Grand affair: Voices for Independence cuts ribbon on renovated community center
The newly renovated space at the Voices for Independence/TRPIL Community Center is open.
A grand opening, complete with guided tours of the 28,000-square-foot facility at 42 W. Maiden St., was held Friday, capping off a six-year-long renovation project.
“We are truly excited for the opportunity to offer services and support for individuals with disabilities in bigger ways than ever before,” said Shona Eakin, chief executive officer, Voices for Independence. “I’m not sure if everyone understands what a center for independent living does and how unique this organization is going to be because of this building.”
TRPIL (Transitional Paths to Independent Living) connects people with disabilities and their families with information, resources and service agencies. TRPIL began an affiliation with Voices for Independence in late 2019.
The renovated space, which once housed the YWCA, includes a new community room, internet cafe, health and wellness center, and accessible kitchen designed to enable individuals with disabilities or mobility issues to learn how to safely navigate and feel comfortable doing so.
Work on the $9 million project was done in phases, beginning in July 2017. Funding for a significant portion of the project came from UPMC Community HealthChoices, a managed care organization that coordinates medical care and long-term services and support for individuals who qualify for Medicaid or require a nursing facility level of care.
“It’s just really exciting to see what’s happening with the building and what opportunities this creates for people to have more full, independent lives,” said John Lovelace, UPMC for You president.
Eakin said an organization such as Voices for Independence has certain services it must provide, such as advocacy services, skills training for people with disabilities, peer support, information referral and transition services.
“We made a conscious decision to go above and beyond those five core services to fill in the gaps for people to eliminate barriers that may be preventing them from living independently in the community,” Eakin said.
Those services include home modification, as well as assistive technology, which includes larger buttons on the computer keypad or the telephone, adaptable 3D printers or simply an amplifier on the telephone receiver.
“We can work with people to help them maintain their independence,” Eakin said. “If people are thinking, ‘Boy, I have an activity that is getting harder for me to do,’ and they want to find a way to solve that problem, come on in work with our staff and we will help you find the equipment you need to make your life easier.”
Michelle Rockwell, assistive technology specialist, said Voices for Independence is offering many assistive technology tools.
“We’re doing a lot of pairing with iPads and Alexa systems for people who have never had a tablet before,” she explained. “We can make it voice-activated so people can turn on their smart TV and find their favorite show.”
Rockwell said a woman with macular degeneration was paired with a talking microwave.
“This microwave talks to her as she’s programming it,” Rockwell said. “The buttons are shades of red and yellow which she was able to see to know where the buttons were, so she can operate the microwave in her apartment.”
In addition to providing cutting-edge facilities for its consumers, conference rooms and offices, the organization envisioned creating a community center for all residents.
“We want to be a community partner, because we realize that this disability is a natural part of life,” she said. “Members of the community that have disabilities are contributors as well. We all have attachments to this building. To be able to give back to the community and take a building that once was empty, repurpose it and make it a centerpiece is a blessing and an opportunity. We’re excited to be part of the fabric of this town.”
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