by Carl McMillan
The real value of Independent Living Centers can often be measured in smiles. Spirits are frequently lifted when extraordinary services are provided and at Panhandle ILC, we recently encountered several interesting, rewarding moments.
PILC’s Christina White helped Linda find a washer and dryer for her new apartment. As a little person, Linda could not use the large, standard appliances found in apartment complexes; she needed front-loading machines with accessible controls on the front. Christina searched for used appliances while networking with allied agencies, businesses and churches to locate and pay for the washer and dryer. Linda also helped by asking around for donations. A good washer was found for $285 and then, an anonymous donor paid $663 for a dryer. Linda expressed her gratitude in the following letter:
“I just wanted to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to
all of those involved in helping make the purchase of my new front loading washer and dryer. You don’t know how much independence this now gives me and how happy this makes me.
When I was growing up, doing my own laundry was just never something we thought would be possible. Thanks to everyone involved, it is not only a dream, but a reality! I couldn’t be more happy about this. May God bless each and every one of you. My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
We sometimes encounter exciting opportunities to assist people living in distant communities. Jim Wilson called from Walkerstown, North Carolina to see if PILC could help locate a power chair for his wife Kathy to use during her trip home to Amarillo to visit her parents. I learned that Jim was referred to us by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. It just so happened that we had a power chair available, and we could even deliver it to Kathy’s parents since they did not have an accessible vehicle.
Patsy Miller called from Montgomery, Alabama where another Center for Independent Living referred them to PILC in hopes of finding a video magnifier. Her 94-year-old Aunt Sarah who lives in Amarillo is losing her vision and can’t afford to buy the equipment she needs to read. PILC had an older model video magnifier which we could loan indefinitely. Patsy then called Aunt Sarah’s granddaughter in Amarillo who came to the Center to pick up the equipment. I learned that Aunt Sarah still lives by herself and being able to read is vital to her.
We are fortunate to provide services that few other agencies can offer; services that help keep people from failing in life. Whether we provide services to PILC consumers or folks calling from distant cities, we are blessed to have friends and allied agencies that help us to assist deserving people.
The key is part of PILC’s history dating back to 1953 when advocacy and independent living philosophies actually began in Amarillo. The Indoor Sports Club was led by a handful of people including charter members Jeannie McDonald and Maurine Seale who pioneered improvements to the quality of life for people with disabilities. Then in 1979, the Amarillo Disabled Individuals in Action was formed with Marshall Mitchell as president. I was privileged to serve as an ADIA board member in 1984 along with Dwain McMahan and Sharon Wilson who is still with our present Board of Directors. The ADIA was an aggressive group that advocated for handicap parking and ramps, elimination of architectural barriers, and the development of jobs, housing and transportation.
Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the key. Hang in there, it’s coming.
The goals of the ADIA continued when, in 1988, it founded Amarillo’s first independent living center, Panhandle Action Center for Independent Living Skills or “PACILS.” With funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, PACILS adopted the core services of Peer Counseling, Advocacy, Information and Referral and Independent Living Skills training. The service area covered the sprawling 26-county Panhandle region. In 1998, the Board of Directors changed the Center’s name to Panhandle Independent Living Center, about the same time this agency moved to its present location at 1118 South Taylor.
Okay, now about the key – and I didn’t make this up!
A half-century ago, folks who started the old Indoor Sports Club organized themselves to “open doors” for people with disabilities. When the ADIA came along, they adopted the slogan “Opening Doors to Disabilities” which was symbolized by a key. In 1988, the old brass key that still hangs in PILC’s activity room was presented to the ADIA and the fledgling PACILS by Amarillo Mayor ( ) as an official gift to the disability community. The ADIA’s slogan was then changed to our present slogan, “Your Key to Independence.”
Today, PILC is honored to host monthly meetings of the ADIA which continues its mission of advocacy and dedication to forging better lives for people with disabilities. The key is still a reminder of the many people who began this good work 55 years ago. And now, about those old bats…
