Resource Center for Independent Living

04/24/2026

What could be better than community connection AND dessert? We can't wait for the event, Greater Utica Chamber!

We all need a sweet treat 🍨🧁

Special thank you to Resource Center for Independent Living for being our Dessert Sponsor!

04/22/2026

Mark your calendar for squeaky-clean laundry day with LIFE at RCIL! Join us April 22, 2026 at Keep Making Suds Laundry at 23 Albany St., Little Falls, NY from 10am-2pm.
Our helpful team will be on site to provide laundry skills and support lessons.
BYOL: Bring Your Own Laundry… and we bring everything else! That’s right. LIFE at RCIL will supply detergent, dryer sheets, laundry bags, hangers, and payment for laundering services.
This program is open to ALL people with disabilities living in the community. Any self-disclosed disability makes you eligible for this fun, fresh, and FREE program. Can’t join us this round? Keep an eye out for us in the Herkimer community! We’ll be bringing this program to a laundromat near you soon! Questions? Reach LIFE at RCIL at 315-866-7245. See you there!

04/21/2026

Let’s hear it for the NYS State Long-term Ombudsman Volunteers with LIFE at RCIL! This week (April 19-26, 2026), we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week. LIFE at RCIL is so grateful for the team of rockstar NYS Long-term Care Ombudsman Volunteers. These NYS-certified individuals serve a vital role advocating for people residing in assisted living and long-term care facilities. NYS Long-term Care Ombudsman Volunteers are here to ensure that this vulnerable population is treated with dignity, respect, and care. Please join LIFE at RCIL this week (and every week) in saying “thank you” to these incredible volunteers!

04/15/2026

Catch LIFE at RCIL at the Out of the Darkness Walk hosted by Utica University on Saturday, April 18 starting at 12:00pm. Our team will be onsite to provide information about services and supports LIFE at RCIL offers to those struggling with mental health or other disabilities. We hope to see you there! LIFE at RCIL's participation in this event is a result of our involvement in the Oneida County Su***de Prevention Coalition.
Find more details about the event here: https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/utica.

04/10/2026

Action Alert! In collabaroation with the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL), RCIL urges Governor Hochul and the Legislature to fully fund the state’s network of 41 Independent Living Centers (ILCs) at $25 million in the FY2027 Budget. This investment can be achieved by reallocating just a small portion of the $2.5 billion in state funding resulting from the federal government’s approval for New York State to transition the Essential Plan—preserving health coverage for millions of New Yorkers while freeing up significant state dollars set aside for this purpose. Make your voice heard today! Visit
https://ilny.us/advocacy/action-alerts to reach your elected officials and advocate for ILC Funding. Together, we can make a difference.

NYAIL strengthens local independent living centers, serves as the foundation for a strong statewide network, and is a leader in the civil rights movement for al

04/09/2026

On April 8, 2026, Andrea Serach and Cassie Turnbach from LIFE at RCIL attended Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) as part of the Career Transition Program/Pre-ETS workshop’s final event of the year. This marked RCIL’s third year being invited to participate. The event was held in the upper lobby of Wilcox Hall, where students had the opportunity to visit agency tables, connect with providers, and learn more about community resources and employment opportunities available to support their future goals. Thank you to MVCC for hosting such a valuable event for the community and inviting RCIL to take part!

04/09/2026

RCIL Human Resource Generalist Marlene Muniz (Left) and Human Resources Coordinator Lillian May (Right) answer questions about opportunities available at RCIL at the Job and Career Fair at Herkimer County Community College. Herkimer County Community College

04/09/2026

RCIL's own, Jennifer Zywiak, was intreviewed in the April 2026 issue of In Good Health: Mohawk Valley's Heathcare Newsletter! Read all about Jen's story and her work with RCIL here:

https://www.mvhealthnews.com/she-was-born-with-cerebral-palsy-that-hasnt-prevented-her-from-having-a-full-life/.

Way to go, Jen! We are so proud to have you on the team at RCIL.

04/08/2026

Support RCIL Through the Hannaford Community Bag Program!
RCIL is excited to share that the Hannaford Community Bag Program makes it easy for shoppers to support local nonprofits—just by picking up a reusable shopping bag during their next grocery trip.
When you purchase a $2.50 Hannaford Community Bag at the 1122 Mohawk St., Hannaford in Utica, $1 is donated to a RCIL for the month of April. This program helps strengthen communities while reducing single‑use plastic waste.

04/07/2026

Proctor High School senior Ny’Ashia Linen just brought home two State championships for Utica.

04/07/2026

Access to Home: Because your home should fit your needs!
Are you someone with a disability or a senior struggling with home safety?
Are you currently living in a long-term facility due to an inaccessible home? Access to Home is here to help you stay or return to your home. We'll provide modifications or repairs that make your home accessible, livable, and safe for you.
Learn what it means to have Access to Home:
• Ramps, lifts, handrails, stair glides
• Wider doorways
• Non-skid flooring
• Easy-to-reach storage spaces
• Accessible smoke alarms
• First-floor bathroom relocations
• Additional lighting
• Back-up generators
• Roll-in showers and hand-held showers
• Seated bathtubs
• And MORE!
LIFE at RCIL will help you navigate every step of the Access to Home Program, from eligibility, to application, to modification work. Connect with us ataccesstohome@rcil.com or 315-797-4642 to see if you’re eligible. Return, stay, and feel comfortable at home with LIFE at RCIL.
Special programs available to support veterans, emergency modifications for seniors (ages 60+), and Medicaid recipients.
Because home is where the heart is… but only if you can access it!
Access to Home is made possible through the NYS Homes and Community Renewal Grant.