Your Continued Contributions and Support Help Make This Possible

I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N GNILP Opens Doors to Community Living

A N N U A L

R E P O R T

2 0 1 4United Wayof Massachusetts Bayand Merrimack Valley

Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce

Like us onfacebook

WAYS TO GIVE

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. (NILP), relies on the ongoing support of individuals, foundations, companies, and organizations to continue to provide quality services to consumers with disabilities throughout the greater Merrimack Valley.

If you would like to help NILP carry out its mission, please consider

donating in one of the following ways:

• Outright Gift – Funds donated through this method allow the agency to continue to provide essential services and make improvements to the agency’s physical infrastructure.

• Gift Program – A special tribute to honor a loved one, friend or colleague can be paid through a memorial or celebration gift. Each gift is acknowledged to the individual and/or family.

• Planned Gift – Gifts such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and paid up life insurance, are always welcome. These can be arranged through your financial advisor or attorney.

• Special Events/Fundraisers – NILP hosts several fundraising activities and events, which are always open to the public.

• In-Kind – We welcome volunteer contributions for special events.

Send a check to NILP, 20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, MA 01843. You can also make contributions by credit or debit card by visiting our website, www.nilp.org and click on the “DONATE” button for “PayPal” which is a secure site that handles our credit card donations. You can print out a receipt after your donation is completed. All credit or debit cards can be accepted. For further information, please contact Kevin Farrell, Director of Development at 978-687-4288 ext. 141 or by email at kfarrell@nilp.org. Thank you in advance for your donations. All gifts and contributions are tax deductible as permitted by law. Please consult your financial advisor.

For more information about The Northeast Independent Living Program, please visit our

website at www.nilp.org

978.687.4288 (voice/tty) • 978.689.4488 (fax)20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, Ma 01843

June Cowen Sauvageau, Krista Brown, Mark Wheeler and Steve Michelson at the NCIL Conference in Washington, DC.

Donate

NILP Staff Participating in the Lawrence, MA. St Patrick’s Day Parade

Your Continued Contributions and

Support Help Make This Possible

Message from the President

Message from the Executive Director

Message from the President

Message from Executive Director

In the beauty of the New England Fall and the onset of the Thanksgiving Season, it is a perfect time to share our pride and thanks with our community. Northeast Independent Living Program Inc., celebrates its 34th year of serving people living with disabilities in our Merrimack Valley and beyond.

Several highlights of our work this year that we are proud and thankful for include:

• Two new major new programs that are the result of disability advocates’ long hard work over many decades. They are 1) the “Money Follows the Person”, a Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver program and 2) the “One Care” Program, a Medicaid/Medicare Waiver Program for dual eligible individuals in the Commonwealth. NILP is very active in both programs and recognizes the importance of “waiver” programs designed to demonstrate that persons with disabilities have unique functions, abilities and preferences and that these individuals are the best determinants of the kind of supports and services that best match their community living needs. Both of these new Medicaid Waiver projects have the potential to demonstrate that consumer direction and choice will lead to better services and less health care costs.

• A Rebranding Committee comprised of NILP Participants, Board, Staff, and Community Partners to host focus groups with our constituencies to determine if our Name, logo and tag lines are still best reflect our agency mission vision and values. The question arose, “do we need a marketing makeover as the term Independent Living is now used by so many different types of Assisted Living facilities that there is such confusion in the community”? The Focus Groups have been conducted and we will be reviewing the data and feedback. Stay tuned for the results.

• NILP is proud to share the success of its new Training and Education Division of the organization. The aim of the Training and Education arm of NILP is to bring the message of disability awareness and the need to develop cultural competence to our businesses, health care organizations, municipalities and community members. This year we have conducted training to over 700 individuals and have conducted speaking engagements to national and statewide audiences.

• NILP is proud and thankful to announce the Board of Director’s decision to announce and support a Capital Campaign – Building Expansion Project to start in Fy’15. NILP has outgrown its current space and is expanding into the adjacent building space effective July 1, 2015.

• And last, but not least, NILP is thankful for the Enterprise Bank Celebration of Excellence, Nomination for Non-Profit of the Year. We are proud of our nomination into the Class of 2014 Celebration of Excellence.

I would like to share a very personal “thank you” to all of our constituents; who as family, friends, supporters, and advocates continued the journey of emancipation for all of us.

Yours,

June Cowen SauvageauExecutive Director

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As I look back over this past year, I am humbled by the progress NILP has made in increasing our participant base, improving our programs and creating new programs. It has been a banner year and as President of the Board, I am overwhelmed with pride in our organization and our staff. NILP continues to grow in leaps and bounds, and yet, we are able to say that, again this year, we are a financially stable and active charitable organization. We also could not achieve this without the support of our state and local leaders, the business community, and all of the wonderful contributors and volunteers that show up whenever there is a need.

Being President of the Board is an incredibly rewarding role and our Board has improved our contributions of oversight and service to NILP in so many ways. Board Members have been able to increase member recruitment activities. We have established a Board Training Program, so each new member can become fully informed as to the NILP purpose, philosophy, and mission .

The Board’s major fundraiser was a huge success. It is our 2rd Board-Sponsored Annual Music Fundraising Event, with with The Reminisants performed at the Lawrence, B.P.O.E. Elk’s Lodge #65. Our Board and Staff combined forces to have a booth at the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence on Sept 1st for the first time. Most important of all, we have done our very best to make NILP more visible and recognizable in our community, district and state.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with our new Mayor of Lawrence, Dan Rivera, regarding the re-activation of the Lawrence Commission on Disabilities. We were able to connect with the appropriate city leaders and begin the process of recruiting and re-establishing this most important Commission. Our citizens with disabilities deserve to be represented within the workings of the City.

We have played a huge role in improving community life for everyone, with or without disabilities through the combined efforts of NILP’s dynamic staff and the Board of Directors functioning as a unified team committed to serving all people with disabilities.

I will be stepping down as President of the Board for the coming year. I have been privileged to serve in this capacity for the last two years, and honored to serve and participate in such a wonderful organization at this level. You have all touched my life and I have grown. THANK YOU.

WE DO WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE WE MUST AND WE CAN!

I look forward to the new year and all its opportunities to serve our wonderful and deserving participants.

Thank you all,

Frances KucharPresident of the Board of Directors at NILP

NILP LEADERSHIP TEAM

June Cowen Sauvageau – Executive Director

Nanette Goodwin – Assistant Director

Lisa DiGiuseppe – Director of Finance

Jim Lyons – Director of Community Development & Advocacy

Mark Wheeler – Marketing & Communications Manager

Kevin Farrell – Director of Development

Laura McGrath – Human Resources Manager

Meghan McCann – Quality Project Manager

FY’ 2014 Board Members

Fran Kuchar – President

Kevin Hatch – Vice-Chairperson

Eric Pearson – Treasurer

Jami Cope – Clerk

Mike Alan

Richard Consoli, Esq.

Barbara Currier

Patricia Guerin

Chris McNeil

Lisa Visone

Kathleen Mulligan

Denise Murray

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN 2015

• Capital Campaign Fund Launch

• July 1, 2015, NILP will begin Phase 1 of the Building Expansion, Project

• NILP Re-Branding Committee Results and Community Outreach and Marketing Campaign

• The NILP Training and Learning Collaborative developing more disability awareness educational materials, products and presentations

2015 CALENDAR OF NILP SPECIAL EVENTS

• NILP Annual Legislative Forum March 22, 2015

• NILP 12th Annual Golf Tournament June 2015

• NILP 35th Anniversary Celebration October, 2015

Table of ContentsWhat to Expect in 2015 .................3

Programs ........................................4

Mission Statement ..........................5

Major Funding Sources ...................9

Financial .......................................12

Sponsors and Donors....................13

Volunteers....................................14

In Memoriam ................................15

2 NILP Annual Report 2014 NILP Annual Report 2014 3

ProgramsPrograms

TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD PROGRAMThroughout the 2013-2014 school year, the Transition to Adulthood (TAP) staff facilitated independent living groups in six local schools: Methuen High School, Lawrence High School, Greater Lawrence Technical High School, North Andover High School, the School for Exceptional Studies in Lawrence, and Greater Lowell Technical High School. Students are educated on topics such as budgeting, communication, socialization, disability awareness, cooking skills, etc. The groups provide a fun, educational and supportive peer environment for the students. The students

who are involved in these groups are ages 14-22 and have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Transition Plan. Additionally, staff attended IEP and/or 504 Plan meetings to provide advocacy and support to students and their families. Students who graduated or “aged out” of the TAP program were invited to attend a transition meeting to introduce the students and their families to our Community Supports Program staff who will assist them as they transition into adulthood.

TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (TIP)During the summer of 2014, we provided a very successful employment training and internship program for youth with disabilities as part of our TAP program. The students were between the ages of 16 and 22 and were either enrolled in high school, recently graduated or had dropped out of high school. They attended a six week soft skills training program at NILP throughout May and June in preparation for their internships. They learned interview skills, job search techniques, budgeting, transportation training, communication skills, workplace etiquette, etc. During these sessions staff gained a better understanding of the students’ interests and skills to assist them in finding an appropriate employment site for the students. Staff visited area businesses, non-profit organizations, and academic sites to educate them on the mission and programs of NILP and the TAP Internship Program specifically with the intention of recruiting them as an employment site. Once sites were identified, staff then began the process of matching students with sites by location and student area of interest and skills. A total of 32 students were then placed in paid internships from July-September within their home communities. Staff visited each employment site one to two times per week to offer support to the student and establish a rapport with the site representatives. Employers, students, and their families were invited to attend an end of the summer BBQ to celebrate the students’ hard work and recognize employers. A slide show was presented illustrating the various program activities as well as the students and their employers at the worksites. Employers were presented with a plaque for their support and

OUR MISSIONThe Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. is a consumer controlled Independent Living Center providing advocacy and services to people with all disabilities who wish to live independently in the community.

OUR PHILOSOPHYIndependent Living philosophy states that individuals with disabilities are the best determinants of their own needs and service choices. Through role modeling and peer counseling, with other individuals with disabilities, they become empowered to make changes in their lives and become more self-sufficient and self-reliant.

OUR VISION Northeast Independent Living Program is known throughout the state for helping individuals regain and retain their independence and equality in the community through Information & Referral, Advocacy, Skills Training and Peer Counseling.

We are a community of people who open doors to create an all-inclusive community free of communication, attitudinal, economic and architectural barriers for all people with disabilities.

Mission Statement

MissionStatement

participation. Students were presented with a certificate, a DVD of the slide show, and a t-shirt. Feedback from employers, students and parents was overwhelmingly positive!

2014 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/ADA CONSULTINGNortheast Independent Living Program’s (NILP’s) Community Development (CD) Department provides community and systems advocacy services that bring about community, attitudinal, and systemic change. CD monitors the implementation of federal and state civil rights disability related legislation for the benefit of all consumers. By working with NILP programs and activities, we join together to accomplish community change objectives. Specifically, we provide civil rights training and educational activities, Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) training, technical assistance and consultation, Information and Referral (I&R) on disability rights and related legislation, and Community Advocacy on Independent Living (IL) areas such as public hearings, focus groups, education, transportation, employment, the legislative process, information technology, assistive technology, etc.

This year, NILP CD/ADA Consulting delivered Independent Living Technical Assistance in order to heighten awareness and educate our community about the ADA, Federal Fair Housing, IDEA, and other civil rights laws. We conducted activities for our ADA technical assistance and advocacy services including facility access assessments at sites such as: Veterans Memorial Park in Quincy, The Baseball

Tavern and The Galway House, (Boston), Haverhill City Hall, Public Library, Broadway Mini-Mart in Lawrence, and dozens more. In terms of Community Involvement, NILP consumers testified at the State House public hearings such as the House and Senate Ways & Means Budget Hearings, and also participated at the Commissioners’ hearings/presentations this year, including all of the disabilities services.

Seventeen NILP staff and consumers joined in the Annual Lunch with Legislators Day at the State House in March. Together, we educated our legislators that Centers for Independent Living provide valuable services to the citizens of the Commonwealth. We joined with the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) to raise our officials’ awareness of the values of Independent Living. NILP invited our legislators’ & their staff who are responsible for the region that NILP serves including Senator Barry Finegold, Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives, Senator Joan Lovely, Representatives Marcos Devers, Diana DiZoglio, James Lyons, Frank Moran, and Linda Dean Campbell who joined us at The Great Hall.

Another example of our community education and integration initiatives this year included our testimony before the Joint Committee on Health and Human Services at The State House. We joined together to educate our Senators and Representatives about our Independent Living (IL) needs. We also provided outreach and education on NILP’s programs and services, as well as IL philosophy at dozens of Resource & Health Fairs including the new Methuen Sons Of Italy, the Haverhill Council On Aging, etc.

TOP: Rebecca Puentes, Long Term Support Services Coordinator. BELOW: June Cowen Sauvageau awards the ADA Champion Award, to North Andover Building Inspector, Gerry Brown as NILP Community Development Director, Jim Lyons looks on.

4 NILP Annual Report 2014 NILP Annual Report 2014 5

Attorney Mike Feinman of the Greater Lawrence Rotary Club awards the NILP Transition to Adulthood Internship Program (TIP), a $500.00 check to NILP Director of Development, Kevin Farrell and NILP Assistant Director, Nanette Goodwin. TOP: NILP Transition to Adulthood Internship Program (TIP)

ProgramsPrograms

6 NILP Annual Report 2014 NILP Annual Report 2014 7

DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICESOur Deaf and Hard of Hearing Independent Living Services (DHILS) Program staff works with people who are culturally Deaf, late deafened or hard of hearing offering a comprehensive array of services to help consumers live independently. These services include Information & Referral, Advocacy, Skills Training, Peer Counseling, assistance acquiring assistive technology, and housing. We believe that people with disabilities are the best determinates of their

own needs and service choices. Through role modeling and peer counseling, with other individuals who are Deaf, late deafened or hard of hearing, individuals become empowered to make changes in their lives and become more self-sufficient and self-reliant.

In addition, we provide education and advocacy to organizations, service providers and the community at large to eliminate communication barriers that exist in society to ensure equal access and participation for all.

INDEPENDENT LIVING VOCATIONAL REHABILITATIONThe Independent Living Vocational Rehabilitation (IL/VR) program staff works closely with the Lowell and Lawrence area offices of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) to assist people with disabilities who receive services from MRC in achieving their independent living goals.

By providing consumers with peer counseling and skills training in areas of financial management, benefits counseling, applying for transportation services, and assistance with housing applications consumers become more confident, self-sufficient, have more stability in their lives, and are better positioned to achieve their goals of employment and independence. This past fiscal year, IL/VR program staff provided independent living services to 74 consumers.

PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT PROGRAM (PCA)NILP’s Personal Care Attendant Program (PCA) is an integral support program for our community participants living with chronic disabilities who need special assistance to live with a quality of life in their homes in our communities. PCA consumers can receive assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, or dressing. PCA services are available to Masshealth eligible persons with permanent or chronic disabilities. What makes the PCA program different from other homecare services available is that it is consumer controlled and the person receiving the services manages their program independently, or with the assistance of a surrogate of their choice. Since consumers manage their own program, they can decide who they have working for them as well as set the schedule that is most

convenient for their needs. Oftentimes these services make it possible for the consumer to remain living in their homes with personal care help, as opposed to hospitals or nursing homes.

From September 2013 to September 2014, NILP PCA Program has continued to grow and currently serves approximately 1,200 PCA consumers throughout the Merrimack Valley and the northeast area of Massachusetts.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONSMarketing and Communications for The Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. (NILP), has continued to grow and expand over the course of the past year giving more visibility and awareness to NILP’s services, programs, advocacy, along with the philosophy that we evoke to our target audience in the 52 cities and towns that NILP serves in Northeast Massachusetts. Through NILP’s social media, serving as a great conduit to educate viewers on what NILP is all about and what we do in the communities that we serve, we have been able to help to increase the knowledge of our mission and purpose in the region along with showing the diverse range of services and programs that we offer for all people with disabilities who wish to live independently in the community. Our website at www.nilp.org has grown with a more extensive and easy to use menu with consistently updated and new information of interest about NILP with a good overview of our organization along with related items of interest to serve as a good and dependable resource center.

Our facebook page continues to grow with “likes” in an ever expanding role as a good timeline to view continually updated information about NILP’s staff activities as well as spotlighting individual services and programs and related information of interest to the disability community. We have also utilized facebook as a marketing tool as a good way to reach people about upcoming fundraising events as we have accomplished with our 2014 music fundraising event as an example. We also have worked to improve NILP presence on social media on LinkedIn as another avenue to connect with the business community. Other marketing efforts have been accomplished via collateral marketing materials via print as well as visual aids to reinforce NILP’s brand over the course of the past year. Additionally, outreach efforts have been further broadened to reach various chamber of commerce meetings, functions, etc., in the area that NILP serves to further heighten visibility and awareness of the agency. NILP also continues to grow its’ database with our CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system that will help to streamline and maximize the potential of the agency’s outreach to the region that we serve throughout the business community. NILP is fully committed to increasing the impact of the region that we serve through our marketing and communications efforts.

Top: Youth in the Transition to Adulthood Internship Program (TIP), receiving “Soft Skills” training prior to placement into job internships. Above: Rowan De Aza, NILP PCA Skills Specialist and Sinath Chhoun, NILP TAP Skills Specialist welcome participants to the 2014 Annual NILP Participant Picnic. Summer Youth (TIP) Intern Fred Higgins placed at All The Time IT, Billerica, MA

ProgramsPrograms

Nationally known disability rights advocate and former NILP employee, Pat Deegan (center) with NILP staff members (left to right) Sam Chivers, Jo Bower, Maryann Miller, Adelaida “Judy” DeJesus and Nanette Goodwin in foreground. TOP: March to the U.S. Capitol Building at the 2014 NCIL (National Council of Independent Living) Annual Conference with Krista Brown, Mary Margaret Moore, Executive Director, Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann (ILCNSCA), and June Cowen Sauvageau.

Donate to NILP today!Go to www.nilp.org

Click on the PayPal iconThank you!

ProgramSpotlights

ProgramSpotlights

COMMUNITY SUPPORTSOur Community Supports (CS) Program assists people with all types of disabilities in navigating the confusing, and oftentimes difficult, process of obtaining benefits and services on their path to living independently in the community.

Providing Information & Referral, Peer Counseling, Skills Training, and Advocacy, individuals are able to apply and search for affordable, and accessible housing, apply for benefits such as MassHealth and Social Security, or acquire assistive technology.

Very often we receive calls from people who have no idea what they need or what resources and programs exist; they just know they need help. Our Community Supports staff is that calming voice that can empathize with the caller, relieve their anxiety and provide them with the guidance, support, and reassurance they need.

MERRIMACK VALLEY AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CONSORTIUMThe Merrimack Valley Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) is a collaborative project between NILP and Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley that has a “no wrong door” entry point of service for people with disabilities and elders looking to access community based long term services. Centralized information & referral, intake and service coordination are streamlined between the agencies to make it easier for consumers to acquire services regardless of age or disability in an efficient, seamless manner.

A specialized service provided under the ADRC is Options Counseling. Options Counseling is an interactive, short-term decision-support process that involves providing individuals with information

about the full range of public and private resources, services, and settings available in the community. The Options Counselor works closely with each consumer to identify needs, values, outside supports and resources while ensuring that the consumer’s personal goals and preferences are respected.

Examples of how NILP’s Options Counselor (OC) has assisted consumers:

Susanna is a 57 year old consumer who has been a resident in the city of Haverhill all of her life. Because of financial hardship and her disability, Susanna had to give up her apartment to share an apartment with relatives. The NILP Options Counselor (OC) received a call from this consumer who was desperate because her food stamps benefits were cancelled and she was hospitalized for a week with malnutrition. After several phone calls to the Lawrence Department of Transitional Assistance, the consumer’s SNAP benefits were reinstated after being without food stamps for a month. The OC continued to work with the consumer to find affordable housing and also assisted with Title VII funding to pay for a security deposit. Today, this consumer is back living in the community in an affordable apartment.

Michael, a 57 year old man with a physical disability, was a patient at a local nursing home for over two years. Our Options Counselor assisted him in returning to the community by helping him find affordable and accessible housing. Michael is now enjoying life once again and doing what he loves to do most….fishing.

NILP’S 29TH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE FORUMWe continued our tradition of connecting legislators with their constituents every Spring at our Annual Legislative Forum that was held at The Massachusetts School of Law in Andover on March 21, 2014. The theme of this year’s forum was “THE ONE CARE PLAN: NILP’S ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY”. Dr. Burton “Burt” Pusch, Ombudsman for the One Care Program, gave a presentation on the One Care Program and what it means for people with disabilities who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The forum provided consumers with the opportunity to express their concerns directly with those who make decisions that have an impact on the services they depend on. Our State Senators, Representatives, and local officials joined colleagues in state, local and federal government and met with nearly 100 program participants to discuss important issues affecting the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Elected officials and aides in attendance were: Chris Lango, Aide from Sen. Warren’s office; Rep. Diana DiZoglio; Rep. James Lyons, Jr., and his Aide; Sen. Joan Lovely; Rep. Linda Dean Campbell’s Aide; Rep. Marcos Devers; Vanessa Gotlin from Sen. Finegold’s office; Franklin Fernandez, Legislative Aide; Mayor Stephen Zanni; Phil DeCologero, Exec. Asst. to Mayor Stephen Zanni; and Kate Machet from Sen. Ed Markey’s office.

Mark your calendar for next year’s forum scheduled for March 20, 2015!

NILP Annual Report 2014 9

MAJOR STATE FUNDING SOURCESDepartment of Elder Affairs

Department of Mental Health

Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

GRANTS & PARTNERSHIPS Boston Bruins Foundation, Boston, MA

D.E.A.F. Inc., Brighton, MA

Disability Law Center (DLC), Boston, MA

Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Lawrence, MA

Essex County Community Foundation, Betty Beland Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, Danvers, MA

Essex County Community Foundation NSCHN Community Health Improvement Grant

Greater Lawrence Rotary Club

The TJX Foundation, Framingham, MA

The White Fund, Lawrence, MA

Major Funding Sources

Major Funding Sources

NORTHEAST RECOVERY LEARNING COMMUNITY (NERLC)The Northeast Recovery Learning Community (NERLC) has completed its 6th year serving 52 cities and towns that include Everett and Medford, just north of Boston, and extend north up to Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Amesbury and Salisbury on the New Hampshire border. This broad area is held together by the NERLC’s commitment to creating a strong peer-to-peer community for persons recovering from extreme emotional distress, trauma, psychiatric diagnoses, addiction and a variety of other challenges in life. The NERLC supports individuals who have lived experience with these life challenges find their own paths to recovery and wellness in the communities of their choice. By offering trauma-sensitive peer supports, we encourage each other to lead meaningful and productive lives and, together, create a welcoming and diverse peer community.

A key piece of our mutual peer support is sharing our recovery stories with each other and with the broader community of friends, family, mental health providers, and the general public. These stories offer hope and emphasize that recovery is not only possible, it is probable. Mary Jo Fortes, one of NERLC Peer Specialists, described her own experience: “When I first heard the term “recovery” used in the context of mental health, my reaction was: “not applicable!” My understanding of recovery was that it was reserved for people who have been healed…fixed…cured… by some miracle drug or visionary doctor. I was envious of that elite group that “recovered”, whole-heartedly believing that I did not belong in their clique and never would.

After all, I’d been told by doctors (plural) that I had this severe “mental illness” which not only necessitated medication for the rest of my life, but that even the best-fitting drug cocktail could not keep me “symptom-free”. My first NERLC support group not only changed my thinking, it changed my life! First and foremost, it was such an indescribable relief to be amongst others with shared experiences—people who could really relate to what I was going through! I felt understood, accepted, and safe! As I continued to participate in these groups, I began to pick up ideas for coping and managing from my peers. I even found that I had valuable things to share and that made me feel really good—to help others. These days, I enjoy healthier, more reciprocal relationships, including a kinder relationship with myself. I am on my own unique Recovery Journey which, for me, is an on going process, rather than a finite end-point. My journey is a self-driven, active experience in which I hold the reins and control the pace. Not only have I realized that Recovery IS most definitely applicable to me, I also believe that it is relevant to anyone who seeks it, regardless of where they are on their journey.”

Through stories such as these, the NERLC’s peer-to-peer community continues to grow by reaching out to those who have not yet heard our stories and our message of hope. Our goal is to break through the feelings of isolation and discouragement that often comes with a mental health diagnosis by spreading the message that “Recovery Is Real!” and we are the proof. In the past year, we moved closer to this goal each time a new member joined one of our support groups in one of the 52

TOP LEFT: 2014 NILP Legislative Forum at the Massachusetts School of Law, Andover, MA. TOP RIGHT: NERLC Recovery Through Community at the Haverhill Club House. RLC Staff Joshua Marcos and Rachely Ramos. Above: NILP Annual Music Fundraising Event with The Reminisants, November 8, 2013

8 NILP Annual Report 2014

ProgramSpotlights

ProgramSpotlights

10 NILP Annual Report 2014

cities and towns we serve. Many hundreds of members of our peer-to-peer network not only participated in NERLC peer-to-peer support groups, we also organized recovery-oriented events such as “Recovery Through Community” presentations by Pat Deegan and Dan Fischer, two pioneers in the Recovery Movement , as well as picnics, talent shows, and young adult dinners. Our message of hope has been heard by up to 150 at a single event but more often it is heard in smaller groups where peers can safely share their unique challenges, hopes and dreams. As Mary Jo Fortes expressed in her story: ”I have held strongly to HOPE these past years and it has made all the difference in the world! I started to make plans, set goals, and achieve milestones again—first small steps, then larger ones. If I can help to inspire even one person to find HOPE—as I was through others’ Recovery Stories—I have fulfilled my role, not just in my job, but also on a much broader level!”

MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON, (MFP) A NEW MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMMoney Follows the Person (MFP) is a 5 year demonstration grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded to the Massachusetts Office of Medicaid (MassHealth). Through the MFP Demonstration, Massachusetts will move service funding from facility based settings to home and community based settings. In FY14, the Northeast Independent Living Program received funding from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to participate in a demonstration project as a Transitional Entity and as a Housing Search Entity.

NILP’s Nursing Home Transition Coordinators as well as Community Support Staff assist MFP eligible participants to

transition from a nursing home or long-stay hospital (example: Tewksbury State Hospital) to an MFP-qualified residence in the community and obtain community-based services. The two MFP Waivers are:

• MFP Residential Supports (MFP-RS) waiver – for individuals who need supervision and staffing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• MFP Community Living (MFP-CL) waiver – for individuals who can move to their own home or apartment or to the home of someone else and receive services in the community

In FY14, during its start up period, NILP successfully transitioned four (4) individuals back into the community from April 2014 – June 30, 2014. In FY15, approximately twenty (20) individuals, who are MFP qualified, are on track for placement back into the community of their choice. NILP staff has done outstanding work helping individuals meet their goals of returning back to their community and maintaining an enhanced quality of life.

THE TRAINING AND LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (TLC)The Training and Learning Collaborative (TLC) is the education division of NILP geared toward educating all organizations, whether large or small, in a customized curriculum that provides disability sensitivity awareness training as well as consultation in all related pertinent areas. TLC trainers and consultants are utilized as a resource from various NILP staff members as well as available qualified independent consultants who share NILP’s philosophy and perspective. The TLC vision is to provide technical assistance, training, and consultation to all appropriate entities that need to invest in their knowledge level of

disability awareness and cultural competence to be an all inclusive environment in their workplace. The TLC approach is to provide customized training and consulting services by being a trusted Independent Living Center for all organizations to deliver cultural competence and technical assistance on the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The TLC goal is to educate all entities around their potential areas of misconception that surround people with disabilities and to de-stigmatize the language and initial responses that may lead to critical missteps when providing services for people with complex needs. Over the course of the past year, TLC has provided contracted full day ongoing training sessions to Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA), as well as customized training for Old Colony Elder Services and additional training is being set up for the Spinal Cord Injury Association and other potential clients on the horizon. To aid in the marketing of TLC, a promotional video has been completed that should act as a good catalyst in spreading the word on how TLC can help educate organizations about the uncommon capabilities it has in training and consulting given our unique perspective as compared with other similar training organizations. Additionally, TLC conducted a well-attended workshop at this past summer’s NCIL (National Council on Independent Living) Annual Conference in Washington D.C. titled, “Creating a New Training & Development Consulting Business With Your CIL”, on how to create a new revenue stream within a Center for Independent Living (CIL) through training and consulting while furthering disability awareness in their respective communities. Also, TLC will be conducting another workshop at the Provider’s Council Annual Convention in Boston in the late fall titled, “Diversity in the Disability Community and

NILP Annual Report 2014 11

What Is Cultural Competence”, which will further enhance the purpose and vision of TLC. In the planning stages for design and implementation going into the new year is the TLC online module for further client reach as well as for review and remedial purposes for all participating students. The future looks bright for TLC as a significant growth arm within NILP.

NILP ANNUAL MUSIC FUNDRAISING EVENT

NILP held its’ 2nd annual music fundraising event on November 8th, 2013, at the Lawrence Elks Lodge and featured the live music of The Reminisants who were “Rockin’ The Oldies For All People With Disabilities” with their ‘50’s and ‘60’s music stylings. Well over 200 people attended this fun event and danced the night away while also participating and bidding in the

raffle prize and auction items that were generously donated by many individuals as well as members of the area’s business community to help support NILP’s services, programs, and advocacy for all people with disabilities who wish to live independently in the region that NILP serves in Northeast Massachusetts. In addition, this music fundraising event gave NILP the opportunity to show a couple of videos about NILP and the Independent Living philosophy. The 3rd annual music event is scheduled to take place on September, 26th, 2014, and will feature the live music of the popular regional group, The B Street Bombers, who will play their “High Energy Music In Support Of All People With Disabilities”. We have found that not only is the annual music fundraising event a good event for NILP fundraising purposes but that it also draws more visibility and awareness to NILP’s mission and purpose.

ProgramSpotlights

ProgramSpotlights

TOP LEFT: June Cowen Sauvageau, Burt Pusch, Independent Consultant and One Care Ombudsman; and Mark Wheeler present a workshop “Creating a New Training & Development Consulting Business” at the NCIL Conference in Washington, D.C. TOP RIGHT: June Cowen Sauvageau and Burt Pusch conduct a seminar on Disability Awareness & Cultural Competence for the Commonwealth Care Alliance employees. Above: Volunteer Award to Nicole Fortier, presented by NILP Youth Services Program Manager, Alicia Thyne and NILP Administrative Assistant, Zuleika Gonzalez. Left: Newly elected Lawrence Mayor, Dan Rivera addresses the Annual Meeting of the Lawrence Industrial Parks Business Association (LIPBA) at NILP in December, 2014.

FinancialFinancial

12 NILP Annual Report 2014

NILP 11TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENTMother Nature provided us with a gorgeous day to host our 11th Annual Golf Tournament for Independence on Monday, June 23, 2014 at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover. Over 90 golfers turned out for the event along with 84 business sponsors and donors to support the participants and programs of the Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. (NILP). Through their participation and generous business sponsorships, the event raised over $31,000.

The funds raised by this tournament help support and offset programs that have received budget cuts to ensure that quality services are provided to consumers with disabilities in Northeastern Massachusetts. Thank you all for a successful golf tournament!

Hope to see you next year at the 12th Annual Golf Tournament for Independence in June, 2015.

NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM INC.Statements of Activities for the Periods Ended, June 30, 2013 & 2012

Assets 2014 2013Current Cash and Cash Equivalents (Note A) $382,417 $338,016 Accounts Recievable (Note A), (Allowances for Doubtful Accounts is $0 for both years) 438,798 289,192 Prepaid Expenses 27,469 37,702 Total Current Assets 848,684 664,911

Property and Equipment (Note A) Building and Improvements 929,001 929,001 Equipment 85,807 58,876 Vehicles 97,113 97,113 Furniture 101,489 101,489 Computer Software 8,000 54,606 Land 78,600 78,600 Total 1,300,010 1,319,685 Less: Accumulated Depreciation (638,060) (650,920) Property and Equipment - Net 661,950 668,765

Other Assets Closing Costs (Note G), (Net of $784 & $429 Accumulated Amortization) 6,315 6,670 Total Other Assets 6,315 6,670

Total Assets $1,516,949 $1,340,345

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Accounts Payable 50,664 74,562 Accrued Expenses 126,377 105,646 Current Portion of Long-Term Debt (Note G) 10,201 10,191 Credit Line Payable (Note H) - - Deferred Revenue 66,120 9,500 Total Current Liabilities 253,362 199,899 Long-Term Debt (Note G) 294,227 304,345Total Liabilities 547,589 504,244

Net Assets (Note A) Unrestricted 969,361 836,102 Temporarily Restricted - - Permanently Restricted - -Total Net Assets 969,361 836,102

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $1,516,949 $1,340,345

*Financials are in draft format and are subject to change.

NILP Annual Report 2014 13

Sponsors and

Donors

Sponsors and

Donors

50 Warren Restaurant & Lounge, LowellACT II Salon, Salem, NHAdam ProtoAdam Rowley, All The Time I.T.Ale House Barking Dog & Grill, AmesburyAmerican Training, Tom ConnorsAppleby & Wyman Insurance, BeverlyAshland Farm, at North AndoverAsian Center of Merrimack ValleyAthens Pizza, LawrenceB.P.O. Elks Lodge #65, LawrenceBarbara CurrierBates Insurance Agency, MedfordBenchmark Senior LivingBest Western Plus Inn, ChelmsfordBill and Kumi MartinBob Kanzer, York, MEBorrelli’s Italian Deli, MethuenBoston Bruins FoundationBoston CelticsBranco The Florist, LawrenceBurtons Grill, N. AndoverC.O.M.E.C.Candia Woods Golf Course, Candia, NHCapri Italian Restaurant, Salisbury BeachCarleen’s Coffee Shop, LawrenceCaroline Matterson, Boston Duck ToursCBG Benefits, WoburnCenter for Living & Working, WorcesterCharles LaMothe Chelmsford Dental AssociatesCommonwealth Care Alliance, BostonCommunity Crossroads, Atkinson, NHCommunity Teamwork, LowellConlin’s Pharmacy, MethuenConsoli & Wilhusen, Attorneys, N. Andover.Corey GelorminiCranCom,Taunton

Dalia Diaz, RUMBODavid GulezianDavio’s Northern Italian SteakhouseDeborah RitceyDiane CrimminsDiane Shawan- LukenDiego’s Catering, LawrenceEd the Plumber, AndoverElder Services of the Merrimack ValleyElizabeth Grady, AndoverEnterprise BankEric PearsonErika Guilbaut, Outback Steakhouse, MethuenExeter Country Club, Exeter, NHFamily Pools, LawrenceFerncroft Country Club, MiddletonFireside Restaurant & Pub, MethuenFour Oaks Country Club, MethuenFran & Paul KucharGary & Lynn Hale Golden House Restaurant, LawrenceGolfer’s Warehouse, DanversGolfsmith International, WatertownGreater Lowell Chamber of CommerceHanover Insurance GroupHerb Chambers Chrysler, Jeep Dodge RAM, DanversHickory Hill Golf Course, MetheunHilton Oil Co., LawrenceHirsch Roberts Weinstein, LLP, BostonHoliday Inn, TewksburyIndian Ridge Country Club, AndoverJ. Brians Pub & Grille, LawrenceJami CopeJay Gee’s Ice Cream & Fun Center, MethuenJim’s Original Subs, LawrenceJoe CoutureJohn Gallinato, CambridgeJules By The Water, MethuenJulia TiernanJune Cowen SauvageauKathleen & Kenneth G. Mulligan

KDSA Consulting, MethuenKeith HillKevin M. HatchKevin T. FarrellKingston Fairways Golf ClubKitty’s Restaurant, N. ReadingKrueger Flatbread & Olivia’s, HaverhillLAER Realty Partners, ChelmsfordLarry KajenLawrence General HospitalLisa VisoneLowell Five, TewksburyLuna Rosa, TewksburyMann Orchards, MetheunMark & Tricia WhitehouseMassachusetts Providers CouncilMassachusetts School of LawMcLarney & Company, ChelmsfordMeghan McCannMerrimack Valley Federal Credit UnionMerrimack Valley Golf Club, MethuenMerrimack Valley MagazineMerrimack Valley Wellness Center, N. AndoverMethuen Firefighters Local #1691Methuen Health & Rehabilitation CenterMike & Charlotte AlanMoore Staffing Solutions, MethuenNeighborhood Parcel, LowellNew England Gutter Kings, LowellNew England Office Supply, BraintreeNew Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, MethuenNinety Nine 99, HaverhillNorth Shore Golf & Tennis MagazineN- Tek, Inc., LawrenceOlive Garden, MethuenOmni Digital Printers, LawrenceORZO Café & Trattoria, N. AndoverPatrick Grant, Splash ShieldPaul Brouillette, LAER Realty Partners, ChelmsfordPentucket Bank

Pentucket MedicalPhilip Ciampa Salon, AndoverPiccirillo the Florist, MethuenPinnacle Private Wealth, LLC, WoburnPlaza Asteca, MethuenPortrait EFX, MethuenPRIDEStar EMSPrimos Liquors, LawrencePro Tire and Tune, BillericaR&J Specialty Wines, LawrenceRaid, Inc. AndoverRiverside Press, MetheunRobert IngalaRuss BockSage Bank, LowellSalem Co- operative Bank, Salem, NHSalon Forza, AndoverSEIU NCFO Local #615 Firemen & OilersSheila & Chris McNeilShowcase Cinemas, LawrenceStaples, N. AndoverStephen R. PetersonStonebridge at BurlingtonSue ComeauT Bones & Cactus Jacks, Salem, NHTekila’s, MethuenThe Old Court, LowellThe Reminisants The Savings Bank, Methuen, Andover & WakefieldThe White Fund, LawrenceThree Dogz Diner, LawrenceTompkins Corp, Landscaping, N. AndoverTony GoodnoughTrattoria Amalfi, Salem, NHTuscan Kitchen, Salem, NH & Burington, MAUnion Office Supply, WilmingtonUnited Parcel Service (UPS)Willam & Yoli HarmuthWyndham Boston- Andover Hotel, Andover

Top Left: Significant support from members of the Business Community helps make the 11th Annual Golf Tournament a financial success. Top Right: Business Community Volunteers, Attorney Tami Dristiliaris and Laura Rocha watch the Hole-in-One Contest at the 11th Annual Golf Tournament. Below: NILP Board member Chris McNeil enjoying the Putting Contest at the 11th Annual Golf Tournament.

14 NILP Annual Report 2014

Elmer BartelsMartina CarrollJuan CosmeMichael CrippsDebbie J. FrizadoAlberta GomezLucia HernandezBeatrice JohnsonHenry LacosticEric LandryVirginia LarochelleJudith LeeMichael McLaughlinBaltazar QuilesJames H. RichardsRosa L. RiveraKhamsone SilavongRobin StewartWayne B. SubatchEileen ThorpeJennifer Torres-Pagan

NILP Annual Report 2014 15

InMemorium

InMemorium

2014 NILP VOLUNTEERS:Barbara CurrierBill Kent, UPSCarla RennyCarol RebeenackerChris McNeilChristing GrennanChristopher Ortiz, UPSCortney Richards, UPSDenise MurrayDiane Lightbon, UPSEric Oliveira, UPSEric PearsonFran and Paul KucharFrancis SauvageauFranklin PerezGary HaleGerman Galvan, UPSJami CopeJim Mercier, UPSJulieanne SteinKathy & Kenneth MulliganKevin M. HatchKrista BrownLaura RochaLisa Crider, UPSLisa Visone, UPSMark Kelley, UPSMichael & Donna Higson Mike and Charlotte Alan Nicole FortierPatricia GuerinPatti Copley, UPSPaul BrouillettePaul CastiglioneRay Rannikko, UPSRichard P. Consoli, Esq.Rosemary Dunlop, UPSSue ComeauTami Dristiliaris, Esq.Tom CopeTony BrooksWalter MillerWilliam L. Paige, Jr., UPS

StaffRecognitions

StaffRecognition

Top: NILP Staff member, Vida Whitcomb, NERLC WRAP Coordinator, receives her 5 Year Service Award at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Above: Volunteers from the United Parcel Service (UPS) have been volunteering at NILP for over twenty years.

Above: The NILP Board recognized the hard work that the NILP staff do throughout the year, with a picnic and a boat ride on the Merrimack. Right: NILP Board Member, Jami Cope marketing the Annual Music Fundraising Event.

A SpecialTribute...A SpecialTribute...

EACH YEAR AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, NILP RECOGNIZES STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM, INC. (NILP).

At the 2013 Annual Meeting, the following were recognized for their accomplishments:

• ADA Champion Award to Gerry Brown, Building Inspector for the Town of North Andover, MA.

• Community Partner Award to Chet Szablak, Jr., Executive Vice President, Enterprise Bank, Lowell, MA.

• David E. Ray Award awarded posthumously to James “Jim” Kelly, Jr. longtime member of the NILP Board and Disability Advocate.

• Staff 110% Award to Krista Brown, ASL Interpreter for outstanding achievement.

• Volunteer Award to Nicole Fortier for many long hours of service to NILP.