Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living (RTFCIL) has partnered with the Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming County EMA to create a Functional and Access Needs Survey for Lycoming County’s Department of Public Safety. This survey aims to provide an option for individuals to identify their needs to help county-level emergency planning efforts, including updating 911 information in the future.

The survey includes disabilities an individual may identify as having and a section for additional information such as needed medications, assistive technology used, potential barriers, etc.

To learn more about the Functional and Access Needs Survey from Newswatch 16's Mackenzie Aucker CLICK HERE.

You can also join us at the Lycoming County Commissioner's meeting on Thursday, April 25th at 10 a.m. at the Executive Plaza located at 33 W. 3rd Street in Williamsport.

While visiting Wanda at her home, she mentioned she was having a hard time maintaining her home due to her limited mobility and low vision. RTF provided Wanda with information on the Community Health Choices Waiver and assisted her in enrolling.

After nearly a year of denials, four appeals, and many emotional calls later, Wanda is now receiving the services needed to continue living independently in her home.

Recently RTF assisted Wanda in getting a cell phone through TechOWL’s Free Phone Program. She was very excited to learn long-distance charges are a thing of the past.

Wanda states, “Without help from RTF, I don’t know where I would be. They have helped me with so many problems and if they can’t, they make sure I know where I can get the help I need to stay in my home”.

Project ABLE is a hands-on disability awareness training that allows you to briefly “try on” a disability to gain insight into the barriers people with disabilities face. The training includes five stations: vision, communication, fine motor, physical disabilities, and Autism & learning disabilities. You will also learn person-first language with a "Say this, not that" portion, along with disability etiquette.

For the past few years, we have provided this training to nursing students from Pennsylvania College of Technology. Here's what they have to say:

"My name is Karen Martin and I am an Associate Professor at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Nursing program. I have been teaching nursing students for about 30 years.  I am always seeking learning opportunities in which our students can have actual “hands-on” experiences. For the past three years, we have had the opportunity to spend time at Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living and participate in the Project Able program. Project Able is perfect for hands-on and interactive learning! Our students love this experience, and they appreciate that the staff are so very knowledgeable and work closely with them to explore and understand several of the challenges that people with disabilities face in navigating through everyday life. To quote some of our students “it really puts life into perspective,” “learned empathy and caring,” and “underestimated how difficult it is to maneuver a wheelchair.” The students learn information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as all of the services that this agency has to offer. This experience will allow our students to be advocates for people with disabilities and to give them the best nursing care possible."

If you would like to learn more about Project ABLE, please contact us!

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) play an essential role in making change in their communities. Advocacy to bring about that change is one of the five core services of CILs.

We have been underfunded for decades, leading to individuals with disabilities lacking access to critical services and support! Many U.S. areas, especially rural communities, do not have access to a CIL.

Funding CILs enables individuals with disabilities to live in their homes where they can work, attend school, worship, and participate in other community activities. CILs are hubs of disability information, resources, services, and advocacy and are vital to the whole community.

CILs have a long history of working to influence policy and legislation to advance the rights of the disability community. In January, our CEO and board president went to Washington DC to ask Congress to Fund Independent Living!

     Roads to Freedom is a proud provider of Representative Payee Services (Rep Payee). We help those who need assistance managing their finances by paying bills such as rent, groceries, electricity, gas, phone, and cable as well as giving a stipend to the consumer.

     RTFCIL employees develop a budget, assist with understanding Social Security Administration letters and payments, as well as report changes and paystubs to the Social Security Administration.

     Most of our consumers are receiving disability benefits; however, we also offer Financial Management Services for those who work and are not receiving disability benefits.

If you or someone you know could benefit from having a Rep Payee, contact us at 570.327.9070 extension 240.

To learn more about "How To Do Something Good In The Disability Community If You’re Not Disabled", CLICK HERE.