About NCCI

Mission Statement

The Mission of the North Country Center for Independence is to help people with disabilities to live more independent and productive lives, and promote better policies and community understanding of disability issues. NCCI serves people with disabilities, families, and the community on issues related to physical and mental disabilities. NCCI is led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. It is one of the 41 Independent Living Centers in New York State. There are also hundreds of similar centers throughout the United States. NCCI serves Clinton and Essex Counties, New York.

What is Independent Living?

Independent Living Centers are nonprofit organizations led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. We provide services like information & referral, independent living skills training, advocacy, and peer counseling. Centers also provide services and programs developed in response to local needs. Our goal is always to help each person with disabilities develop their own goals and get the supports they need to achieve them. Services are available to anyone who has an interest in any disability-related issue.

Independent Living

  • Relies on people with disabilities helping and supporting each other.

  • Unites people with all kinds of disabilities, of all ages and backgrounds, to promote equal opportunity, accessibility, and inclusion.

  • Views disability in terms of empowerment and personal choice, while using assistive technology and well-designed support services to achieve and sustain independence.

NCCI independent living service statistics.
New York State independent living service statistics.
Independent Living History and Philosophy Tutorial.

Board of Directors

Patti King: President

Tom Defayette: Vice President

Sean Brown: Treasurer

Andrew Pulrang: Secretary

Ginny Brady

Norman Koslofsky

Jordon LeBlanc

Chelsea Scheefer

Craig Squire

Staff

Robert Poulin, Chief Executive Officer - 518-564-0365

Amy Kretser, Chief Financial Officer - 518-564-0431

Mindy Beshaw, Human Resources/ Accounts Receivable - 518-405-5027

Pam Moser, Office Manager - 518-564-0288

Michael Sherman, Peer Counselor / Transportation/ Job Placement - 518-564-0311

Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate - 518-405-5396

Warren Middlemiss, Development Specialist - 518-405-5888

Emma Stewart, NY Connects Outreach Specialist - 518-405-5027

Amy Gehrig, Ombudsman Coordinator - 518-562-1732

Patti Killeen, Assistant to Ombudsman Coordinator - 518-564-0054

Pat Wilson, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist / Certified Orientation Mobility Specialist - 518-405-5027

Jessica Middlemiss, Vision Services - 518-219-8406

Tamarra Cook, CDPAP Consumer Enroller - 518-564-0434

Jenna McPherson, CDPAP Payroll Specialist - 518-564-0177

Shelly Kozak Clowney, CDPAP Personal Assistant Enroller - 518-564-0384

Christina Walton, Open Doors Transition / OHS Housing Specialist - 518-564-0239

Cassie Cayea, Certified Benefits Counselor - 518-564-0574

Jobs

Job Opening: Peer Advocate — To help people with disabilities transition from congregate care to their own homes.

Donations

There are two main ways to give to the North Country Center for Independence …

1. Make a donation …

2. Sign up and shop with AmazonSmile ...

You can also help support the North Country Center for Independence by shopping online through AmazonSmile. Click the link above and you will be prompted to log in to your regular Amazon account. Then go to the AmazonSmile page instead of the regular Amazon page whenever you shop, and Amazon will donate 0.05% of each eligible purchase to NCCI. It doesn’t add anything to the price you pay. It’s a great way to help expand NCCI’s mission. Click here to sign up

Volunteering

Independent Living relies on people with disabilities advising and supporting each other. There are several ways you can help. You can join disability activism, volunteer, or donate money to help NCCI with its mission. Call us at 518-563-9058, or stop in for a visit to discuss how you want to be involved.