At the Disability Empowerment Center, a person with a disability can connect with other persons with similar disability experiences, to assist them in reaching their Independent Living goal.

The objective is to explore options and to solve problems that sometimes occur for people with disabilities, for example, adjusting to living with a newly acquired disability, experiencing changes in living arrangements, or learning to use community services more effectively.

We raise public awareness by breaking down physical and attitudinal barriers to create change in our local community.  The purpose of community advocacy is to make it easier for all persons with disabilities to live more independently.

We offer several community advocacy services including:

Disability awareness and issues training for businesses, civic groups, churches, schools, community agencies, etc.

Individualized interactive presentations on disability issues

ADA & UCC ASSISTANCE – Technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and PA’s Uniform Construction Code including comprehensive ADA on-site assessments (affordable fee charged)

We assist and provide support to individuals with disabilities who are looking to relocate from nursing facilities or institutionalized settings into the community, in order for them to live independently in their community.

We provide education, support and advocacy to parents who have school age children with disabilities.

We also provide one-on-one individualized support to young adults with disabilities who are making the transition from High School to adult life.

The Independent Living Program provides the skills, education, and encouragement to enable individuals with disabilities to live more independently.

Together, we focus on making appropriate choices and learning the skills to help you to achieve the highest level of independence possible. We also focus on the practical assistance needed to help people increase their independence in their community and to become aware of the resources and options for people with disabilities.

We assist our consumers in developing an individualized plan so that they can make their own choices as to what it means for them to be independent.

Independent Living skills can include managing a personal budget, basic household chores, using various public transportation systems, dealing with insensitive and discriminatory behavior by members of the general public and many other subjects. 

We empower people with disabilities to speak for themselves, advocate for fundamental rights, and assert their rights under the American with Disabilities Act and other civil rights. We operate under consumer control,

Individual advocacy is demonstrated through activities that are part of one’s plan for Independent Living. Grassroots advocacy provides opportunities for the larger disability community to express their options and voice around the many issues affecting the disabled in their everyday lives.