Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL)

06/19/2026

LVCIL was thrilled to be in attendance at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation press conference today to hear about the new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Wellness Center that will open here in the Lehigh Valley this fall, a benefit to the area for sure!

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation says it will open region’s 1st Autism and Neurodevelopmental Wellness Center

The new center will provide a variety of offerings to children, teens, adults and families.

06/19/2026

Today, LVCIL is closed in honor of Juneteenth!

Image description: Three stars on top of the words Juneteenth Freedom Day June 19 over streaks of red, yellow and green colors.

06/12/2026

Re: End of Fiscal Year Appeal

Dear Friends of LVCIL,

This past year, we got caught in a vicious circle and we need your help to break out of it!

Here’s how our funding is supposed to work. Like many nonprofits, LVCIL operates on a reimbursement model tied to the Pennsylvania state budget. We deliver programs and services to our consumers, then document those services which then gets billed to and paid through OVR by way of the PA Treasury, and they reimburse us for the cost afterward. Those reimbursements then go to fund our next round of services. When the state budget passes on time at the end of the fiscal year, June 30th, that circle of funding continues to flow.

This year, that circle became vicious: A 135-day budget impasse meant the budget wasn’t signed into law until November 12. With no budget for our core services, no reimbursements flowed. But our consumers’ needs didn’t pause, and we had already delivered the services we were asked to provide. With no incoming funds, we were forced to lay off 15 employees between the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County CILs. Fewer staff meant fewer billable hours; fewer billable hours meant less work we could document; and less documentation meant smaller reimbursements once the money finally arrived. A vicious cycle that has hindered and threatened our work.

Our recovery has been strong, but we are not yet at full capacity — and getting there will take creativity, persistence, and your support. We are working hard to change this reimbursement system and find new, more stable ways to fund the essential work we do for this community. We cannot, and will not, let this happen again. The work is too important to pause.

So right now, more than ever, your contributions are needed. While we are working every day to fix the systematic issues that put us in this position, your donations directly help us keep our doors open and our programs running. All while we build something more stable and dependable for the people who count on us.

To donate to LVCIL, please visit: https://lvcil.org/donate/

Thank you for your support!

Imagine Description: Circular graph showing the State budget impasse and the impact to LVCIL through the months.

06/12/2026

Thank you to front desk Volunteer Colin! Usually here on a Friday… Colin was a huge help getting the end of fiscal year mailing together! We appreciate all you do!

Image description:
Two photos of Colin at LVCIL’s front desk, stuffing envelopes with donation letters.

06/11/2026

Happy Birthday LVCIL! 36 years today!

Image Description: The number 36 over a swish over the word Years.

06/09/2026

If you or someone you know is 62 years or older and / or has a disability and looking for housing, please be aware of the following:

The Allentown Housing Authority has opened up a waiting list for housing – available through June 22, 2026 at 9:00AM to July 6, 2026 at 11:59PM. (Two weeks)

If you need assistance filling out the Application, there are locations and times where a member of the Allentown Housing Authority can help you. Please note that you will need to know the amount of income and resources (such as employment, SSI/SSD, pension, etc.), as well as the make/ model/ and related details related to your car, as part of the application. So bring all information with you to an appointment if you areplanning to receive assistance in filing out an applications.

Please visit www.allentownhousing.org, and read the attached flyer for more information.

Thank you.

06/09/2026

An assistive tech tip from LVCIL’s AT and Accessibility Team:

Digital Accessibility refers to a user’s ability to gain information from technology such as emails, websites, and social media. A portion of your intended audience may not be able to access important information from these digital platforms.

The linked guide from The Perkins School for the Blind highlights the importance of alt-text and image description.

TechOWL offers support and trainings on Digital Accessibility or Accessible Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). For more information on how LVCIL can help, please contact the Accessibility and Assistive Technology Team at [email protected] or 610-770-9781 x123.

This information is brought to by LVCIL, the TechOWL Assistive Technology Resource Center serving Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, Schuylkill, Berks, and Luzerne counties.

How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the visually impaired – Perkins School for the Blind: click on the link in this post!

The ultimate guide on how to write alt text and image descriptions for the visually impaired, written by someone with low vision who uses alt text

05/26/2026

Honored to be part of this!

Disability P⏻wer on the Hill may have ended but we wanted to look back on the impact it had. Seventy-Five advocates from 17 states held meetings with 72 different Congressional offices over the course of two days. That is the power of the disability community. We asked several of the advocates there to talk about their experiences, and this is what they had to say. https://www.aapd.com/disability-power-on-the-hill-2026-voices-advocacy-and-community-in-action/

ID: A diverse group of people with disabilities in front of the US Capitol with the words "2026 Disability Power on the Hill Recap" below.

05/26/2026

Vendors Wanted

Fishing and Fun in the Park - September 26th, 2026

Each year Fishing and Fun in the Park offers a day where the community of Allentown and beyond can come out to learn about nature, health, and of course the art of fishing. With everything needed provided by the event, from poles and bait, to experienced anglers, both long time fishermen and those who have never cast a line before are welcome.

Co-hosted by the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living and the Allentown Park & Rec. Department, groups and organizations from all over the Lehigh Valley gather to share their services and resources, and to have fun with games and activities. With special focus put on accessibility for people of all ages and abilities, we ensure all kinds of people can come together to enjoy the event.

This year marks our 10th anniversary of this unique event – and we are hoping to make it bigger and better then ever. With each year’s attendance growing, we hope to blow more than fish out of the water with this year’s guests. With a helicopter landing, boxing demos, an old-timey baseball game, and much more, things are already gearing up for something special: but we need your help too.

As much fun as we like to have, its important that this event doubles as a resource fair – sharing important services and opportunities for those who may need them. We would love to have you join us for this. All tables and booths are set up along the path in the Parkway, and we encourage everyone to bring some kind of activity that our young attendance can take part in: Coloring, bubbles, crafts – you name it.

If you would like to sign up to be a vendor, please fill out your information in the link provided.

Please feel free to share this with anyone you think maybe interested.

Thank you and Fish On!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TVK789R

Image description: Fishing and Fun in the Park Flyer
September 26th 10am to 4pm
Lehigh Parkway
Images of fish swimming , bobbers, and bubbles.

05/23/2026

LVCIL will be closed on Monday 5/25/26 in observance of Memorial Day.

Image description:
Blue, white, and red color streaks with Happy Memorial Day and stars within the streaks. Words, “Remember and Honor” at the bottom.