Regional Center for Independent Living

If you’re a person with a disability struggling financially because of COVID-19 and are worried about basic household needs, please contact RCIL’s No Wrong Door team at (585) 442-6470 and ask to speak to a No Wrong Door Independent Living Specialist. We may be able to help!

We want to thank everyone who has been supportive of the Center for Disability Rights during these unprecedented times. The work to make sure people with disabi...lities have had opportunities to safely escape nursing homes and congregate care facilities hit hard by the Coronavirus has been exhausting. Today we are proud to share that three people moved out of nursing facilities and into their own home in the community over the past week. While this part of our everyday mission, the danger has been intensified by the pandemic. There are many more Disabled New Yorkers ready and eager to leave nursing facilities and we are working hard to help them to do that with support from Monroe County Department of Social Services. Please join CDR is sending a congratulations to those who moved in to their new home.

The Census is important for all New Yorkers to complete if they haven’t already! The purpose of a census is to determine the overall population of the Nation a...nd individual States. Your response to the Census determines important issues such as congressional representation, funding for infrastructure, education, public health and more. The Census may be completed online without having to leave your home! For more information on the Census, click here. https://now.ny.gov//5c91/46921263/d50e19a/368873668/VEsC/

This is a great resource for friends in Monroe and surrounding counties. Check it out.

The Census is important for all New Yorkers to complete if they haven’t already! The purpose of a census is to determine the overall population of the Nation a...nd individual States. Your response to the Census determines important issues such as congressional representation, funding for infrastructure, education, public health and more. The Census may be completed online without having to leave your home! For more information on the Census, click here. https://now.ny.gov//5c91/46921263/d50e19a/368873668/VEsC/

@NYGovCuomo must provide #ASLinterpreter on the same livestream everyone else sees so news coverage will include #ASL. Coronavirus: Andrew Cuomo adds sign-language interpreter to web stream https://www.democratandchronicle.com//coronavi/2925187001/ via @DandC #accessibility

Please take this survey. Thank you.

We have been working to make sure the our community is supported during the COVID19 crisis. Check out our most recent blog to learn how you can be supportive during this unprecedented and challenging time. http://cdrnys.org/blog/programs-services/covid-19-update/... Volunteers have been helping in a variety of ways, including making protective gear. If you are interested in volunteering to help the our community, please send us a message and we will promptly reply with how you can help! THANK YOU. Image Description: Person wearing homemade protective mask looking at camera.

The annual United Way Day of Caring is on May 14th. Come join us!

Have you ever said, I have the right to a job. or I have the right to be respected.? We often feel we have a RIGHT to something that truly isn’t a Right. In this workshop we will discuss our RIGHTS and what might be categorized as our WANTS or our NEEDS. How we advocate for ourselves effectively depends on understanding the differences. We will also discuss what Rights the Disability Community is STILL fighting for, and how you can get involved. JOIN US at ACCES-VR...! Everyone is welcome! Feb. 11th 2020 - 10:00am-11:30am 109 South Union Street, Rochester NY 14607 Let us know you are coming so we can plan for you. Email Damita Peace: [email protected] or Call: 585-442-6470 RSVP as soon as possible for accommodations.

Congratulations to our Deaf systems advocate Jonathan Dollhopf on being chosen by the Rochester City Council as a member of the newly formed Police Accountability Board! https://www.rochesterfirst.com//city-council-announc/amp/

JOIN US FOR A FREE WORKSHOP Mind Mapping Workshop. This workshop will explore the differences between Labels and Identity. Participants will learn to use a Mi...nd-Mapping technique to create a personal identity Map. No artistic talent required. Image Description: Image of a person without a face, holding the face in a person's hand. Text on flyer reads: Labels vs. Identity Who am I? Who do People think I am? Am I different people at different times? June 20th 2019 10:00am-11:00pm Location: Mental Health Association 344 N. Goodman Street Life Skills Building G Rochester NY This workshop will explore the differences between Labels and Identy. Participants will learn to use a Mind-Mapping technique to create a personal Identy Map. No arartistic talent required. Workshop: Damita Peace will be presenting this training, which is open to people with disabilities, family, friends, and allies. RSVP: Interested? : RSVP to Damita Peace at [email protected] or call 585 442 6470.

Hi Friends, Center for Disability Rights is looking to hold a discussion with disabled women about selective abortion following a prenatal diagnosis of disability. Specifically, we are looking for women with Spina Bifida, Autism, Turner Syndrome, Down Syndrome or women born with Cleft Lip/Palate in Monroe County who would be willing to participate in a 2-hour round table discussion. We know this can be a difficult topic, but we believe it is important to center our advocacy work on those voices who are directly impacted. Please contact [email protected] if you or someone you know would like to be a part of this discussion and meet the above criteria. Note: Please refrain from personal opinions in the comments! Thank you.

Sarah Blahovec, the disability vote organizer for the National Council on Independent Living, is looking to improve the tracking of disabled candidates or elected officials and the teaching of people with disabilities to run for office. Check out the article for the interview with Blahovec on their envision to "having Web-based trainings as boot camps for running for office and engage our networks of Centers for Independent Living to have regional trainings and have run-for-office workshops."

Our office will be closed on Tuesday, January 1st, in recognition of the new year. We will resume normal office hours on Wednesday, January 2nd, at 9am. We wish you all a happy holiday and a wonderful weekend! To give a gift that lives on year-round, please consider RCIL at your end of year donation! www.rcil.org... [Image description: A young individual smiling and speaking into a microphone. Text on right reads, "Support our community. Join our mission. Donate today. Regional Center for Independent Living.]

Our office will be closed on Tuesday, December 25th, in recognition of the holidays. We will resume normal office hours on Wednesday, December 26th, at 9am. We wish you all a happy holiday and a wonderful weekend! To give a gift that lives on year-round, please consider RCIL at your end of year donation! http://rcil.org/ ... [Image description: A young individual in YO! t-shirt speaking into a microphone. Text on right reads, "Support our community. Join our mission. Donate today. Regional Center for Independent Living.]