Programs

NILP provides advocacy and services to all people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities that do not fit within the parameters of the broad program descriptions below are encouraged to ask for general information and referral which will then direct them to the program that is best suited to meet their disability specific needs.

~ Adults with Physical Disabilities Program

Program works with adults who have physical disabilities such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Independent Living services include Personal Care Assistance, peer counseling, accessibility advocacy, and referral for durable medical equipment.

Vote for PCA of the Year

The Personal Care Attendant Quality Home Care Workforce Council, 199SEIU Health Care Workers East, and Rewarding Work Resources, Inc. will present PCA of the Year awards at the State House this September to five PCAs, representing different regions of the state.

Nominations are open to all consumers, PCAs, families, nonprofit staff, and governmental agency staff.

Awards will be given to PCAs who demonstrate

• dedication to their work;
• longevity of PCA service; and
• actions that increase the value and image of PCA work.

If you know of one or more PCAs whose service and dedication to PCA work deserves recognition, you can submit his or her name for consideration. Submissions should be one page (250-300 words), and describe why you feel the nominee should be honored for meeting the criteria listed above. Please remember to provide us with your contact information and the nominated PCA's telephone number, so the selection committee can contact you and the PCA.

Submissions should be sent to the following address:
PCA Workforce Council
600 Washington Street, Room 5189
Boston, MA 02111

Or e-mail your submission to pcacouncil@state.ma.us. Nominations must be received by August 13, 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program - Click here for Q & A

~ A Smoother Transition

Works with adolescents with disabilities and their families to facilitate the transition from both institutional and public schools into the adult human services system. Specialized services include advocacy and information during the development of Individualized Education Plans and social/recreational activities.

We are pleased to tell everyone about a state-of-the art project that we have created for youths participating in our AST program.

This new youth effort is called "Build- It-Yourself," and it teaches youth an introduction to electronics and how to design a computer game in which they work on all of the graphics, storyline and programming using a program called Scratch. Already, our TAP participants participated in this program along with three mentors from the NILP's Adults with Disabilities program. The participants also learned how to use PowerPoint. "Build It Yourself" teaches the consumer skills that they can be applied in the workplace, such as problem solving, teamwork, and creative thinking.

• "Build-It-Yourself" teaches youth with disabilities to use technology constructively in a unique global laboratory.
• The mission is to inspire, guide and prepare youth with disabilities to use technology to become the next generation of tech savvy builders.
• State-of-the-art Internet tools and technology, some of which were developed in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, are used to deliver a consistent, high-quality, high-value educational experience.
• The uniqueness of the opportunity is the match of "Twenty Something" mentors with a disability to youth, ages 14- 22, with a disability.
• The week long program leads the matched team through steps to build their own computer game. We have conducted a satisfaction survey for Teen Fest, and the results are overwhelmingly that the youths loved the program.

~ Deaf and Hard of Hearing IL Services

The DHHILS program works with people who are culturally Deaf, late deafened, and hard of hearing in order to provide an environment that is communication accessible where a comprehensive array of IL services are available to assist in living independently. Unique services include ASL classes and peer mentoring.

~ Services to Mental Health Consumers/Psychiatric Survivor Community

Works with people with psychiatric disabilities through individual and group empowerment, peer counseling and community organizing to promote a message of hope and recovery and to fight against stigma and human rights violations. Unique services include coordinating Lawrence Organizing Voices of Empowerment (the LOVE Group), the Peer Counseling Project, and providing peer advocacy and technical assistance at Tewksbury State Hospital.

PART-TIME PROJECT ASSOCIATES 16 to 30 year olds wanted!

The Learning and Working during the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RTC) aims to support young people (ages 14-30) with serious mental health conditions achieve schooling and working goals. The activities of the center include research, training activities, and sharing of information, guided by young adult consumer and family input.

Click here to download the job description.

No Surrender 22
Date: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Location: The UMass Inn and Conference Center in Lowell (The former Doubletree Hotel, as in past years.)
Time: 8:30 am to 5 pm
(More Details to Follow)

Call: 1-877-733-7563 v 1-877-PEER-LNE
Tuesday - Sunday evenings 4 - 8 p.m.
A Friendly Voice - 6 Nights/Week

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Jo Bower, Director
NE Recovery Learning Community/NILP
20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, MA 01843
Phone: 978-687-4288x130v/ttty
Email: jbower@nilp.org

Sponsored by: The Northeast Recovery Learning Community & The Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community

~ IL-VR

The Independent Living/Vocational Rehabilitation Program provides pre-vocational IL assessment, Peer Counseling, Information and Referral, Advocacy and Skills Training to eligible MRC consumers. Additional services, such as Money Management, Transportation, Benefits Counseling and Housing services all optimize a person's readiness for vocational choices, planning, and implementation. Maureen McGaw & William Briere , IL / VR Coordinators

1. Q. What is necessary for a consumer to be eligible for IL/VR services?
   A. MRC referral form, filled out by a MRC counselor
2. Q. How many reports are done within the VR Program per FY? & what are they?
   A. 16 Reports 12 Monthly Progress Reports & 4 Quarterly Review Reports
3. Q. Name at least 6 services that the VR Program provides?
   a. Budgeting / money management,
   b. Assist with applying for Mass Health Ins.,
   c. Assisting with applying for SSI & SSDI,
   d. Applying for Public Hg.
   e Show consumer how to use the public bus system (self help),
   f. Mobility issues,
   g. Daily living skills,
   h. DTA = food stamps, welfare income.
4. Q. How long is the MRC waiting list?
   A. 3 months
5. Q. How long has the IL/VR Program been in existence?
   A. 1997 – 1998, 13 to 14 Yrs.
6. Q. Who is the IL/VR contract manager?
   A. Kathy Allen
7. Q. Can the IL/VR Program work with consumers who simply call into NILP?
   A. NO – MUST speak to Janet Kowalchuk (I&R) OR be a consumer of MRC & have a MRC referral form given to Will or Maureen.
8. Q. If the IL/VR Program receives a referral for Public HG & during the intake, we realize the consumer has no medical Ins. & has a low enough income to qualify for food stamps, what is it that Will & Maureen MUST do?
   A. We MUST go to the consumer’s MRC counselor & they need to check off health care & benefit boxes on the referral form & fax a copy to Kathy Allen.
9. Q. What is the difference between SSI & SSDI? & what do the letters mean? SSI
   a) Supplemental Security Income b) The person can NOT have more than $2,000 in savings or retirement money. c) They keep the 1st $85 of their earnings & then it is a 2 for 1= for every $2 earned. Social Security Administration (SS) takes away $1. d) If the person receives BOTH SSI & SSDI, SS will take away the 1st $65 of their earnings & then it is a $2 for $1. / SSDI = They get their 9 months of work trial period. Then they follow the rules of SSDI work incentives. This person has BOTH a long work/job history PLUS LESS than $2,000 in savings/retirement money. e) The person on SSI only usually does NOT have a long working/job history. f) SSI receivers automatically get Mass Health Ins.
   SSDI
   a) Social Security Disability Income b) Unlimited amount of money in the bank. c) The 1st 9 months of work is considered a Work Trail Period & they can earn as much as possible, and then it goes into a period of limited income IF the person continues to receive SSDI checks. They can work part time, but can NOT earn over a certain amount each month, which is set by SS at the beginning of every year. d) This person can NOT receive SSI, along with SSDI income, if they have MORE than $2,000 in savings/or retirement money. e) These people do have a long work/job history. f) SSDI receivers can buy Medicare Ins. for a price that will be taken out of their SSDI check.
10. Q. When does the Fiscal Year (FY) end? What is needed to continue services for a consumer at this time? What happens IF NO Rollover is given to Will or Maureen?
    A. Last day of June.
    A. MRC Rollover Referral is given to Will or Maureen
    A. We do a CLOSE out Letter & do NOT continue service to the consumer.
11. Q. Who is the job specialist at the Lawrence MRC? and the Lowell MRC?
    A. Paula Santagati @ Lawrence MRC and Elaine Davey @ Lowell MRC.

~ Aging and Disability Resource Consortium

The Merrimack Valley Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) is a collaborative project between NILP and Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley that has a "no-wrong door" entry point of service for people with disabilities and elders, looking to access community-based long term services. Services such as centralized information and referral, intake, and case management processes will be streamlined between agencies, to make it easier for consumers to acquire long term services regardless of age or disability in an efficient seamless manner.

~ ADA Consultation

The program works with Department of Public Health providers that are presently not accessible, to educate them on accessibility requirements under the ADA, and assist them in coming into compliance. Click here for a full list of services.

~ The Long Term Care Options Counseling Program (LTCOC)

The The Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc. (ESMV) and Northeast Independent Living Program (NILP) developed the first Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) in Massachusetts in 2003. We found then that we had very similar missions which is to provide the people in need of long term care support the choices they need to live a life of dignity and independence. This meant that we believed in promoting the full integration of long term care information and referral services, benefits and options counseling on all available options, and assuring access to publicly funded and privately funded services to benefit those in need of long term supports. We employ a "No Wrong Door" approach in our ADRC and have a wide circle of partners that include; The Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Mental Retardation (DMR), Massachusetts Rehab Commission (MRC), The Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP) and The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) and the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) as well as numerous other health and social service program providers. Learn more about the Long Term Care Options Counseling Program.

North East Recovery Learning Center Staff
(Updated 3/2010)
Full-time
Jo Bower Director, North East Recovery Learning Community
Pablo Leon Multi-cultural Resource Specialist

Part-time
Jan Brouillard Peer Specialist
Sam Chivers Peer Specialist
Denise Valerio Peer Specialist
Vida Whitcomb WRAP Coordinator
Gail Morehouse Peer Specialist