Independent living agency for disabled offers information, services in Carson City, Dayton

The Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living is partnering with various agencies to expand its services into the rural areas of Nevada.
Staff members be visiting a different rural Nevada area each week to share information about products and services available to rural residents who have disabilities. They’ll be at the Carson City Senior Center, Friday, March 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the Dayton Senior Center the second Monday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and the Dayton Library the third Thursday of each month, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.

“At NNCIL, advocacy encompasses a vast array of services to individuals with disabilities,” said Rural Service Coordinator Deb Maijala. “We can help with completing various forms that are difficult for individuals to navigate, housing issues, and service animals. Everyone needs their voice to be heard, and that is a primary function of advocacy – listen, listen, listen!”

“When we visit, we’ll share information on the available equipment and funding, but we can also work with people to arrange for actual construction of ramps, widened doors, shower handles, or whatever else they might need to live independently,” explained Hentjie Apag, NNCIL’s Community and Home Access Program Manager.
A complete travel schedule can be found at www.nncil.org/programs-services/rural-outreach/rural-schedule. Anyone interested in arranging a visit, can do so by calling Maijala at 775-353-3599.

NNCIL programs include:
Restore Access and Mobility Program (R.A.M.P.): Provides preventative maintenance for existing wooden access ramps installed by NNCIL in the last 2-7 years.

Equipment Loan: NNCIL welcomes and accepts accessible equipment donations such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, shower chairs and other durable equipment. These can be loaned (depending on availability) at no cost.

Social and Recreational Program encourages people with disabilities to be actively involved in recreational and social opportunities provided by NNCIL and other community facilities. This program is tailored to promote socialization, independence, mobility, health and fitness improvement, and community integration.

Technical Assistance and Community Education provides technical assistance, consultation and education to individuals, agencies, and businesses regarding disability related issues and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) laws and standards.

Life Skills Program enhances the ability of a person with a disability with trainings and activities designed to develop, maintain or regain independence. Trainings may include, but are not limited to: building self-esteem, nutrition, money management, socialization, activities for daily living, etc.

Telecommunication Equipment Distribution Program. The TEDP is a statewide telecommunication equipment distribution program funded by the Public Utilities Commission through the Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division. Centers for Independent Living in Northern and Southern Nevada and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocacy Resource Center are charged with supplying telecommunications equipment to qualified citizens who are deaf, hard of hearing with low vision, and/or speech impaired.

About Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living
NNCIL was founded in 1982 by a small group of people with disabilities, who believe that each person, regardless of the severity of his or her disability, has the potential to grow, develop and share fully the joys and responsibilities of our society. For more information, visit www.nncil.org.