Minority Outreach & Integration Program

The Minority Outreach & Integration Program works to ensure that minorities with disabilities have access to the resources available to people with disabilities and equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of community life. This program seeks to build lasting bridges to the African American and Hispanic communities in Westchester by reaching out to African American and Hispanic persons with disabilities throughout Westchester and creating mechanisms to address their unique needs on a permanent basis.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

The Minority Outreach & Integration Program serves African American/Black and Latino/Hispanic individuals and their families in both WILC's offices and in host service sites within the community. Direct services, which are provided in a culturally appropriate manner, include:

• Peer Counseling
• Independent Living Skills
• Benefits Advisement
• Advocacy
• Information and Referral to medical, social, and rehabilitation resources

Background

Although Westchester County has the reputation of being an affluent, white suburb, it is in fact a very large and complex area. It contains 6 cities, four of which, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and White Plains, are among the state's largest. According to the 1990 Census, in the ten years between the 1980 Census and the 1990 Census, the African American population in Westchester increased 14.7% and the Hispanic Population increased 89.2%. Most of the minority population of Westchester is located in the County's southern and central cities, with Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and White Plains having the largest numbers.

Research shows that minority communities, in spite of having higher rates of disabilities, do not benefit equally from the existing disability service delivery system, often, because of language barriers, distrust of institutions and agencies, and beliefs that families must care for people with disabilities. Also, agencies often fail to reach and adequately serve minorities due to a lack of cultural sensitivity in both approach and programming, and a lack of minority professional staff and presence in minority communities.

WILC's Mission

The mission of the Westchester Independent Living Center is to enhance the quality of life for all persons with disabilities, based on the belief that persons with disabilities have the same basic human rights as persons without disabilities to participate in and contribute to life in their communities. WILC respects each person's understanding of what independence is for them. And, WILC consistently takes steps to insure its continued responsiveness to minorities with disabilities.

For More Information: (914) 682-3926 (Voice), (914) 682-0926 (TDD), (914) 682-8518 (FAX), or E-mail at: info@wilc.org.