NRCIL is...
...a disability rights and resource center that promotes community efforts to end discrimination, segregation, and prejudice against people with disabilities.

"We promote the community's effort to create accessibility and achieve change for a fully inclusive society."

Upcoming Events
NRCIL recognizes the following holidays:

Presidents Day

Monday, February 15

Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Independent Living Advocate

Title: Independent Living Advocate
Reporting Relationship: Independent Living Program Director
Job Summary: The Independent Living Advocate is responsible for assisting people with disabilities in maximizing their independence, effecting community change and being involved with executing broader agency and community advocacy goals.

Job Duties:

  1. Promote self-help and self-advocacy strategies.
  2. Assist people in having access to community resources.
  3. Assist people in learning benefits entitlements such as social security, vocational assistance, social services, housing assistance, adult and child protection services, home health care and personal assistance services, person in need of petitions, Medicaid and Foodstamps.
  4. Promote work incentive opportunities for SSI and SSDI recipients.
  5. Provide individual advocacy and when needed represent people in hearings, administrative reviews and appeals.
  6. Ensure consumer control of services received.
  7. Maintain up to date list of community resources and share information with community members and staff.
  8. Assist people in developing plans for achieving self-support.
  9. Provide peer counseling when appropriate.
  10. Represent NRCIL at forums and public meetings in the community.
  11. Assist in coordinating workshops and seminars.
  12. Collaborate with co-workers to involve consumers in providing direction to NRCIL programs and participating in center advocacy efforts and activities.
  13. Assist in identifying community needs and in executing agency goals.
  14. Collect and give to appropriate staff information for Resource Area and FOCUS; promote community use of Resource Area.
  15. Actively promote disability rights and independent living philosophy through all activities conducted within and on behalf of NRCIL.
  16. Complete all reporting and record keeping as required.
  17. Work outside of regular office hours when necessary.
  18. Performs such additional duties as may fall within the scope of said position and ability of employee as requested by Supervisor or Executive Director.
  19. Actively cooperate with all NRCIL staff to achieve Center's mission.
  20. Devise a plan for unexpected absence from this position; file plan with support staff.

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelors degree and minimum 3 years work experience preferred, or appropriate combination of skills, experience, and education. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be well-organized, able to work independently and able to meet deadlines. Should have interests in disability rights and familiarity with the concept and philosophy of the independent living movement. Preference will be given to applicants who have personal experience with a disability.

Revised: August 2006