NCIL to Launch Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network with Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant

Associated internship opportunity now open.

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is proud to announce that it received a $25,000 Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant to launch an Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network for individuals living with paralysis, other disabilities, and the IL community. The Quality-of-Life Grants seeks to improve opportunities, access, and day-to-day quality of life for individuals living with paralysis and other disabilities.

NCIL’s Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network will be a one-stop resource center to support people living with paralysis and other disabilities to access community and employment resources.

The Resource “Hub” will support people with disabilities and peer advocates to increase their ability to find, share, access, and use community and employment resources through an easy-to-use online Resource Hub. The Hub will be a collection of key information and resources on employment for people with disabilities, including, websites, handouts, toolkits, videos, trainings, and more! The Hub will include specific resources for the IL Network on supporting the employment journey of people with paralysis and other disabilities.

The Hub’s resources will be shaped by the Peer Network. Using a peer-led model, the peer network will provide real-time support to people with disabilities and peer advocates who are interested in learning about employment resources to support themselves or others in achieving their employment goals. Through peer support and mentorship, individuals with disabilities will develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to find, access, and use community and employment resources to build their independence and self-determination.

What’s next?

  • Monthly Peer Network Calls start April 2, 2024. Each peer call will focus on a specific employment resource and how to use the resource to support your employment goal. Register online.
  • Two webinar trainings will be held in Spring / Summer 2024.
  • Full launch of online Employment Resource Hub: Fall 2024.

Target Audience

The Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network is designed for individuals with disabilities, including paralysis and IL community. The Peer Network calls will cover different resources people with disabilities can use to support their employment journey.

The peer network is also appropriate for peer advocates, IL Skills Trainers, or other IL staff seeking to learn how to use different employment tools in order to provide peer support to consumers.

Check out the internship opportunity at: https://ncil.org/jobs/erh-intern/.

Questions? Contact Mary-Kate Wells at [email protected].