NICIL

10/01/2025

The Social Security Administration wants the public to know that during the federal government shutdown, payments to all people who currently receive Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will continue with no change in payment dates. Recipients will still receive their payments on time.

Below is additional information about how Social Security services will be affected at this time:

During the federal government shutdown, payments to current Social Security beneficiaries and SSI recipients will continue. Our local offices will remain open to the public for some in-person services. Learn more about what you can do here: www.ssa.gov/agency/shutdown. To conveniently manage your benefits online, create a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.

09/30/2025

Are you looking for a new rewarding career? NICIL offers FREE orientation classes a month for those who are looking for a career helping people live independently in their own homes.

Below is our training schedule for October!

Personal Assistants play an important role in the lives of people with disabilities. NICIL trains Personal Assistants and supports them through the process of setting their hours and finding clients that suit them.
Currently, Personal Assistants are paid $18.75 per hour through DRS.
Call us at 815-625-7860 or email us at frontdesk@nicil.org for more information!

***Individual classes offered by appointment. Call to schedule!

09/29/2025

NICIL is a community resource for individuals with disabilities. Our services help people stay living as independently as they can within the community. We serve the counties of Lee, Carroll, Ogle, Jo Daviess, and Whiteside.
All of our core services are free for people with disabilities. We can help with paperwork for public benefits such as SSDI and Medicare. We teach you to advocate for you or your loved ones’ needs. We can work with schools, employers, healthcare providers, and rental properties to create accessible solutions. We provide skills training, whether it’s how to create a resume, how to cook and clean, or how to use accessible technology. We can even help people with disabilities learn new hobbies!

Our team is dedicated and creative! Give us a call today at 815-625-7860 to find out how we can help people with disabilities in our communities.

09/16/2025

Tri-County Opportunities Council is now scheduling LIHEAP energy assistance appointments. Call today to schedule your appointment!

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help income eligible households pay for the rising cost of winter energy services.

09/09/2025

📣 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤! 🌟

Join us 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎 as we come together to celebrate inclusion, accessibility, and the power of advocacy. 🙌✨
🗓️ Choose your date:
✅ Monday, Sept 8 | 5:00 PM: https://qr.link/371ZRI
✅ Wednesday, Sept 10 | 10:00 AM: https://qr.link/XrKF4o

Join a 𝐑𝐄𝐕 𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬 meeting hosted by 𝐓𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲! 🗳️✨ Featuring 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 presentation by 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝, interviewed by Jennifer Sands.

09/03/2025

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments.
To keep receiving your benefits, you must switch to direct deposit or a Direct Express® card before that date.
If you don’t take action by 9/30/25, your benefit payments will be disrupted.

If you need assistance in setting up your direct deposit, or enrolling in a Direct Express® card, please contact us at 815-625-7860 for assistance.

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments.

To keep receiving your benefits, you must switch to direct deposit or a Direct Express® card before that date.

If you don’t take action by 9/30/25, your benefit payments will be disrupted.

Learn more and set up your electronic payment option here: https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-to-fully-transition-to-electronic-payments/

Please share this update widely so no one misses their benefits!

09/03/2025

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. Learn the warning signs, ⚠️normalize help-seeking, and let people know there are proven treatments that work. Check out SAMHSA’s ***dePreventionMonth toolkit ➡️ samhsa.gov/suicide-prevention-month

08/26/2025

Below is our FREE Personal Assistant training schedule for the month of September.

Thursday September 4th from 9am – 12pm at NICIL in Sterling
Wednesday September 10th from 1pm – 4pm via ZOOM (virtual training)
Tuesday September 16th from 1pm - 4pm at NICIL in Sterling

Currently Personal Assistant's earn $18.75 per hour through DRS.
Call us at 815-625-7860 or email us at frontdesk@nicil.org to sign up or for more information!
***Individual classes offered by appointment. Call to schedule!

08/25/2025

Check out this great parent education webinar hosted by our friends at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities!

Is your child facing challenges in school? Join this informative webinar to navigate the crucial first steps toward securing the support your child needs. Delve into the significance of evaluations, discovering when and how to initiate the process. Understand your vital role as a parent/guardian throughout the evaluation journey. Uncover your child's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and gain insights into Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). This session provides a roadmap for parents seeking an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Empower yourself with knowledge to ensure your child's educational needs are met.

Don't miss this opportunity – it's time to make a positive impact on your child's academic journey.

Email from Lunch and Learn: Evaluation: What Parents Should Know to Get Started, Happening Wednesday, August 27 @ Noon  Family Resource Center on Disabilities Lunch and Learn Evaluation: What Paren

07/29/2025

Disability Pride Month is more than a celebration, it's a reminder that inclusion is an ongoing effort and takes all of us.

As July comes to an end, remember that disability inclusion should not be limited to one week or one month, it should be supported every day. Together, we can create more opportunity, accessibility, and pride across Iowa. Let’s keep moving forward.

07/22/2025

Dangerous heat expected Tuesday through Thursday.
Learn more about the risks of heat related illness and how to protect yourself at www.weather.gov/safety/heat and www.weather.gov/safety/heat-during

Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the US and while all individuals are at risk of heat related illness and death, some groups are more vulnerable than others including:
• Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than are adults.
• Older adults, particularly those who have pre-existing diseases, take certain medications, are living alone or have limited mobility who are exposed to extreme heat can experience multiple adverse effects.
• People with chronic medical conditions are more likely to have a serious health problem during a heat wave than healthy people.
• Pregnant women are also at higher risk. Extreme heat events have been associated with adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality, as well as congenital cataracts.

07/14/2025