National Council on Independent Living

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2025-01-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Detroit)
CANCELLED

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-12-11 14:00 - 15:00
Register

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-11-13 14:00 - 15:00
Archive (coming soon)

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Register

ABLE Accounts and Employment 101!
2024-10-30 13:00 - 14:00
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Join NCIL and the ABLE National Resource Center for a webinar for people with disabilities to learn more about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and ABLE accounts.

ABLE accounts can help qualified individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account without affecting most federally-funded benefits that are based on need.

In this webinar, the ABLE National Resource Center will provide information on ABLE accounts, how they can be used to support your employment journey, eligibility requirements, and new and exciting updates in the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.

Learn more about the ABLE National Resource Center at: ablenrc.org.

Target Audience: Everyone! Persons with disabilities, including people living with paralysis, disability advocates, employers, and family members of persons with disabilities.

ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: mary-kate@ncil.org

NEW DATES: Employment Resource Hub Peer Calls

Register for the Employment Resource Hub Peer Calls

We have updated the dates and times of the three remaining Employment Resource Hub Peer Calls.

Systems Advocacy and Employment Peer Call: October 29,2024; 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Assistive Technology: November 12, 2024; 2:00 p.m. Eastern

NCIL’s Employment Resource Hub Tutorial: December 10, 2024; 2:00 p.m. Eastern

These trainings are part of NCIL’s Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network Project with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

Accelerating Housing and Services Partnerships to Advance Housing Stability: Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
2024-10-10 15:00 - 16:30
This Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) webinar features NCIL Director of Programs Mary-Kate Wells.

Webinar recording

More information

A growing number of states are leveraging new opportunities under Medicaid to cover services and supports that help people find, obtain, and maintain their housing. In 2024, the Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) launched the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator (HSPA) to advance innovative state strategies to provide housing-related services and supports to Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities and older adults who are at risk of or presently experiencing homelessness.

This webinar highlights how Independent Living (IL) community organizations in three different HSPA states are providing housing-related services and supports to people with disabilities. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) can be a valuable asset to cross-sector collaborations seeking to enhance housing stability. Presenters will discuss partnerships, funding, and best practices.

A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Employment Policy
2024-10-08 16:00 - 17:00
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Join the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) for a webinar for people with disabilities and self-advocates. This webinar will cover the ASAN’s toolkit, Real Work For Real Pay: A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Employment Policy.

This webinar will answer the questions:

What are the goals of disability employment policy?

What are some current issues that disability employment policy addresses?

What can self-advocates do to positively influence policy?

If you need any accommodations, please reach out to Mary-Kate Wells at Mary-Kate@ncil.org. ASL and CART will be provided.

This training is part of NCIL’s Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network Project with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

Advocacy vs. Lobbying Training
2024-08-23 14:00 - 15:30
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Presentation (PDF)

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Advocacy in its fullest definition includes many types of activities, including lobbying. Centers for Independent Living have a long history of working to influence policy and legislation to advance the rights of the disability community. However, there has been confusion about what CILs are required to do versus what they are allowed with federal dollars. Advocacy and lobbying are two important tools CILs use to create change.

NCIL is joined by Alliance for Justice to provide Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils with a clear understanding of the kinds of advocacy activities they can safely engage in, including lobbying! This training will review the difference between lobbying and other forms of advocacy and how CILs and SILCs can lobby while complying with relevant federal laws.

This webinar will be recorded and available to NCIL members after the event for 3 months. ASL and CART will be provided.

This training is supported by The Grassroots Project: Supporting Disability Advocacy Nationally, which is funded by the Administration for Community Living and will be administered by the Human Services Research Institute. HSRI will work in partnership with national disability organizations through a National Advocacy and Action Coalition comprised of national organizations for the ACL funded DD, IL, TBI, and PRC programs.

2024 Annual Conference
2024-07-22 08:00 - 2024-07-25 17:15 | Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington DC, DC, 20001-4520, United States
This July 22-25, NCIL is traveling BACK TO THE FUTURE! As a movement, we will revisit our foundational values in order to look to a future that embraces disability justice – loving all bodies and leaving no one behind.

Join us for the 2024 Annual Conference on Independent Living, where we unite as a movement and advocate together for our priorities.

We will once again be a force in Washington DC when we march to the Capitol, meet with representatives on the Hill, and learn from each other.

Make sure you don’t miss out – register today at: ncil.org/2024-annual-conference

NCIL Presents: Systems Change Coffee Chats for Community Organizers, Systems Change Advocates, and Non-Management CIL Staff
2024-07-12 12:30 - 13:30
* Coffee Chats were not archived

NCIL will be hosting 2 one-hour monthly “Coffee Chats” for Independent Living advocates working on systems change. One coffee chat will be for Community Organizers, Systems Change Advocates or any other non-management IL staff working on systems advocacy. The second one will be for management-level staff or Executive Directors either working on systems change issues or looking to get more involved in systems change and grassroots organizing.

Coffee Chats for Community Organizers, Systems Change Advocates, and Non-Management CIL Staff

April 24; 4:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern

May 10; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern

June 14; 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern

July 12; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Eastern

August 30; 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern

September 13; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern

Employment Resource Hub Peer Call
2024-07-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-06-11 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Presentation in PDF

Presentation in Word

Register

Register for the monthly Peer Network Calls

Announcements

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.

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

Monthly Meetings

Each peer network call will cover a resource that people with disabilities can use to support their employment journey. The Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network is designed for individuals with disabilities, including individuals living with paralysis and the Independent Living community. We also invite 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.

NCIL and HelloFresh Present: Community Conversations – Fresh, Accessible, Affordable Meal Solutions
2024-05-30 14:30 - 15:30
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Archived webinar

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Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (Word)

Join NCIL and HelloFresh for a community conversation on how Centers for Independent Living can support people with disabilities to access fresh, accessible, and affordable meal solutions!

In this community conversation, we want to hear from you about successful food access programs and partnerships and barriers and needs in your community.

NCIL and HelloFresh will announce their partnership and a new NCIL member benefit! NCIL members will receive a discount code for HelloFresh products.

Audience: Staff and Management of Centers for Independent Living, people with disabilities, and other disability-focused non-profits.

Presenters:

Emily Antin, Senior Sales Representative, HelloFresh

This community conversation will be moderated by Mary-Kate Wells, Program Director, National Council on Independent Living.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

ASL and CART will be provided. If you need any accommodations or have any questions, please contact Mary-Kate Wells at Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Employment Resource Hub Peer Call
2024-05-07 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

No archive available

Register

Register for the monthly Peer Network Calls

Announcements

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.

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

Monthly Meetings

Each peer network call will cover a resource that people with disabilities can use to support their employment journey. The Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network is designed for individuals with disabilities, including individuals living with paralysis and the Independent Living community. We also invite 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.

NCIL Presents: Systems Change Coffee Chats for Executive Directors and Management-Level Independent Living Staff
2024-04-24 14:30 - 15:30
* Coffee Chats were not archived

NCIL will be hosting 2 one-hour monthly “Coffee Chats” for Independent Living advocates working on systems change. One coffee chat will be for Community Organizers, Systems Change Advocates or any other non-management IL staff working on systems advocacy. The second one will be for management-level staff or Executive Directors either working on systems change issues or looking to get more involved in systems change and grassroots organizing.

Coffee Chats for Executive Directors and Management-Level Independent Living Staff

April 24; 2:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern

May 17; 1:30-2:30 p.m. Eastern

June 21; 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern

July 12; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern

August 30; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern

September 20; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-04-09 14:00 - 15:00
Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Register

Beyond Payroll: Optimizing Your Organization’s Financial Processes
2024-04-03 14:00 - 15:00
In Partnership with ADP, NCIL Presents: Beyond Payroll – Optimizing Your Organization’s Financial Processes

Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript (Word)

Whether your Center for Independent Living (CIL) or Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) has 5 or 50+ staff, effective organizational practices are essential to the day-to-day operation of CILs and SILCs.

Join a conversation to explore tips and techniques that can optimize your organization’s financial and human resource (HR) processes.

What you will learn:

Effective organizational practices to support daily non-profit business operations.

Financial and human resource tools and resources beyond payroll management.

Strategies to streamline human resources procedures and practices.

Target Audience:

Staff and Management of CILs, SILCs, and other disability-focused non-profits.

Presenters:

Jessica Pinero, CPA Centric – Elite Senior District Manager at ADP

Jenny Sichel, Operations Director – National Council on Independent Living

Employment Resource Hub Peer Call
2024-04-02 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript

Presentation in PDF

Presentation in Word

Register

Register for the monthly Peer Network Calls

Announcements

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.

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

Monthly Meetings

Each peer network call will cover a resource that people with disabilities can use to support their employment journey. The Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network is designed for individuals with disabilities, including individuals living with paralysis and the Independent Living community. We also invite 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.

Budget 101! Overview of the Federal Appropriations Process
2024-03-28 15:00 - 16:30
Archive:

Archived webinar

Transcript (Word)

Presentation in PDF

Presentation in Word

Join the National Council on Independent Living and the United Spinal Association for a collaborative webinar on the Federal Appropriations Process.

Agenda

Welcome

What is an Appropriation?

Overview of the Appropriations Process

Effective Appropriations Advocacy

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge and open to the public. A recording of this webinar will be made available to members of both organizations following the event.

ASL and CART will be provided. If you need any accommodations or have any questions, please contact Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org

End Subminimum Wage Webinar
2024-03-14 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Despite decades of progress for disability employment protections and civil rights, it is still legal to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act has allowed employers to pay disabled workers subminimum wage for close to 90 years. Recent data has shown that disabled employees working under a 14(c) certificate earned an average of $3.34 per hour with many workers making even less than this.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) are hosting a webinar to discuss and educate the public on why advocacy is necessary to end this harmful practice and the actions you can take to support this important policy change.

Target Audience: Everyone! Persons with disabilities, disability advocates, employers, family members of persons with disabilities. This event and a recording will be open to the public.

If you need any accommodations, please contact NCIL’s Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org. ASL and CART will be provided.

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-03-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-02-13 14:00 - 15:00
Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (Word)

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Register

NCIL Listening Session: Housing
2024-02-15 14:00 - 15:00
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Transcript (Word)

Finding affordable and accessible housing is one of the biggest barriers to independence for persons with disabilities.

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Housing Subcommittee wants to hear from you to help inform where to focus our federal advocacy for 2024!

What barriers do you or your consumers face when it comes to finding housing?

What programs are working? What programs are not working?

Is Housing being addressed in your State Plan for Independent Living?

What is your CIL’s relationship with your Public Housing Authority?

We want to hear it all!

Target Audience: Staff members of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), consumers of CILs and persons with disabilities who have encountered barriers to affordable and accessible housing.

If you need any accommodations, please reach out to NCIL’s Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Jessica Podesva, at jessica@ncil.org. ASL and CART will be provided.

Please note, the purpose of this event is to hear concerns and challenges related to housing needs in your communities to identify systemic advocacy issues. We will not be able to address or provide advice on individual housing cases at this event.

Visit NCIL’s Advocacy & Action Center at: members.ncil.org/action

IL Network and ADVC Update and Community Listening Session
2024-01-31 14:00 - 15:00
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Transcript

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), in collaboration with the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative (ADVC) powered by USAging, invites Centers for Independent Living, ADVC grantees, and the Independent Living Network to participate in a webinar offering updates on the ADVC project and how CILs are engaging in vital vaccination activities.

We also want to hear from you! During the webinar, we want to hear from the IL Network about the on-going challenges and needs your community is facing to help people with disabilities get vaccinated and stay safe and healthy in their communities.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Target Audience: ADVC Grantees, Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, and others involved in the Independent Living Network.

If you have any questions please contact Mary-Kate at mary-kate@ncil.org.

What is the ADVC?

The ADVC has distributed funding to organizations across the aging and disability networks to support an array of vaccination education and promotion activities, including community vaccine clinics, in-home vaccinations, transportation to vaccination sites, and outreach and education for older adults and people with disabilities. The ADVC is funded through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

This webinar is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)) through USAging as part of a financial assistance award to USAging totaling $74,999,835 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official view of, nor an endorsement, by USAging, ACL/HHS.

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-01-09 14:00 - 15:00
Archive:

Transcript

Presentation (PDF)

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Register

Introducing A Home Usability Peer Network
2023-12-06 15:30 - 16:00
Webinar archive

Transcript (Word)

Presentation Slides (PDF)

Resources:

About Home Usability

Home Modifications Fact Sheet for Centers for Independent Living

What is the Home Usability Peer Network?

The Home Usability Peer Network is a collaboration between the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the RTC: PICL at University of Kansas to support and connect Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to resources about programs that support home modifications.

Do you want to learn more about resources and approaches to housing programs and services?

Do you want to develop a home usability or modification program at your Center?

Do you want to grow and expand your current home modification programs?

Join us for a kick-off webinar at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern on December 6 to learn more about home usability and discuss how a peer network can support your housing and home usability work. Peer calls will start in January 2024.

Image: Flyer with the NCIL and Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living (RTC: PICL) logo and two houses. Text: Introducing a Home Usability Peer Network. December 6, 2023; 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern. A kickoff webinar for CILs to connect and share resources about programs that support home usability and modification.

NCIL and Verizon Present: Affordable Connectivity Program – The Basics
2023-11-30 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Webinar Archive

Transcript (Word)

This webinar will detail information about the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (fcc.gov/acp) – a program that allows eligible applicants to receive funds that help defray the costs of broadband internet. Representatives from both NCIL and Verizon will provide insight into what the program is, who is eligible, and how to use it, along with other opportunities that may better fit an individual’s needs

Resources mentioned during webinar

Affordable Connectivity Program | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program | BroadbandUSA (doc.gov)

Free Internet with the Verizon Forward Program and ACP | Verizon

Presenters

Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living

Ted Vagelos, Verizon/ TracFone, Vice President Business Development & New Products and Services

John Valletta, IL Coordinator and Technology Coach at Ocean State Center for Independent Living

More Calls, Increased Needs – Trends in I&R
2023-11-08 15:00 - 16:00
Archive (requires creating a free account at AdvancingStates IQonline Learning Center)

Join the National I&R Support Center (https://bit.ly/40jHSoI) for the webinar More Calls, Increased Needs: Trends and Developments in I&R/A Services.

This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern. The National I&R Support Center is led by ADvancing States in collaboration with NCIL.

This webinar will draw on findings from the 2023 Aging and Disability I&R/A National Survey. This comprehensive survey explored the landscape of I&R/A services in areas such as staffing, referrals and unmet needs, partnerships, standards, training, and more.

Presenters:

Mary-Kate Wells, Program Director, National Council on Independent Living

Nanette Relave, National I&R Support Center Director, ADvancing States

Pre-registration is required for this webinar. Space is limited so make sure to register as soon as possible.

Image: National Information and Referral Support Center Logo

Tools and Strategies for Independent Living Advocates Mentoring Families of Children with Disabilities
2023-09-25 15:00 - 16:30
A Webinar Collaboration of The National Council on Independent Living and The National Resources for Access, Independence, Self-determination and Employment (RAISE) Technical Assistance Center

Parent-led organizations and disability-led Centers for Independent Living have a shared objective of facilitating the transition of youth with disabilities to post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. Join this webinar to hear from a panel with lived experience about how families and CILs can collaborate to support the self-determination, empowerment, and independent living goals of youth preparing for and experiencing transition.

Follow Up NCIL Listening Session on the End of COVID Federal State of Emergency and “Medicaid Unwinding”
2023-08-10 13:30 - 14:30
Archive:

Webinar archive

Transcript (Word)

As a follow up to our previous listening session held in March, we want to hear from Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils how your state is dealing with the ending of the public health emergency and how states are working with you to inform and work with your consumers for any changes and impact to them.

Representatives from the Administration for Community Living will be present to hear your concerns and feedback. Reach out to jessica@ncil.org for more information.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Target Audience: Staff and volunteers of Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils

See also:

ACL: Public Health Emergency “Unwinding:” Changes to Medicaid Enrollment and Eligibility (https://bit.ly/3JLUAV5)

ACL: COVID-19 Resources (https://bit.ly/3DN6Xhg)

Rally to Protect Medicaid
2023-05-23 14:00 - 15:00
Archive

Webinar recording

Transcript (Word)

NCIL and other organizations have been meeting with Congressional offices telling them to back off Medicaid, but we need your help!

The U.S. House of Representatives’ bill passed on April 26 includes radical work requirements for Medicaid enrollees ages 19 to 55 in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling.

We need to tell Congress to keep Medicaid OUT of debt ceiling negotiations.

People with disabilities rely on Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) to live independently in their communities and NOT IN NURSING HOMES!

Cuts to Medicaid and the proposed work requirements would cause more red tape and would make it even harder for people with disabilities, their families, and the workers who support them to access the care they need to survive.

Find your Representative: congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Rally to Protect Medicaid

NCIL will also be hosting an online rally on Tuesday, May 23 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

CART and ASL will be provided. If you need any additional accommodations, please contact Jenny Sichel at jenny@ncil.org.
