Community Services
Accessibility Assessments:
LIFE Center conducts accessibility assessments for businesses, schools, municipal entities, agencies, and businesses. Accessibility assessments are generally requested by agencies and businesses that are concerned about their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or that wish to improve the accessibility of their businesses for their employees and customers. Accessibility assessments address both architectural and program accessibility. Providing total access to your employees is not only the law, it is also good business. For more information call Jill Doran or e-mail her at jill@lifecil.org.
Advocacy for Systems Change:
LIFE Center works with area residents with disabilities to reduce architectural, program, and attitudinal barriers to independent living and increase opportunities for full participation in community life. We work on a variety of issues at the local, state, and national levels including affordable accessible housing, transportation, and accessibility of the built environment. Volunteers are always needed to assist us in our efforts to ensure people with disabilities have equal rights. For more information call Jill Doran or e-mail her at jill@lifecil.org.
Community Education:
LIFE Center staff are available to speak to schools, agencies, governmental entities, professionals, community organizations, and members of the press on a wide variety of disability issues. We can tailor our information and presentations to meet your interests and needs. Presentation examples include LIFE Center services, the Americans with Disabilities Act, disability awareness, disability etiquette and customer service, educational rights of students with disabilities, and more. We can also create displays for your informational event or participate in your fun fair to provide disability awareness activities for kids. For more information call Marianne Cavanaugh-Wozniak or e-mail her at marianne@lifecil.org.
Equipment Loan:
Free short-term loan of various durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, bath benches, raised toilet seats, hospital beds, etc. to individuals who need them to increase their independence. Over 400 individuals are served annually through this program which is primarily funded through the generosity of individual donors. Both equipment and money is needed to better meet the equipment and assistive device needs of our community. For more information call Vicky Hogan or e-mail her at vicky@lifecil.org.
Assistive Device Demonstration:
Assistive listening devices and communication aids are available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to see and experiment with to determine their effectiveness. For more information on those devices call Jackie Cole or e-mail her at jackie@lifecil.org. Devices for individuals with vision loss are also available for demonstration. For more information on those devices call Stacey Slicer or e-mail her at stacey@lifecil.org.
Sign Language Classes:
American Sign Language is the third most used language in the United States. We offer beginning and intermediate sign language classes at the Center. For more information call Jackie Cole or e-mail her at jackie@lifecil.org.
Interpreter Referral Services:
We assist agencies, businesses, organizations and professionals in complying with state and federal laws that require accessible communication for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and need an accommodation to be able to access programs or services. The Center will refer qualified sign language interpreters and CART writers upon request or assist with other modes of communication to ensure accessible communications. Certified sign language interpreters and CART writers may also be found on the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission website at www.idhhc.state.il.us. For more information call Jackie Cole or e-mail her at jackie@lifecil.org.
Technical Assistance:
Do you need specific information about accessibility standards, or how to modify your home bathroom for accessibility, or how to make your conference room accessible for your employee who has hearing loss? If your question is related to disability or accessibility issues, we'll get you the answer or help you identify the right resource. For more information call Jill Doran or e-mail her at jill@lifecil.org.
