Heightened Independence and Progress,
Center for Independent Living (hipcil)
We serve people with disabilities in the
New Jersey counties of Bergen & Hudson
WHO WE ARE
Supporting independent living for people with disabilities, hipcil is a nonprofit agency run by and for people with disabilities.
Its purpose is to promote full inclusion and full accessibility for all people, and to enhance the ability of every individual to live and work with maximum independence.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO
Dear HIPCIL Family,
NJ SILC Public Forum - August 31, 2026
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The Summer Calendar Raffle is better than ever in 2026!
Sponsored by
hipcil to Benefit the Provision of Independent Living
Services to People with Disabilities
Congratulations to the most recent winners!
ONGOING & UPCOMING EVENTS
Evening Zoom Book Club
Join hipcil’s Evening Zoom Book Club, a friendly monthly irtual gathering where readers discuss a new book each month. Open to all, accessible from home, and featuring engaging discussions and community connection.
Caregivers Support Group
Join hipcil’s Caregivers Support Group, monthly Zoom support group offering resources and connection for caregivers through hipcil.
NJ SILC Public Forum
Monday August 31, 2026 12:00-1:30pm Join in-person: Hilton Garden Inn 800 Rt. 130 South...
Book Club
Join hipcil’s monthly Book Club, an inclusive phone‑in reading group where participants discuss a selected book in a welcoming and accessible environment.
Summer Calendar Raffle!
Certainly! The “In It to Win It” Summer Calendar Raffle hosted by hipcil is better than ever in 2024! Here are the key details:
You can win money and support hipcil at the same time.
One ticket buys you 66 chances to win a prize.
The more tickets you buy, the more chances you have to win!
There is a drawing every Friday starting May 31st and continuing in June, July & August.
Winners are drawn 66 times during the summer.
Each day marked on the calendar lists a different cash prize.
If you win one day, your ticket is re-entered into the raffle for more chances to win again!
It’s not unusual to win more than once!
The proceeds of the “In It to Win It” Summer Calendar Raffle will support the Independent Living programs and advocacy efforts that hipcil provides to the community. Don’t wait – buy your tickets now! Tickets and payments must be received at hipcil by Wednesday, May 29th. Names of winning ticket holders will be posted every Friday on their website by 3 p.m. Winners will also be notified by mail.
Need more tickets for yourself, family members, and friends? They make great gifts for birthdays, graduations, and other celebratory occasions. You can contact Jayne Jacobs at 201-996-9100 ext. 21 or jjacobs@hipcil.org with the subject line “Calendar Raffle,” and they will be delighted to send them right out to you! 🎉
LOTS OF LUCK!
AVL Group
hipcil’s AVL Group offers monthly in‑person support and activities for individuals adjusting to vision loss, providing community connection, skill‑building, and resources.
INFO
Letter May 2026
On May 22, 1995, I began my journey with Heightened Independence and Progress Center for Independent Living (HIPCIL) as a Hispanic Outreach Worker. At that time, ,,,,
Blindness is a spectrum
Blindness isn’t a tragic binary — it’s a rich spectrum
When does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical truth about blindness — and shows why it might have implications for how all of us see the world.
hipcil continues to grow!
hipcil continues to grow!
Our donation program has become so successful that we’ve had to upgrade to a full-sized storage unit!.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, and we’re looking forward to continuing to distribute these needed items to those in our community.
See the images.
Access Not Always Equal
Stanley Soden of Long Branch was heading down Lowden Court to pick up groceries for himself and two neighbors in his apartment building. Despite the sidewalks that line Monmouth Medical Center on his right, Soden, who uses a motorized wheelchair, was riding on the street next to cars and trucks.
The reason? For Soden, sidewalks can be less safe than streets. At a few curb cuts leading down the sidewalk along Lowden Court, puddles and potholes have the ability to tip his wheelchair.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
988 is the new three-digit dialing code for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Starting July 16, 2022, you can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
Need a lawyer? We can Help.
Our lawyers provide no-cost legal services for eligible residents of Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic Counties.
Call (973) 523-2900 to learn how we van help.
Northeast, New Jersey
LEGAL SERVICES
FUNDING ASSISTANCE
SOME OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
Access Link
NJ SILC
NJ DDS
