Approved by the NCIL membership June 2012

WHEREAS, the extent to which people with disabilities are subjected to abuses of all kinds as a means to gain control of their benefits is unknown and often is long lasting; and

WHEREAS, recent accounts of individuals with disabilities in Philadelphia have highlighted the extent and cruelty that these predators will go to in order to gain and maintain this control; and

WHEREAS, this type of exploitation not only cost millions of tax payer dollars it also has a devastating effect on the health, well-being and independence of those individuals being exploited. 

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED: that NCIL acknowledges that the exploitation of persons with disabilities is a chronic problem that may increase during times of economic hardships making individuals receiving benefits prime targets.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that NCIL will encourage its membership to provide advocacy and skills training around benefits and finances to the individuals they serve.

Respectfully submitted by: The NCIL Task Force on Violence and Abuse of People with Disabilities

List of Supporters:

  • Abilities in Motion, Reading, Pennsylvania
  • Appalachian Center for Independent Living, Charleston, West Virginia
  • Center for Independent Living Opportunities, York, Pennsylvania
  • Center on Victimization and Safety at the Vera Institute of Justice, New York
  • Community Resources for Independence Inc., Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Delta Resource Center for Independent Living, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
  • Idaho State Independent Living Council, Boise, Idaho
  • IndependenceFirst, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Independent Resources, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware
  • Living Independently For Everyone – CIL, Pocatello, Idaho
  • Mainstream Center for Independent Living, Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Mountain State Centers for Independent Living, Huntington, Beckley, West Virginia
  • NCIL ADA/Civil Rights Subcommittee
  • NCIL Mental Health Task Force
  • Northern West Virginia CIL, Morgantown, West Virginia
  • Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • Progressive Independence, Inc, Norman, Oklahoma
  • Spa Area Independent Living Services, Hot Springs, Arkansas
  • SKIL Resource Center, Parsons, Kansas
  • Sources for Community IL Services, Inc, Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas, Topeka , Kansas
  • Three Rivers Center for Independent Living, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Montpelier, Vermont
  • West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council, Charleston, West Virginia
  • Jaclyn Michelle Kratzer, Pennsylvania
  • Kimball Gray, Maryland
  • Jan Lilly-Stewart, Director Fair Shake Network
  • Mark Derry, Morgantown, West Virginia
  • Jan Derry, Morgantown, West Virginia
  • Mary Oschwald, Portland, Oregon
  • Robbie Barrutia, Idaho
  • Jami Davis, Idaho
  • Leslie Myers, Wisconsin
  • Roberta Sick, Arkansas
  • Stephanie Sanford, Kansas
  • Erin Fontaine, Minnesota
  • Marilyn Hammond, Utah
  • Kim Brittenham, Vermont