4 Core Services
Independent Living Skills Training – Assist consumers in developing the skills needed to live independently. TRCIL’s Independent Living Skills Trainers empower consumers with the knowledge to perform the daily tasks essential for maintaining or obtaining independence. Life skills can include the following: household budgeting and financial management; utilizing public transportation or local paratransit; navigating through the social services system; problem-solving techniques; personal safety; Attendant Care management such as interviewing, training, hiring, and terminating Personal Assistants; and becoming a proactive consumer of health care such as understanding medications, questions to ask of a physician, and choosing a primary care physician and specialists.
Information and Referral (I&R) – Provide referrals for specific services offered by TRCIL or other agencies. TRCIL’s I&R Specialist utilizes a vast compilation of resource materials as well as identifies new resources on a daily basis. TRCIL’s I&R Specialist also performs outreach in the community by participating in expos, disability fairs, and other similar events and serves as a guest speaker on disability issues throughout Southwestern PA.
Advocacy (Individual and Systems) – Work to address discrimination issues and promote systems change. TRCIL’s Advocate’s goal is the empowerment of the disability community and individual consumers through education, outreach, workshops, forums, letter-writing campaigns, phone slams, and organizing group participation at the local and state levels. TRCIL’s Advocate serves as technical support for three Regional Action Teams (R.A.T.) – D.A.R.E. (Allegheny County); D.I.G. (Armstrong County); and W.C.D.T.F. (Westmoreland County). Advocate is a role that all TRCIL staff play on behalf of any member of the disability community who is facing attitudinal, architectural or systemic obstacles.
Peer Support – Provide one-to-one informal support and advice. TRCIL’s Peer Counselors provide non-clinical counseling to consumers. They serve as peer mentors by understanding the obstacles faced by people with disabilities and by offering practical solutions. They also empower consumers to achieve greater independence through their own examples of consumer-control and by sharing their own day-to-day experiences.
For more information about the Core Services that TRCIL provides, contact Cindy Williams at 412-371-7700 ext. 136, TTY 412-371-6230 or cwilliams@trcil.org. To get involved, apply to become a member of TRCIL’s Core Services Advisory Board.