A MyCIL's Transitional Skills Center facilitator helping a student with a vocational activity
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The MyCIL disability help and financial management services team outside of our headquarters in Scranton PA

How We Help Our Communities

MyCIL is dedicated to helping older people and people with disabilities live their best, independent lives. We are committed to improving the overall wellbeing of our communities.

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Independent Living Services

MyCIL Independent Living specialists

As a non-profit Center for Independent Living, MyCIL provides help for the aging and people with disabilities through our five core independent living services:

Advocacy
Skills Training
Information and Referral
Peer Mentoring
Transitional Services

Our service area covers 10 counties in northeastern PA:

• Bradford
• Columbia
• Lackawanna
• Luzerne
• Pike
• Monroe
• Sullivan
• Susquehanna
• Wayne
• Wyoming

 

ACES$ Financial Management Services logo
Financial Management Services

ACES$ Financial Management Services team member helping a Client

Through ACES$, we provide financial management services, a Participant-directed payroll management solution. As the largest non-profit financial management services (FMS) provider in the country, we put our Participants first. And since we’re people with disabilities ourselves, we know firsthand what it’s like. We treat our Participants as we want — and deserve — to be treated.

For people on Medicaid waivers who hire someone to help them live independently, ACES$ takes care of the payroll, from enrolling them and their caregivers to processing timesheets and payroll taxes. We take care of the payroll details so our Participants can take care of what matters most: living their best, independent life.

Transitional Skills Center logo
MyCIL’s Transitional Skills Center

An instructor with a student in the TSC vocational workshop

As the only facility of its kind in the area — serving 15+ districts from 3 counties in NEPA region — MyCIL’s Transitional Skills Center offers young adults with disabilities the training and support they need to achieve their individual independent living goals. Moreover, they have the unique opportunity to form lasting friendships with peers from across the region.

In our simulated life settings, our students develop practical skills. They progress through a series of activities designed for their abilities and goals.

MyCIL iTeam powered by the TSC logo
MyCIL’s iTeam

Two soccer buddies from MyCIL's iTeam

MyCIL’s iTeam is all about inclusive sports. iTeam clinics develop skills and build confidence while having fun! Our free events, designed for kids and young adults with disabilities, are social opportunities to practice and learn more about favorite sports, from soccer to cheer.

TSC Is Spreading Petals for Goodness Sake logo
TSC Is Spreading Petals

Two TSC students engaged in TSC Is Spreading Petals initiative

The mission of TSC Is Spreading Petals is simple: spread joy, beauty, and hope while providing job training to MyCIL’s Transitional Skills Center students. They organize the donated flowers, rearranging them anew, and then deliver them to the elderly and critically ill.

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Other TSC Initiatives

TSC Is a Latte Fun students at the mobile coffee cartIn addition to TSC Is Spreading Petals, TSC students have the opportunity to participate in other skills-building initiatives.

With TSC Is a Latte Fun, our mobile coffee cart, TSC students make and package the baked goodies, prepare the coffee and then serve the refreshments.

TSC Is the Balm logo

With TSC Is the Balm, they make lip balm, moisturizer and other bath products, then package them and sell them to our staff and in local stores.

TSC Is for the Dogs

And with TSC Is for the Dogs, they make dog treats, package them and sell them locally.

Thanks to these TSC initiatives, students experience what being involved with a business is like. They can participate every step of the way, from taking orders and making the products to packaging them.

Education and Disability Awareness Training

We can design a presentation for your specific needs and audience covering any disability topic, such as:

In the past, we’ve created and delivered disability presentations for a range of organizations and groups including:

  • Medical School Students
  • Firefighter/Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis Clubs
  • Career Centers and Staffing Agencies
  • State Agencies and Inter-agency Councils, such as Mental Health & Developmental Service and Human Service
  • Advocacy Groups, such as Court Appointed Special Advocates
  • Support Groups, such as Grandparents Raising Grandchildren NEPA
  • Healthcare & Rehabilitation Centers
  • Head Start Programs
  • Colleges and Universities

Contact us today to learn more about our customizable disability and aging educational presentations.

high school students participating in Project ABLE, MyCIL disability awareness training
Disability and Aging Forums

Whatever your objectives, MyCIL can lead interactive disability forums that elicit helpful feedback from stakeholders in the disability or aging community. We’ll partner with you to design and lead an engaging forum that provides the key input you need to move your organization forward.

Either hosted at your location or ours, a disability or aging forum hosted by MyCIL can better inform your organizational decisions.

With MyCIL, you get a partner who listens to objectives and designs creative ways to meet them. We’ve helped managed care organizations and state offices obtain actionable information through:

  • Roundtables
  • Listening Sessions
  • Lunch & Learns
  • Seminars

Contact us today to learn how our disability and aging forums at your location or ours can help your organization garner useful feedback from stakeholders. 

people with disabilities participating in a focus group
Community Outreach

MyCIL Independent Living team members can offer ongoing community outreach to provide one-on-one support to members of your aging and disability community.

We can hold monthly standing office hours where people with disabilities and their families can meet with a MyCIL Independent Living Specialist to learn about programs and resources in your community and get access to the supports they need to live more independently.

Contact us today if you’re interested in offering community outreach hours through your office.

MyCIL independent team member helping a person with disabilities find resources during community outreach
Awareness Campaigns

Are you looking for impactful ways to connect with the aging and disability community in your area? Do you want to make your position clear when it comes to disability rights and inclusion? MyCIL can help you design and implement aware­ness campaigns that meet your unique goals.

Contact us today to discuss your campaign goals and how we can partner to achieve them.

MyCIL team member working on an awareness campaign

Meet the Independent Living Team

Keith L, a member of MyCIL's independent living team, smiling

Keith Loughney

Director, Independent Living Services

Keith Loughney, MyCIL’s Director of Independent Living Services, has over 15 years’ experience in working with people with disabilities. As director, Keith develops and leads strategies for extending our mission’s impact in northeastern PA.

kloughney@mycil.org

Keith Williams of MyCIL Independent Living services photo

Keith Williams

Manager, OVR Grant and Advocacy

Keith Williams, Manager of OVR Grant and Advocacy, has over 36 years of experience advocating for the rights and full inclusion of people with disabilities. He’s been with MyCIL since its inception. In addition to his role at MyCIL, he’s also an active member of various national and area organizations, including Clarks Green Borough Council, where he serves as president, the NortheastPennsylvania branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which he serves as vice president, Lackawanna CountyDisability Action Committee, PA Transportation Alliance, PA Voters Coalition, Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council and more.

kwilliams@mycil.org

 

Keith L Outreach coordinator

Who Is MyCIL?

MyCIL is a Center for Independent Living whose mission centers on empathyrespect, and integrity.

Our Mission

As a non-profit
Center for Independent Living,
we support self-direction
with our expert and personalized
aging and disability services

— including advocacytransitional skills, and
ACES$ Financial Management Services —
guided by our empathyrespect, and integrity.

Our Vision

To inspireencourageempower, and support
by providing
personalized aging and disability services
driven by our
humilityemotional intelligence,
and passion to make the world inclusively better.

Our Values

We put people first.

We do things the right way — the first time.

We advocate.

We authentically support our inclusive, diverse team.

We are agile and innovative.

MyCIL has proven time and again to be a valuable resource and information clearinghouse on matters related to disability awareness, acceptance, and accommodation.

~ Patrick T. Quinn, Director of Residential/Adult Day Services, The Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania 
~ Patrick T. Quinn, Director of Residential/Adult Day Services, The Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania

The friendly ACES$ staff always responds promptly to our questions and treats us with courtesy and respect.

~ Shirley A. Perez, Mother/Legal Guardian of an ACES$ Illinois Consumer 
~ Shirley A. Perez, Mother/Legal Guardian of an ACES$ Illinois Consumer

We particularly like how MyCIL’s professionals have come up with special projects that allow these kids to get involved in the community and become contributing members of society.

~ Janet and Bill - Parents 
~ Janet and Bill - Parents
ACES$ Online