QILC Gives New Hope, New Life

Lisa received modest wages for many years as a receptionist in a wholesale jewelry business. Several years after an auto accident that resulted in traumatic brain injury, Lisa began to experience seizures. One day, while in the storeroom at work, Lisa had a seizure. Her frightened bosses immediately fired her. Lisa was devastated. The seizures continued. She was fearful of seeking another job, lest she not be hired when her condition was discovered. Unemployment benefits and savings were exhausted. Her landlord sent a notice threatening eviction. Depression set in. She had never used public services and had no idea where to turn for assistance. Out of pure desperation, she called an elected official who told her about Queens Independent Living Center (QILC).

At QILC, Lisa met with an advocate, Deb, also a survivor of traumatic brain injury (TBI), who was able to share what she had learned about living with TBI. Deb worked with Lisa to solve the immediate problems first. Since Lisa had worked for many years, she was eligible for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and began to receive payments. Through another QILC advocate, she learned about her rights as a tenant, and with her SSDI in place, was able to avoid eviction.

More important, as her meetings progressed with Deb at QILC, Lisa began to envision new goals and a new career- she wanted to become an accountant. Lisa was worried about her ability to complete college level courses, since the TBI was wreaking havoc with her memory. Deb showed her some easy strategies for dealing with memory lapses. She also identified a resource where Lisa could get training in study skills for people with TBI. QILC provided her with information on her civil rights- so that she would be able to advocate for herself in college.

Armed with confidence and the plan of action Lisa had developed with guidance from QILC, she applied to VESID, the state agency that provides support for the vocational goals of individuals with disabilities. She will be enrolled in a college degree program moving on to a new future. When she called QILC to thank us she said, "Queens Independent Living Center didn't just open up doors for me. It opened up the world." She was actually glad that she had been fired from her dead-end job: if that had not happened, she would never have connected with QILC and changed her life's path.

People with disabilities are the people best equipped to direct the course of their own lives and to direct the services and programs established for their benefit. Queens Independent Living Center of New York takes this principle as seriously as doctors take their Hippocratic Oath.

Queens Independent Living Center is an agency that assists elderly and disabled individuals to manage their health care, homecare and/or monthly living expenses.

QILC will arrange for loved ones' needs, ranging from coordinating medical care to seeing to home needs, such as painting and repairs and making sure bills are paid on time. QILC consultants can coordinate nursing services as well as negotiate leases and act as their property agent.

Call QILC today for a consultation and more information.

Contributions today to Community Campaign 2007 will be put to work immediately doing as Lisa said: opening up the world to people with disabilities.

QILC is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Make your tax-deductible donations payable to: Queens Independent Living Center, 23-35 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106.

For more information or to make a secure online donation, visit www.qilc.org.