People with disabilities sometimes need to develop the necessary skills to live independently. We offer training in areas such as money management, job readiness, and personal resource management.

NWGA Center for Independent Living (NWGACIL) offers independent living skills training to people of all ages with all types of disabilities. We also offer IL community courses to help people with disabilities, their families, friends, caregivers, and people who work with or care about people with disabilities. Group training or courses can also be arranged. Please call us if you would like more information or to schedule training.

IL Skills Training

Available To:

People with disabilities who are consumers of NWGACIL.

Mentors and Instructors:

Our certified peer mentors, graduates of Georgia Voices that Count advocacy training, have personal experience and the skills needed to help others live independently.

Registration Fees & Deadlines:

Registration is free. Appointments must be scheduled in advance with NWGACIL staff.

Skills Training Areas

Attendant Management

  • To self-direct or not
  • Hiring, training, supervising, and firing an attendant
  • Working as a team with your attendant
  • Safety considerations

Getting from Here to There

  • Locating transportation
  • Learning to use public transportation

Job Readiness

  • How to look for a job
  • To disclose or not to disclose
  • The ADA and job accommodations
  • How to keep a job

Living at Home with a Disability

  • Making your home accessible
  • Managing household tasks
  • Recognizing and handling emergencies
  • Educating others in the home
  • Educating yourself

Money Management

  • Budgeting
  • Cash flow
  • Benefits and working

Nutrition

  • Food groups
  • Understanding labels
  • Portion control

Resource Management

  • Resources available
  • Organizing resources
  • Contacting and working with resources

Self-Advocacy and Empowerment

  • Learning to speak up for yourself

Community Courses

Available To:

People with disabilities who are consumers of NWGACIL. Courses are also open to their family, friends, caregivers, supporters, and members of the community who work with or serve people with disabilities.

Mentors and Instructors:

NWGACIL Staff or local instructors in the community who have specialized knowledge or certifications in their field.​

Community Courses

Adaptive Yoga

  • Breathing techniques
  • Visualization
  • Relaxation
  • Poses and moves to increase strength, balance, and flexibility

Apps for Accessibility

  • Smartphones, tablets

Braille Grade I

  • Alphabet, numbers, and punctuation

Braille Grade II

  • Contractions

Computer Skills I

  • How to navigate a computer

Computer Skills II

  • Email and internet

Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Speech-to-Text Software)

  • Word, Outlook, Internet

JAWS (Screen Reading Software)

  • Word, Outlook, Internet

Sign Language

  • ASL (American Sign Language)

Join Thousands Of Happy Consumers

Through Creativity, Integrity & Innovation