Independent Living helps those with disabilities

Photos and story by Laura Elia Balcom
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008

Independent Living of Niagara County, located at 746 Portage Road, Niagara
Falls, is open Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

When Bill Kane began working at Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC), one of the very first individuals he dealt with was a homeless man. Besides living on the streets, the man was also suffering from crippling depression.

Through ILNC, Kane was able to find the man temporary shelter and within three months had him set up with the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. The man now has an apartment in Whirlpool Towers and a full-time job at the Outlet Mall.

“In less than one year, this man went from homeless to a taxpayer,” said Kane, the ILNC’s director.

In essence, that is what Independent Living of Niagara County does -- helping those with physical and emotional disabilities to live independently. The agency, located in Haeberle Plaza, counsels approximately 35 new individuals, or “consumers,” each month.

“One of the things I tell the consumers we work with is that we will do with you, not for you,” said Kane, who worked at the agency’s Buffalo office as an independent living specialist for 12 years before joining the Niagara Falls office.

And Kane understands first-hand the issues and challenges that consumers who come to him for help face. He has cerebral palsy and gets around with the aid of an electric scooter. In fact, the whole agency is a disability run organization. Everyone who works there has some sort of disability.

“We’ve all been down that road,” said Kane. “So when someone comes to us for help, we know what they’re feeling.”

Funded primarily through New York State’s Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Independent Living of Niagara County offers a variety of services to those in need, including peer counseling, benefits advisement, instruction on independent living skills, housing assistance, deaf interpreting and individual advocacy for those who have experienced disability-based discrimination. The agency also consults with local businesses to help them become compliant with Americans With Disabilities Act laws.

In addition, Independent Living runs an anger management program on Monday nights at 6 p.m. in conjunction with the Niagara County Department of Parole and the Probation Department. After a mandatory 15 weeks, successful participants receive a certificate.

“There are a lot of unfortunate people in Niagara County who need our help,” said Kane. “We don’t turn anyone away. We may not offer the services they need, but they won’t walk out our door without some idea of how to get help.”

For more on Independent Living of Niagara County and the services offered, visit www.wnyilp.org/ilnc.

Bill Kane is the newly appointed director of Independent Living of Niagara County. He has been associated with the organization for 13 years and was an independent living specialist at Western New York Independent Living in Buffalo prior to joining the Niagara Falls office.