As you know our mission statement is:
The Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann Inc. (ILCNSCA) is a disability rights service and advocacy center run by and for people with disabilities. ILCNSCA supports the struggle of people who have all types of disabilities to live independently and participate fully in community life. The Center pursues this mission through provision of information and referral, independent living skills, advocacy and peer counseling services.

This is our updated ILCNSCA Yellow Pages booklet. These listings are a compilation of local, statewide, and national resources that as citizens living with disabilities we find helpful in our quest for increased access to full participation in community living. This booklet is also on our web site, www.ilcnsca.org, along with additional resources and updates on upcoming events and activities.

A new program of ILCNSCA that you might want to explore is the Options Program, which is also provided by us, along with our Aging and Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore partners. The Options Program assists people of any age with any disability and elders to make informed choices about services and supports they may need to remain in their homes and in their communities. Coordinators may meet with individuals at their homes or at local facilities and are also available by phone. Meetings are free of charge. More on this program is available at our web site: www.ilcnsca.org

Housing Services and Resources

We continue to receive overwhelming requests for assistance in finding affordable, available and accessible housing. The City of Salem Community Development Block Grant helps support a monthly Universal Housing Application Workshops at ILCNSCA along with two focused workshops, one on Housing Rights, and one on finding housing. We also have a call-in for housing questions twice a month. We are always available to guide people with disabilities to learn of housing rights, and available resources to obtain housing including completing housing applications. We posted the ILCNSCA "Guide To Finding Housing" on our web page in Spring of 2011, so visit http://www.ilcnsca.org/housing.html for this compilation of housing resources and tools for your housing search.

Peer Support Opportunities

Monthly we offer a setting for people with disabilities to meet others, share concerns, and find solutions in charting a course for living more independently called the Compass Group. The ILCNSCA with the Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. (NILP) have started the North East Recovery Learning Community. This is a peer run set of activities for those who self identify as having a mental health disability. At times there are Peer Specialist trainings, support groups, and other activities throughout the ILCNSCA service area and the Northeast Independent Living Program service area. Look for the schedule on our web page, www.ilcnsca.org as well as the NILP web page, www.nilp.org.

Annual Legislative Breakfast

In May we invite you to participate at a breakfast meeting with us and our Aging and Disability Resource Consortium of Greater North Shore (ADRCGNS) partners along with invited state and federal appointed and elected officials. This well-attended event gives all of us the opportunity to share a common agenda for attainment of our full civil rights and clear tax dollar budget to increase our independent living needs.

Ongoing Community Education and Advocacy

Despite the fluctuating economy, we know we are the most cost-effective agency using federal and state tax dollars. Yet we always need your help to prevent any cuts to the 4120-4000 account in the MA State Budget and to insure that Congress funds fully and additionally all the Centers for Independent Living in the federal budget. We have a Community Access Advocacy Team, which you can join, and a focused access survey project, All People Accessible Business Project (APAB) for which your talents and energy are also needed. Add us as one of your favorites: www.ilcnsca.org and friend us on Facebook so you won't miss anything throughout the year like exciting social events, Annual BBQ, Annual Meeting, Holiday Open House, Advocacy Alerts, and more, all at www.ilcnsca.org.

Staff of ILCNSCA, and
Mary Margaret Moore
Executive Director
Independent Living Center of North Shore and Cape Ann, Inc.
27 Congress Street, Suite 107, Salem, MA 01970
www.ilcnsca.org

ILCNSCA is scent-free to accommodate persons with chemical sensitivities. Please refrain from wearing scents such as perfumes or scented clothing.

ILCNSCA is partially funded by the City of Salem Department of Planning & Community Development and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. ILCNSCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, familial status, sexual orientation or disability. ILCNSCA is an equal opportunity employer. Para informacion 978-741-0077