Advocacy Services
As an underpinning of everything else we do, RCIL delivers individual and community support for navigating and transforming our existing social structures -- for example, society's assumptions about how health services, education, family, transportation, architecture, and employment "should" be shaped.
Our creative and experienced staff have an in-depth understanding of the needs of individuals with a wide range of disabilities and we bring to every discussion a desire to educate, inform, and work in partnership with agencies, businesses, schools, and organizations that are aiming to better reach, serve, and incorporate this community.
Our advocacy services include the following:
- Barrier-Free Design Consultation -- Advocates are available to provide education and consultations regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accessible architectural design, construction standards and guidelines, and funding and tax incentives that may be available to help homeowners and businesses make needed structural changes.
- Benefits Counseling -- Trained advocates work directly with individuals with disabilities to answer questions about benefits, eligibility requirements, and the details of how different programs interact. The goal of this unit is to improve financial literacy and stability, raise individual and community awareness of available benefits, and increase participation in programs designed to enhance independent living and workforce participation.
- Client Assistance Program -- Designed to support people seeking employment, training, and related services through vocational rehabilitation agencies with a combination of information, peer counseling, and advocacy.
- Nursing Home Transition -- There's no need for individuals to be living in nursing homes if they don't want to be there. To overcome the barrier of initial setup costs for people wishing to transition into an independent, community-based setting, RCIL has set up a fund and a program to support and enable this choice.
- Individual and Systems Advocacy -- Promoting inclusion and opportunity is a far-reaching goal that motivates everything we do at RCIL. From inclusive education and peer counseling to support groups, deaf services, and information and referral, our mission is to incorporate advocacy into every program and service.
Contact RCIL for more information.