Who We Are

About Us

LVCIL is a non-profit organization based in Allentown, PA that provides services and support to people with all types of disabilities.

At LVCIL, we believe that every individual has the right to live a healthy, happy, and productive life in a community that is free from all barriers. We can help you achieve or maintain your independence through many of our supportive services and programs.

The Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves people with disabilities, and their family members, living in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. 

Mission of LVCIL:

The Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) empowers persons with all types of disabilities to achieve independence in an inclusive community.

Vision of LVCIL:

The Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) envisions a world free of barriers where people with all types of disabilities can live their dreams.

Core Services

Our four core services: Information and Referral, Peer Support, Advocacy, and Independent Living Skills can help you achieve or maintain your independence. In addition, we also provide specialized services, such as specialized housing search and support, services for Veterans, 24-hour sign language services, youth transition services, job coaching, supports coordination under several waiver programs, community education, and more.

Tom’s First Day

LVCIL’s SCB team worked with “What’s This Media?!” to film a series of videos that create awareness around the 8 PASILC Disability Agenda topics, including housing, home and community based services, assistive technology and durable medical equipment, voting, emergency preparedness, medical and dental coverage, and transportation.

History of CILs

The founding of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL), and Centers for Independent Living throughout the nation, is linked to the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. During this time, many individuals with disabilities were institutionalized and not afforded the same opportunities as their counterparts without disabilities. Recognizing this injustice, individuals with all types of disabilities throughout the nation banded together to form cross-disability advocacy groups. These groups staged protests and held rallies arguing for increased accessibility and fair treatment of people with disabilities. This movement later became known as the Independent Living Movement.

The success of the Independent Living Movement, helped to push forward important legislation including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. These efforts also helped to found the first Center for Independent Living in Berkley, California in 1972. From that point forward, Centers for Independent Living were founded in states across the nation. Currently, there are more than 400 Centers serving millions of Americans with disabilities each and every day.

Ed Roberts, founder of the Center for Independent Living in Berkley.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990 and gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.
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Staff Directory

Administration

Amy Beck, Executive Director
amybeck@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 114

Lisa Marie McCauley, Director of Finance
lisamariemccauley@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 113

Jessica DeMaio, Administrative Services Coordinator
jessicademaio@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 139

Chris Gonella, Fiscal Assistant
chrisgonella@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 132

Amy Cincera, Financial Coordinator
amycincera@lvcil.org
610-770-9781

Adaptations

Seth Hoderewski, Director of Transition Services
sethhoderewski@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 119

Amanda Thomas, Adaptations Program Manager
amandathomas@lvcil.org, 484-656-1901

ADA Training & Accessibility Programs

610-770-9781  ext. 123

Assistive Technology Program

Fatima Nabavian, Coordinator of Accessibility and Technology Related Programs
fatimanabavian@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 123

Core/Housing Services & Community Outreach

Seth Hoderewski, Director of Transition Services
sethhoderewski@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 119

Debbie Rozear, Supervisor of Core & Housing Services
debbierozear@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 124

Jessica DeMaio, Administrative Services Coordinator/Core Services
jessicademaio@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 139

Sign Language Interpreter Referral Service (SLIRS)

Jodi Jones, SLIRS Program Assistant
jodijones@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 116

Karen Minnich, Fiscal Assistant
karenminnich@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 112

Waiver Supports Coordination (Adult Autism Waiver & OLTL HCBS Waivers)

Rebecca Kile, Waiver Program Manager and Assistive Technology Program Manager
rebeccakile@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 121

Heather Hilliker, Supervisor of Waiver Supports Coordination
heatherhilliker@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 126

Transition & Employment Services

Kayla Ramirez, Transition & Employment Supervisor

kaylaramirez@lvcil.org

610-770-9781 ext. 177

Career Path

Joe Michener, Director of Employment Services
joemichener@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 131

Aaron Heydt, Employment Program Manager
aaronheydt@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 122

Carly Beck, Career Path Coordinator
carlybeck@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 125

LIFE

Laurie Newman-Mankos, Transition Program Manager
laurienewman-mankos@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 122

Pre-Employment Transition Services

Seth Hoderewski, Director of Transition Services
sethhoderewski@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 119

Laurie Newman-Mankos, Transition Program Manager
laurienewmanmankos@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 122

Santiago Delgado, Transition & Employment Coordinator
santiagodelgado@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 156

S2L & RWLV

Seth Hoderewski, Director of Transition Services
sethhoderewski@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 119

Laurie Newman-Mankos, Transition Program Manager
laurienewmanmankos@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 122

April Cox, S2L Coordinator aprilcox@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 185

SEED

Aaron Heydt, Employment Program Manager
aaronheydt@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 149

Vocational and Independence Program (VIP)

Laurie Newman-Mankos, Transition Program Manager
laurienewmanmankos@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 122

Santiago Delgado, Transition & Employment Coordinator
santiagodelgado@lvcil.org, 610-770-9781 ext. 156

"Independent living is a state of mind. It has to do with exercising options, making choices, self-determination, and the right to control your own life."

-Westside Center for Independent Living, Los Angeles, California

Board of Directors

 

Board Officers:

Dr. Jeffrey Drobil,  President – LVHN

Deborah Einhorn, Secretary- Systems Analyst, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

Michelle L. Mitchell, Board Treasurer-M.Ed., CRC, Lehigh Carbon Community College

Anthony Swartz, Vice President- Retired, Lehigh County

 

Board Directors:

Amy C. Beck, LSW- Executive Director, LVCIL

Dr. Domenico Cavaiuolo- Professor, East Stroudsburg University

Jacqui Moore, CFE- Internal Audit Manager, City of Allentown

LeeAnne Fura- Speech-Language Pathologist, Carol Walck & Associates

Maia Geiger- Social Worker, Colonial Intermediate Unit 20

Nancy Serulneck- Retired, Bangor Area School District

Sean Nickerson- Community Consumer Representative

Winona Schappell, M.Ed., HSP-BC- Retired, Lehigh Carbon Community College

Owen O’Neil, LANtA

Liz Powers, MSW, Retired Social Worker

Robin Gow, MFA, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Center

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