NMI delegation joins push for creation of IL organization

Jason Teregeyo, president of the Independent Living Group, a non-profit advocacy group under the Center for Independent Living in the CNMI, wants to see the passage of a bill that seeks to establish a new Independent Living Administration.

The bill, filed with the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, would strengthen the IL program across the nation by creating a new organization within the Department of Education and independent of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, according to the National Council on Independent Living.

NCIL advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy. It envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully.

“I feel that this would really benefit the Center for Living Independently and the Workforce Investment Act nationwide, which will open employment for people with disability and lessen all the red tapes we have to go through,” said Teregeyo.

Teregeyo, along with personal assistant Dolores Moteisou, attended the 2011 NCIL Annual Conference at the Grand Hyatt, Washington D.C. on July 12 to 17. The trip was funded by the CLI-CNMI.

In his trip report, Teregeyo said it was a great privilege to represent the CLI-CNMI in the conference, which served as an opportunity to learn more about NCIL.

Although CLI centers in the mainland are bigger and far advanced, Teregeyo noted that the CNMI center still manages to provide services to people with disabilities so they can live independently and be a part of the community.

Teregeyo also noted that the challenges faced by these CLI centers vary. In the CNMI, the challenge is employers who are unwilling to hire people with disabilities due to liability issues, he said.

During his trip, Teregeyo met with CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan and encouraged him to support bills that would benefit people with disabilities throughout the U.S. and its territories.

“One motivation that this conference gave me is to inspire our community to be involved in our organization, to be peer mentors for people with disabilities,” he added.

Teregeyo thanked the CLI-CNMI board of directors, executive director Lydia Igitol, and adviser Bud White who encouraged and recommended him to represent the center at this year’s conference.

“It was a great experience and I learned and [gained] a new perspective about Independent Living centers,” said Teregeyo. “I would recommend others with disabilities here in the CNMI to attend such conference in the near future for it is very beneficial in many ways.”