Peers Like Me

30/07/2025

ARE YOU A REFUGEE OR IMMIGRANT WITH AN ACQUIRED DISABILITY?

Our Heart Speaks (OHS) is collecting powerful personal stories that highlight the strength, courage, and humanity of individuals living with visible or invisible disabilities, including refugees and immigrants navigating displacement, healing and their medical course. If you have found meaning and purpose despite the real challenges you may have faced with health and rehabilitation, discrimination or rebuilding your life, we believe that your journey deserves to be heard – with dignity and respect.

29/07/2025

‼️ Friendly Reminder

Our ADA Anniversary Webinar Panel is happening Tuesday, July 29 – and you’re invited!

Join us for an inspiring hour of conversation, reflection, and action as we honor the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the work still ahead.

Date: Tuesday, July 29
Time: 1:00–2:00 PM
Location: Online – ASL & captioning provided

Already shared this? Great! Just hit repost and tag a friend or colleague who should be there too

Register via the website Training & Education page or click here:
https://lnkd.in/eCBy2wQU

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26/07/2025

🎉 Disability Pride Festival – Buffalo, NY 🎉
🗓️ Saturday, July 26, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Buffalo RiverWorks | 359 Ganson St, Buffalo, NY
💵 FREE Event – All Are Welcome!

Join us for Buffalo’s largest celebration of disability pride, inclusion, and community empowerment — a day full of energy, creativity, connection, and fun!

✨ Festival Highlights:
✔️ 60+ Resource Tables – Local organizations, services, and advocates

🚶 Unity Walk – Walk together in solidarity and celebration

🎪 Children’s Tent featuring:
🎈 Balloon Artist
🎨 Airbrush Tattoos
🦸 Superhero Visits

🎨 AKG Art Truck – Hands-on creative activities from the Buffalo AKG Art Museum

🎤 Live Performances All Day

🎙️ Speaker Series Tent – Hear from disability leaders, advocates, and storytellers

🍽️ Food Available On-Site – Come hungry! Enjoy local vendors and festival eats

🛍️ Merch, giveaways, and interactive activities

09/07/2025

🚨 Only 3 Days Left to Become a Sponsor!

Support visibility and empowerment for the disability community. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference!

👉 Learn more or sign up:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1155287127899?aff=oddtdtcreator

🌟 Disability Pride Festival 2025 🌟
📍 Buffalo RiverWorks
📅 Saturday, July 26 | 11AM – 3PM

Celebrate inclusion, pride, and community with live entertainment, vendors, resources & more! ♿🌈✨

03/07/2025

Stephanie Orlando took over as CEO of Western New York Independent Living Tuesday, succeeding longtime leader Doug Usiak. She discusses future goals and challenges ahead.

19/06/2025

Today on Juneteenth, the day we celebrate the end of slavery, the day we memorialize those who offered us hope for the future and the day when we renew our commitment to the struggle for freedom.

In honor of Juneteenth, all WNY Independent Living offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is a time for reflection, education, and celebration of freedom.
We stand in solidarity with the Black community and honor the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice for all.

We will reopen with regular hours on Thursday, June 20th.

04/06/2025

📣 Buffalo Mayoral Democratic Primary – Meet the Candidates Day!

🗓️ Thursday, June 12, 2025
🕑 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
📍 WNY Independent Living, 3108 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
💻 Also streaming LIVE on Zoom, Facebook & YouTube
📲 Facebook: facebook.com/WNYIL
📺 YouTube: youtube.com/user/WNYIL

✅ Registration required for in-person & Zoom participation.
☎️ Call Christine Hulton at 716-836-0822 ext. 146 to register or ask questions.

👥 Co-sponsored by: VOICE Buffalo & Fruit of the City
🗳️ Come hear directly from the Democratic candidates running for Mayor of Buffalo!

✨ Don’t miss this opportunity to get informed and get involved — virtually or in-person!

11/04/2025

Need Help Transitioning Your CDPAP Services? We're Here for You!
WNY Independent Living is an official CDPAP Facilitator, ready to guide you through every step of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) transition process.

📧 Email us: wnyil-cdpap@wnyil.org
📞 Call us: 800-348-8399

Whether you're switching plans or starting fresh, we’ll make the process smooth and stress-free. Let us help you take control of your care!

03/04/2025

04/03/2025

24/02/2025

📢🚨Action Alert: Protect Medicaid

The federal budget proposal is threatening significant cuts to Medicaid, which is essential for disabled individuals to live independently in their communities. Proposed changes include slashing funding, imposing work requirements, and limiting services like personal care and home and community-based services (HCBS). These changes could force many people with disabilities into institutions. To protect Medicaid and independent living, it’s crucial to contact members of Congress and urge them to oppose these cuts and requirements.

Tell Congress: Protect Medicaid and reject these harmful cuts.
Thank you for your advocacy and commitment to safeguarding community-based services for people with disabilities.

https://www.ancor.org/actions/preserve-i-dd-services-tell-congress-protect-medicaid/

08/12/2023

MENTAL HEALTH PEER CONNECTION’S ADDICT 2 ADDICT/FAMILY 2 FAMILY IS OFFERING A WELCOMING PLACE FOR ADDICTS’ LOVED ONES TO MEET MONTHLY

Knowing that addicts often have a smoother path to recovery if those they care about are prepared to give them support, Mental Health PEER Connection (MHPC)’s Addict 2 Addict/Family 2 Family (A2A/F2F) is beginning an ongoing series of monthly forums under the title “Reuniting Families in Safe Spaces”.

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:
• Do you have a family member in Erie or Niagara County who wants to recover from addiction?
• Do you find that you are too busy focusing on your loved one’s addiction, so you neglect your own needs?
• Is this all taking a toll on your wellbeing?
• Do you wish you had a safe space to share all of this?
• Do you need a healthy support system for yourself?
• Would it help if you knew that you are not alone?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, we welcome you to the A2A/F2F Monthly Family Forums, so you don’t have to do it alone – we got you!!

We would love to hear from you! To take place at the Hope Center, 781 Maple Road, Amherst, NY 14221, the next few gatherings are scheduled for:
• Friday December 15th, at 2 PM.
• Friday, January 19th at 6 PM.
• Tuesday, February 20th at 2 PM.
• Friday, March 15th at 6 PM.
• Thursday April 18th at 2 PM.
• Friday May 17th at 2 PM, and
• Friday June 14th at 6 PM.
There is no charge and no RSVP needed.

For any other questions you might have, in Erie County call (716) 836-2726, and in Niagara County, (716) 398-4333