MyCIL’s Services

Disability From Birth, New Disability and Seniors

Helping People Like You Live Their Best Lives

MyCIL (Northeast PA Center for Independent Living) empowers people with disabilities in northeastern PA to exercise their freedom and live independently. Whether you’ve had a disability from birth, acquired one, or are a senior who needs resources to stay in your own home, our experienced Independent Living Specialists can help. Through ACES$, we provide Client-focused financial management services throughout the country.

Disability From Birth

Get the Support You Need to Enjoy Independence

Finding ways to nurture your strengths while adjusting life to meet your individual challenges — it’s what our Independent Living Specialists do best. When you become a MyCIL Client, you can get the support and resources you need to maximize your potential.

New Disability

We Can Help You Navigate Your New Life

A new disability means learning new ways to maximize your strengths. That’s where our specialized care coordinators come in. They can help you develop coping strategies, get access to resources you need to live independently, and more.

As a Center for Independent Living, MyCIL’s team includes people just like you who had to adjust to a new disability. Not only can they give you tips and connect you to resources, they can also empathize with your experience.

Independent Senior Living

Get the Resources to Stay in Your Own Home

If you’re interested in learning more about independent senior living, contact MyCIL. Our Independent Living Specialists will review your needs to connect you with the independent living services you require. Together, you’ll design your best, independent life…at home.

Core Independent Living Services

Gain the Freedom of Independent Living Through Our Five Core Services

As MyCIL Client, you benefit from our five core independent living services:

• Advocacy – On your behalf, we advocate for independent living, rights and benefits, resolution of individual problems and better access to society.

• Skills Training – Through individualized training that focuses on your daily living needs, we can help you achieve social and economic independence.

• Information and Referral – You can tap into the knowledge and access key resources that range from architectural accessibility and communication aids to civil rights and housing.

• Peer Consultation – By exploring options with a skilled advisor who has a disability, you can set and reach independent living goals.

• Transitional Services – At our state-of-the-art Transitional Skills Center, we help young people with disabilities — ages 14-21 — develop the skills they need to pursue additional education after high school, enter the workforce or achieve independent living.

Services Provided Through the Wilkes-Barre District Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

Learn the Skills You Need to Get — and Keep — a Job

MyCIL is also an approved provider of services through the Wilkes-Barre Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). If you receive services through the OVR, you can benefit from our:

• PWE (Paid Worker Experience) — As an OVR Client, you are eligible for a 90-hour, paid work experience. Once a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor refers you to us, you can get a customized work experience — along with our ongoing support to be successful.

• Job shadowing — As an OVR Client, you are eligible for up to 20 hours of job shadowing. During job shadowing, you can explore different employment options. This is the perfect experience if you’re not quite sure of what employment opportunities are available to you.

• Travel Training — As an OVR Client, you are eligible for up to 20 hours of travel training. We customize our travel training for your individual needs and goals. Your personalized travel training can include training in wayfinding, navigating public transportation, using the County Shared Ride program, using public transportation such as Uber and Lyft, preparing for obtaining your driver’s license and using our state-of-art driving simulator. Through our travel training, you’ll learn how to safely navigate your way in the community.

Please note: MyCIL and ACES$ are closed for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.