SIL PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Peer Support program

SIL’s Peer Support program is a core service program of Services for Independent Living (SIL). Peer Support provides emotional support and encouragement to consumers with disabilities.  The target audience for Peer Support is people with all disabilities who desire to become more independent.

SIL’s Peer Support Program has three (3) program goals which are as follows:

1. 1. In both group and individual settings, Peer Support strives to empower consumers with disabilities to lead self-directed and inclusive lives in the setting they choose.
   2. Peer Support enables consumers with disabilities to develop goals and achieve them.
   3. Peer Support provides opportunities for consumers with disabilities to become mentors and volunteer Peer Consultants.

ABILITIES-R-US DISCUSSION GROUP

SIL’s Peer Support program also offers a monthly support discussion group called “Abilities-R-Us” with topics planned around resourceful information related to people with disabilities.  SIL sends out monthly flyers announcing upcoming meetings to current and previous consumers as well as professionals to share with their consumer and community agencies who serve people with disabilities.  Each meeting has a theme or topic and when appropriate, a speaker is invited to present on that topic.  Suggestions for topics are provided by participants for future meetings.

S.P.I.C.E. COOKING CLUB 
(Safety Practice Independent Cooking Enhancement)

This Fall, SIL introduced the S.P.I.C.E. Cooking Club, a virtual cooking club, which provides individuals with disabilities with live hands-on cooking sessions with SIL staff IL Specialist Trina Roddy right in the comfort of your own kitchen!  These fun hands-on virtual cooking classes teach basic cooking skills, kitchen safety, food borne illness prevention, healthy recipes and how to use adaptive kitchen supplies.  Sessions will also include vegan plant-based food and recipes.

A SIL Staff will deliver a recipe box to your door the day before by 5:00 PM.  Each recipe box comes with easy step by step instructions and healthy recipes with fresh pre-packaged ingredients at no cost to you!

S.P.I.C.E. cooking club sessions are held every two weeks on the Zoom platform; the last session for 2020 will be held on November 11, 2020 at 12:00 pm.  All participants must pre-register by completing an intake and a questionnaire to ensure safety regarding food allergies intolerances.