irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $186KPurchased services and other programs including Medicaid Waiver Service Coordination for nursing home transition and the traumatic brain injury.
- #2 $181KAssistive Competitive Employment Services (A.C.E.S) - Competitive employment for mental health diagnoses
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy Services
Provides individual and systemic advocacy to secure rights and access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, working with government, employers, and educators at local, state, and national levels.
Assistive Competitive Employment Services (A.C.E.S)
Supports residents of Schoharie County with mental health diagnoses in entering or re-entering the workforce through vocational assessment, job placement, and ongoing support.
Benefits Access Assistance
Helps individuals with disabilities access public benefits, services, and programs, serving as a liaison between clients and agencies.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 3 activities
- Advancing accessibility in businesses and public spacesAssists businesses, municipalities, and agencies in removing physical and programmatic barriers to accessibility. Provided services to 129 businesses and investigates complaints about inaccessible buildings in coordination with affected individuals.
- Advocating for disability rights and policy changeEngages in individual and systemic advocacy to advance disability rights, including efforts grounded in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Advocates for changes in laws, policies, and regulations with government, employers, educators, and other stakeholders, serving as a local voice for the disability rights movement across New York State.
- Developing and operating disability-led programsOperated the Physically Disabled Students’ Program with a majority-disabled staff, including leadership roles held by people with disabilities, demonstrating strong program outcomes such as near-zero dropout rates and reduced medical issues.
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Vision Rehabilitation Services 1 activity
- Expanding attendant and reader referral servicesExpanded attendant referral services to include reader services for blind individuals, enhancing independence and access to information.
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Brain Injury Support & Rehabilitation 1 activity
- Facilitating community integration and nursing home transitionSupports individuals with traumatic brain injury and other disabilities in transitioning from nursing homes to community-based living. Successfully transitioned 6 individuals back to their communities and diverted 26 others from entering institutional care.
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Inclusive Playground Development 1 activity
- Installing accessible community infrastructureCollaborated with community partners to install an accessible playground in the Village of Unadilla, improving physical access for children and families with disabilities.
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Durable Medical Equipment Loan Programs 1 activity
- Loaning and redistributing durable medical equipmentProvides free loans of wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, shower benches, and other durable medical equipment to community members in need. Accepts and redistributes donated clean, functional equipment from the public.
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Professional Ethics & Dispute Resolution 1 activity
- Operating a formal consumer grievance processProvides a structured grievance process for consumers to address concerns about services, beginning with direct consultation and escalating through supervisor meetings, a Board-based Grievance Committee, and final appeal to the Board or subcommittee. Unresolved cases may be referred to ACCES for conflict resolution support.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Producing educational and informational contentProduces the 'Empower Hour with Don Wyckoff' podcast series to share information, resources, and stories relevant to individuals with disabilities and their families.
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Intake and Referral Coordination 1 activity
- Providing direct services and support to individuals with disabilitiesOffers referrals, connections, programs, and services to support individuals with disabilities in accessing benefits, healthcare, and community resources. Served over 1,200 people with disabilities and their families annually, including assistance with health insurance enrollment for 545 individuals during open enrollment.
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Supporting accessible voting and civic participationProvides a mechanism for individuals with disabilities to report voter discrimination during elections, supporting civic rights and participation.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Supporting competitive employment for individuals with mental health diagnosesDelivers Assistive Competitive Employment Services (A.C.E.S) in Schoharie County, providing vocational assessment, job placement, career counseling, and ongoing support. 51% of enrolled participants gained employment, and over 25 individuals obtained competitive employment through the program.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.12M
Contributions & grants$908K81%
Program service revenue$211K19%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.02M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$701K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.26M
Cash$939K
Investments$0
Liabilities$141K
Net assets$1.11M
Liquid reserves11.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +23.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meghan Staring | Executive Direc | 40 | $108K |
board members · 6
- Don Gersch — Director
- Lisa Fisher — Director
- Lyle Smith — Treasurer
- Nancy Morton — Secretary
- Tom Bridley — President
- Tom Quiter — Director
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- ACCES Partner — Referred to for conflict resolution assistance when internal grievance processes are not satisfactory to the consumer.
- Chenango County Government — Service area county where the organization provides disability advocacy services.
- City of Berkeley Government — Provided $15,000 in funding to cover one year of overhead costs for the Center for Independent Living.
- Delaware County Government — Service area county where the organization provides disability advocacy services.
- Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration Government — Awarded a one-year $50,000 planning grant to support research and development of a community-based services program.
- NCIL Network — Member of the ADA/Civil Rights Subcommittee of NCIL, participating in the Voting Rights Working Group.
- New York Association of Independent Living Network — Member of NYAIL, collaborating with other Centers on Independent Living to advocate for policy change and connect with lawmakers at the state level.
- New York Association on Independent Living Network — Member of the statewide network of Independent Living Centers through affiliation with NYAIL.
- New York State Education Department Government — Directs users to the NYS Education Department website for more information about Independent Living Centers.
- New York State Independent Living Council Network — Member of NYSILC, working collectively with other Centers on Independent Living to influence state-level disability policy and systems change.
- New York State Independent Living Council Network — Part of the broader Independent Living Movement in New York State, which includes the NYSILC.
- Otsego County Government — Service area county where the organization provides disability advocacy services.
- Rotary Club Funder — Donated $250 to support early organizational efforts of the Center for Independent Living.
- Schoharie County Government — Service area county where the organization provides disability advocacy services.
- The Theresa Wiedeck Fund Partner — Collaborated on the installation of an accessible playground
- University of California, Berkeley Partner — Hosted the Cowell Residence Program and supported the development of the Physically Disabled Students’ Program on campus.
- Village of Unadilla Partner — Collaborated on the installation of an accessible playground
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Competitive Employment as Pathway to Independencemethodology: employment-for-independenceBy promoting integrated, competitive employment in the community, the organization fosters social inclusion and reduces reliance on service systems because meaningful work provides economic self-sufficiency and societal belonging.
- Consumer-Controlled Governance Modelmethodology: consumer_controlBy ensuring people with disabilities hold majority board representation and lead service design, the organization produces more responsive, authentic advocacy and services because lived experience directly shapes priorities and decision-making.
- Cross-Disability Coalition Advocacymethodology: cross-disability-coalition-buildingBy building coalitions across disability communities—particularly between orthopedically disabled and blind individuals—the organization strengthens collective power and innovation in advocacy and services because diverse perspectives amplify impact and reduce fragmentation.
- Independent Living Through Barrier Removalmethodology: independent_livingBy eliminating physical, programmatic, and attitudinal barriers and supporting transitions from institutional settings, the organization enables community-based independence because systemic obstacles—not individual limitations—are addressed as the primary barriers to living freely.
- Peer-Driven Empowerment Modelmethodology: peer_supportBy using peer support, peer-led education (including media), and self-help practices, the organization increases personal growth and engagement because individuals with disabilities are more likely to adopt strategies modeled by those with shared lived experience.