parents. For more information on the Princeton Area Community Foundation, visit them at, www.pacf.org top of page PCIL Receives Grant from the Henry H. Kessler Foundation On March 16, 2007, Henry H.. Kessler Foundation awarded the Progressive Center a grant for a pilot program entitled “Employment Plus”. This program is designed to investigate and to combat the issue surrounding the under employment and lack of career advancement opportunities of individuals with physical and/or developmental disabilities. PCIL, along with partnering agency, Allies, Inc. seek to reduce the rates of underemployment among those participants in this pilot program in the Mercer County region, while establishing a mentoring and networking program and removing attitudinal barriers that limit employment opportunities of Individuals with disabilities. Click here for Employmentplus Application top of page Emergency Preparedness Project Beginning October 1, 2007, through a grant awarded by the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, PCIL will begin the Emergency Preparedness Project. The purpose is to deliver a curriculum on emergency preparedness with which to train people with Developmental Disabilities as “Community Disaster Liaisons” for other people with DD in collaboration with local first responders, and the NJ Office on Emergency Management. PCIL, NJCDD, and NJ OEM want to create open dialogue between the needs of the community and emergency responder personnel. Anyone interest in becoming a liaison or needs further information about the project and how you can help, should contact Scott Ellis at the Mercer Office or through email at scott.ellis@pcil.org. top of page Employment Plus Beginning October 1, 2007, PCIL is seeking Individual with Developmental Disabilities who are employed to participate in the second phase of the Employment Plus Project. Sponsored in part by a grant from the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, this project is designed to decrease the underemployment and lack of career advancement opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Anyone ages 21 or over who is currently employed and wants to join a network of professionals with disabilities can apply. Learn how improve your marketability for career advancement or learn how to take advantages of career opportunities while maintaining Medicaid Benefits, or learn how to ask for a promotion or a raise, even learn how to budget your earnings and begin saving for retirement. Call the Mercer office at 609-581-4500 for more details. top of page