Connect With Someone Who Has Firsthand Experience
Peer Mentoring
Sometimes having a disability can feel isolating. Over 51% of our team has a disability, so we know this firsthand. We also know connecting with someone who has “been there” can make a huge difference in the quality of your life. Through peer mentoring, as part of our disability support services, you don’t have to face it alone.
Helping You Face Your Challenges
and Live Your Best Life
As part of our core services, MyCIL (Northeast PA Center for Independent Living) offers peer mentoring. By connecting with someone who has a disability and lives independently, you are no longer alone on your journey to freedom.
A peer mentor is an adviser who has a disability and completed training in consultation. MyCIL’s peer mentors are available to help you set your independent living goals and achieve them.
Disability Support Services
The Benefits of a Peer Mentoring
During peer mentoring, you can get key advice on how to handle life’s daily challenges.
The advice comes from a place of shared experiences and understanding.
When you take advantage of MyCIL’s disability mentoring, you benefit from:
Improved self-esteem
Your MyCIL peer mentor can help you focus on your abilities while giving you the skills to overcome your challenges. With more positive experiences in your life, your self-esteem can grow.
Greater independence
Your dedicated MyCIL peer mentor can help you design a plan for independent living. Connecting you with the right resources and disability support services, you can achieve the life you want.
Ongoing support
As you achieve your independent living goals, your MyCIL peer mentor will be there to support you on your journey. The connection you make can give you the fuel you need to keep going in the right direction.
Specialized knowledge
Not only do MyCIL peer mentors have a disability themselves, but they are also highly knowledgeable. From key resources to disability rights, they offer insight and connections.
Mentoring Programs for Adults With Disabilities
How Peer Mentoring Can Help You
During your peer mentoring sessions, you’ll review the challenges you’re facing and set independent living goals. Your peer mentor can help you in a number of ways, such as:
Housing
Finding the best housing for you
Your MyCIL mentor can help you find the best, most affordable housing for you. They can also help you with your subsidized housing application.
Health Insurance
Getting the benefits you deserve
Whether you need help applying for social security, Medicaid or any other social service, your peer mentor can help. They can also help you navigate the often-intimidating world of denials and appeals.
Employment
Finding Employment
From creating your resume to practicing your interview skills, your peer mentor can get you ready for joining the workforce. Your peer mentor can connect you with resources for people with disabilities who are looking for employment.
Self-advocacy
Self-advocacy Tools
Having the knowledge and courage to self-advocate empowers you. Your peer mentor can give you the tools and confidence you need to speak up for what is right and what you deserve.
MyCIL’s Volunteer Advocacy Support Group
Voices of Ability
Voices of Ability is MyCIL’s volunteer advocacy support group. Members, who have a variety of disabilities, gather twice a month to share their experiences of living with a disability. The group is dedicated to educating the community about disability awareness issues.
With that mission, they host recreational activities throughout the community as well as speakers who cover various disability-related topics with moving presentations.
Please join us for our next meeting! New members are always welcome.
Where:
MyCIL
1142 Sanderson Avenue
Scranton, PA 18509
When:
1 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month
Specializing in Independent Living
Contact Us Today to Learn More
Contact us today at 1-800-344-7211 to learn more about meeting with one of our Independent Living Specialists.
Call
Toll-Free: 1-800-344-7211
Contact a Team Member
Keith Williams
Independent Living Services Manager
kwilliams@mycil.org
Keith Loughney
Outreach Coordinator
kloughney@mycil.org
Brian Anderle
Independent Living Skills Trainer
banderle@mycil.org
Scranton, PA
18509
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.
ACES$ Online