Fall / Winter 2016 Edition
LIVING WITH AND BEYOND DISABILITY
Our Mission
ETCIL helps people with
disabilities achieve greater
independence, self-sufficiency,
and full participation in their
communities.
Core Services of ETCIL

Advocacy

Information & Referral

Independent Living Skills
Training

Peer Support

Transition
Breaking The Mold focuses on the benefits of hiring qualified motivated
and reliable employees with disabilities. This year, two offerings will be
held to provide updates on the many changes which have occurred
with State agency vocational rehabilitative services as well as with
disability related community partners.
Breaking the Mold Presentations
Programs
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Relocation Services

Resource Advocacy

Representative Payee

Hearing Loss Resources

STAP Program

Independent Living Services
Workforce Solutions- 2430 S. High St., Longview, TX

Sign Language Interpreting
For more information or to RSVP, contact: [email protected]
Monday, October 24, 2016
ETCIL- 4713 Troup Hwy., Tyler, TX
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
The ETCIL Independent Living Services program helps
eligible consumers with significant disabilities to maintain
and enhance independent living and greater community
involvement. Office locations for the new program are in
Tyler, Sulphur Springs and Texarkana.
Come to our ILS Program, Tyler Office
Open House
4615 Troup Hwy
Monday / October 24th, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
RSVP BY 10/21/16 to [email protected]
Phone: (903) 581-7542
[email protected]
www.etcil.org
PEOPLE FIRST
PAGE 2
Resource Advocacy
In 13 East Texas counties, for those needing help applying for SSI/SSDI or who could benefit from financial resource
advocacy and/or representative payee services, call Joy Willadsen, Resource Advocate.
Home By Choice Relocation Program
Transitional assistance for nursing facility residents and others living in institutionalized settings seeking to live more
independently. Serves 20 East Texas counties. Contact Relocation Specialists: Lynn Barton or Suzan Chapman.
Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Mentoring, Information & Referral
Consumer-driven individualized or group training is available for persons with disabilities for either personal
development or vocational purposes within our 13 county core service area. The center has assistive technology for
a variety of disabilities. Money management, cooking, reading, social skills, computer usage, transportation guidance
and other subjects taught in multiple locations. Contact Patrician Perkins, IL Skills Trainer/Coordinator for class info.
ETCIL also provides information and referrals for a wide range of disability concerns, as well as peer mentoring
opportunities, such as the M.O.V.E. support group. Call Linda Smith, Disability Specialist.
Hearing Loss Resource (HLRS) & Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Specialist (STAP) Programs
Funded by the State of Texas HHS Office of Deaf and HOH, ETCIL’s Hearing Loss Resource Specialist (HLRS)
educates individuals about hearing loss and other related services with focus on vocational needs. The Specialized
Telecommunication Assistance Program (STAP) Specialist assesses consumers for eligibility for free telephones and
associated devices for Texas residents who have difficulty hearing on a standard telephone. Assistance is provided
regardless of age or income for these programs which cover a 23 East Texas county area. For information, to make
an individual appointment, or for a group presentation, contact: HLRS / Austin Zindler and STAP / Mickey Bailey.
Sign Language Interpreting Program
Thank you to the Deaf community, the professional interpreters and our clients throughout 23 East Texas counties for
entrusting and choosing ETCIL through the years, to confidentially facilitate their important communications related to
medical, legal, business, educational and personal matters. Contact Dagmar Bortz for more information.
Independent Living Services (ILS) Program
The ETCIL ILS program serves people with significant disabilities toward maintaining or enhancing their independent
living and community involvement goals. Program services are available to consumers in the following 23 counties:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Marion,
Morris, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood. Eligibility determination is applicable.
Contact Jay Nichols, ILS Program Manager, for more information. For consumer convenience, offices are located in
Tyler, Sulphur Springs and Texarkana, but ILS personnel will schedule appointments off site as needed.
Do you enjoy teaching others? If so, we need you!
Volunteering at ETCIL with Independent Living Skills Classes
in Tyler, Longview, Athens or Jacksonville is a fulfilling way to
make a difference in the lives of others. For more info contact:
Patrician Perkins, IL Skills Trainer /Coordinator
[email protected]
Phone: (903) 581-7542
[email protected]
www.etcil.org
PEOPLE FIRST
PAGE 3
ETCIL INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS CLASSES
2nd and 4th MONDAYS - LONGVIEW
Pace Opportunity Center 1101 Jaycee Dr.
D.O.R.S-Youth Transition Center 1125 Judson Rd. #153
TUESDAY / THURSDAY-TYLER
ETCIL 4713 Troup Hwy.
TUESDAY - ATHENS
Andrews Center Diversified Industries
1450 Flat Creek Rd.
1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS- JACKSONVILLE
ACCESS 1011 College Ave.
Call Patrician Perkins, IL Skills Trainer /Coordinator for more information.
UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS: Grocery shopping outings,
socials and enjoyable life skill training activities
2016 DISABILITY EXPO / WALK & ROLL
Presented By:
EAST TEXAS DISABILITY SERVICES NEWORK
A Project Initiative of ETCIL
INTERESTED IN JOINING IN THE FUN? PLANNING FOR OUR NEXT MULTI-PARTNER EVENT
WILL BEGIN SOON. YOUR IDEAS AND PARTICIPATION ARE NEEDED TO MAKE
THE 2017 EAST TEXAS DISABILITY EXPO EVEN BETTER! Thank you again to our sponsors!
CALL LYNN BARTON FOR MORE INFO OR EMAIL AT LBARTON@ ETCIL.ORG.
Phone: (903) 581-7542
[email protected]
www.etcil.org
4713 Troup Hwy.
Tyler, Texas 75703
2016-2017 Board of Directors
Debbie Bryan, Francis Key, Jeff Zaber, Roger Purdy, Nancy Ballard, Amy Wilson
Personnel
Laura Mattheis, Executive Director
Dagmar Bortz, Executive Assistant
Jessica Rottab, Accounting Specialist
Jay Nichols, Independent Living Services Program Mgr.
Joy Willadsen, Resource Advocate
Patrician Perkins, Independent Living Skills Trainer/Coord.
Lynn Barton, Relocation Specialist/Outreach Coordinator
Suzan Chapman, Relocation Specialist
Austin Zindler, Hearing Loss Specialist
Mickey Bailey, STAP Specialist
Linda Smith, Disability Specialist
Ed Cozart, Independent Living Skills Trainer / ILS Specialist
Robert Morris, Independent Living Services Specialist
Patti Minter, Independent Living Services Specialist
Jim Baumgartner, Independent Living Services Admin Specialist
Lavenda Tu’i’onetoa, Relocation Assistant
Mandy Crenshaw & Sue Maxfield, Receptionists (Contract & Exp. Works)
According to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Grant, 51% of the Board of Directors are required to be
people with significant disabilities, and 51% of the staff are to be persons with disabilities.
ETCIL is a community based non-profit organization which accepts tax-deductible charitable donations.
This newsletter was developed through grant funding from U.S. Dept. of HHS ACL, Administration for Community Living, State of Texas HHS, and other financial
support which may include grants, foundations, collaborative agreements, fee for service programs, and other contributors. The contents do not necessarily
represent policies or endorsements of the Federal or State governments.