Our Services

Peer Mentoring/Support/Counseling

Staff and volunteers provide consumers with emotional support as they work toward their IL goals.

Life Skills Training

Staff teach consumers (including students) daily living skills (e.g., budgeting, using public transportation, training attendants, using a computer) to increase opportunities to live independently.

Advocacy

Staff assist consumers in learning what to do if they believe their rights have been violated and helps them gain the confidence to speak for themselves and on behalf of other people with disabilities.

Information and Referral

Staff and volunteers offer up-to-date information on critical issues and provide referrals to other helpful community resources.

Independent Monitoring For Quality (IM4Q)

IM4Q operates according to the belief that the best way to evaluate a service is to ask the consumers who use it. So, as part of a statewide initiative by the PA Office of Mental Retardation, the IM4Q Project involves people with developmental disabilities serving as “monitors” to conduct.

Community Health Choices Advocacy

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), a division under the Department of Public Welfare, funds consumer-directed personal assistance services for Medicaid eligible people with disabilities to maintain independence in their own homes. Under this program, consumers choose service coordinators to assist them in complying with regulations under this program. CIL Opportunities assists consumers in the intake process and in expressing their in-home care needs (e.g., hours, personal care providers, appeal process).

Nursing Home Transition

CIL Opportunities advocates and assists consumers with IL goals of transitioning out of nursing facilities/state hospitals. This is an unfunded service that empowers consumers to live the American Dream … independence. Staff work with consumers in their current living situation on skills-building and independence goals in preparation for moving day. We also advocate for consumers who have applied for the nursing home transition program through the PA Department of Aging.

CIL Opportunities collect household items from individual donors to assist consumers when moving out (e.g., kitchen items, TVs, bedding, and clothing).

Youth Transition

CIL Opportunities advocates and assists youth consumers with IL goals of transitioning out of high school to post-secondary school, trade-school, and/or their own independent living situation.

ADA Accessibility Guidance / Disability Awareness Program

CIL Opportunities provides ADA Accessibility Guidelines consulting when requested from local business and organizations. Certified staff are very knowledgeable about compliance issues and resolution guidance. We work with local townships, County officials, Housing Authorities (Executive Director is a member of an accommodation board for the local housing group), and other interested organizations to ensure accessibility for all.

CIL Opportunities provides disability awareness trainings to local business, organizations, housing staff, realtors, civil groups, churches, youth groups, sporting facilities, and other interested individuals/groups. Our trainings are created and facilitated by staff, board of directors, and volunteers.

Transportation Advocacy

CIL Opportunities assist local transportation providers with disability verifications of applicants as well as empower consumers to apply, advocate for, and utilize their local public transportation. Staff work with individuals in learning how to “ride the bus” and navigate stops/pick-ups and teach them their ADA rights when using the program.

Home Modification / Durable Medical Equipment / Assistive Technology Consulting

CIL Opportunities is the go-to agency for local organizations who need assistance in providing services to consumers for Home Modifications/Durable Medical Equipment/Assistive Technology needs.

Additional CIL Services

The CIL services described above is just a snapshot of what the CIL provides on a daily basis. Each person who chooses to reach out to the CIL has their own unique self-identified IL goals which creates for a case-by-case scenario of services/provisions daily. In addition, CILs are often called upon by other agencies/departments to provide unfunded services (i.e., emergency responses for natural and other disasters).