Since the CILCP’s inception, it has established more than a dozen programs, and the Independent Living philosophy remains the heart of its mission. This philosophy simply affirms that all persons with disabilities have the right to choose and fully participate in all aspects of society. The CILCP is wholeheartedly committed to this philosophy and diligently works toward a continuum of comprehensive services for people with disabilities in Central Pennsylvania.
1988
The CILCP was incorporated in April and received its first grant in October under the direction of Marcia Grim, President of the Board. The first CILCP office was located at 2331 Market Street, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
1989
In February, Theotis Braddy, the current CEO, was hired. After staffing and establishing the office, CILCP began providing services to Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, and Perry counties, the area covered by the CILCP.
1991
In September, two staff and one board member traveled several blocks against traffic videotaping the lack of accessible curb cuts in Harrisburg. This information was presented to the Harrisburg City council requesting the installation of curb cuts. The CILCP was promised that $250,000 would be allocated for curb cut construction.
1992
The CILCP assisted Accessible Community Today (ACT), a grassroots advocacy group, in receiving a one year grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC). This grant was administered through the CILCP and its purpose was to increase accessibility in the community. Many changes occurred as a result of this group, such as curb cuts in the City of Harrisburg, development of ADA Potential Violation Tickets, and a community Celebration of Human Spirit in recognition of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ACT, which has been renamed Wheels In Motion (WIM) continues to be a strong advocacy group in Central Pennsylvania.
1993
The CILCP relocated its office to 920 Linda Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, to accommodate the expansion of services and staff.
1994
In March, the CILCP established Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS-which later was renamed Interpreter Referral Services) through a grant from the Harrisburg District Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The purpose of this program was to provide qualified/certified interpreter services to businesses and individuals. The program sponsored several interpreter workshops and empowerment workshops for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing and regularly participated in community expos and exhibits.
1995
In February, the CILCP began a Grassroots Advocacy Project (GAP) to advocate for local and statewide systems change. The primary focus of this initiative was to mobilize people with disabilities as well as parents of children with disabilities to advocate for more meaningful change on a local and statewide level. The GAP project was funded through a grant received from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), and was administered by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (PCCD).
Also in February, the CILCP, through the Interpreter Referral Services, received a grant from the Telecommunication Education Fund (TEF) to provide TTY trainings for businesses, consumer telephone bill counseling, workshops, and informational articles in newsletters.
1997
In April, the CILCP moved to 415 Fallowfield Road, Suite 101, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, to accommodate additional increases in staff and programs.
1998
In March, the CILCP participated in our 5th PA Home Builders Show. Through a board member’s donation, an obstacle course was built to simulate the differences between an accessible and an inaccessible home, including a ramp. This was our largest and most successful display in the history of the CILCP. Volunteers, board, and staff donated many hours in answering numerous questions about accessibility, assistive technology, and CILCP services.
2000
Beginning in July, the CILCP began an Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) project with Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Juniata, Mifflin and Huntingdon Counties Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities Services. Its primary purpose continues to be to conduct individual interviews with individuals with intellectual disabilities receiving services from the county program. Through the interviews, information is obtained about the services people receive to assess their life outcomes and level of satisfaction.
2001
In May, the CILCP hosted Barrier Awareness Week in the City Government Building in Harrisburg, PA. Local agencies participated focusing on issues affecting people with disabilities, such as transportation, housing, attendant care, sign language services, employment, and education.
2002
In October the CILCP began offering attendant care services.
2003
On February 19th the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania moved to its fourth and current location since opening its doors in 1989. The CILCP is now located at 207 House Avenue, Suite 107, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
2004
The CILCP implemented three additional services this year; CILCP Payroll Services, Attendant Care Waiver Service Coordination, and Community Integration/Service Coordination Services. CILCP Payroll Services provided fiscal agent/payroll services for consumers to be their own employer and employ their own attendants. Attendant Care Waiver Service Coordination provided service coordination for consumers under the attendant care waiver.
2005
In February, the CILCP began providing nursing home transition services in Cumberland, Mifflin and Juniata counties. Since then the service has expanded to eight additional counties.
2007
In July, the CILCP unveiled the Living Well With A Disability initiative, a one-stop resource that not only assists people with disabilities to obtain basic services and programs, but also offers access to life-changing opportunities that the consumer may have not envisioned. Commercials were developed and aired on local TV channels.
2008
In February, the CILCP opened the first fully accessible fitness center for people with disabilities in Central PA. In October, the CILCP celebrated 20 years of service to people with disabilities in Central PA.
2009
In January, the CILCPs Payroll Services reached a goal of 100 consumer employers!
In February, CILCP was awarded certification under the Standards for Excellence program, which is bestowed only to the most well-managed and responsibly governed nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated compliance with 56 specific Standards for Excellence based on honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability. CILCP has met, complied with, and integrated the Standards for Excellence into all its activities to successfully complete this voluntary certification program.
In April, CILCP was awarded the Central Penn Business Journal Innovation Award for Brand Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign for Living Well With A Disabilitycontainer-e. Nominees were judged on factors such as: how innovative the campaign is; its purpose; how it furthers the mission of the organization; its benefits to the community; changes that have been brought because of it; its ability to be a model to other organizations; and results that werent anticipated.
2010
CILCP held the first Living Well Awards ceremony for which Tanya Foster, Channel 21, ably served as MC. The awards recognized those individuals and organizations that best exemplify Living Well with a Disability.
In 2010, three additional Centers for Independent Living joined the Living Well initiative, Three Rivers, Tri-County Patriots and Voices for Independence.
The Living Well Fitness Center was physically expanded for the third time. For the second time in in two years, CILCP won first place in the Central Penn Business Journals Nonprofit Innovation award in the Programs category with the Living Well Fitness Center initiative.
2011
CILCP opened an outreach office in Newport, PA, Perry County and included a second location for the Living Well Fitness Center.
CILCP began providing Specialized Services and Durable Medical Equipment programs statewide to eligible participants who live in a nursing home. Services continue to include training, assistance with moving, peer counseling and referrals for assessments for Durable Medical Equipment.
2012
In March, CILCP was one of 37 agencies forced to close Payroll Services due to changes from the Department of Public Welfare and the state administration. This was one of the most devastating challenges since incorporation. But the rallying cry We Are Still Here was heard as we held our 4th annual Walk and Roll at Riverfront Park in July. In November CILCP hosted the 3rd Annual Living Well Awards and received reaccreditation through the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) Standards for Excellence.
2013
In August, CILCP presented the first-ever Living Well With A Disability Conference & Expo, a four-day event that brought together the disability community from the Mid-Atlantic region. The only event of this kind in the region, it offered 6 main sessions, a selection of 35 concurrent sessions and a 2-day Expo with more than 80 exhibitors plus events and activities.
2014
Frank Tomasic, Jr., became our President of the Board of Directors and a new Chief Financial Officer, Marilyn Zarreii came on board.
In October, CILCP introduced DeafBlind Living Well Services (DBLWS), an innovative statewide initiative designed to enable people who are deafblind to access information and achieve independence. This program was funded by the PA Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, PA Statewide Independent Living Council and the PA Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.
CILCP also decided it was time to bring more choice for people with disabilities, so we launched HomeCare for Living Well, an agency model of attendant care that offers more choice than many of its competitors in home care service.
2015
Vini Portzline became our Board President.
DeafBlind Living Well Services (DBLWS) provided three trainings across the state for Support Service Providers (SSPs). A total of 58 SSPs were trained. SSP services to consumers began in April.
CILCP became registered in Pennsylvania as a Home Improvement Contractor. This allowed the CILCP to once again offer home modification services to Area Agencies on Aging.
2016
In April, CILCP honored Tucker and Gladys Hill as the Father and Mother of the CILCP. Tucker had been involved in the CILCP for over 25 years as a volunteer, board member, and later as President of the Board. Gladys was always there to support Tucker and the CILCP. Tucker is now President Emeritus.
CILCP raised $20,000 through the Harrisburg Highmark Walk. The Wheels In Motion successfully advocated to work with Capital Area Transit (CAT) to improve rides for people with disability by establishing the CAT Persons With Disabilities advisory group.
CILCP’s Living Well With A Disability program was restructured with the addition of a new Living Well Specialist, a Nursing Home Transition Specialist and a Community Resources Specialist.
The “Nothing About Us Without Us” Campaign was launched in the City of Harrisburg to encourage the city to remove physical barriers that prevent people with disabilities from full participation. As a result of the CILCP’s efforts, a Harrisburg city employee was named the ADA Coordinator. CILCP staff worked with the Coordinator to provide networking opportunities with other ADA Coordinators in the region. Harrisburg is working on their 504 transition plan.