Tri-Lakes Center for
Independent Living

Empowering people with disabilites
through advocacy and service.

Services That
Make a Difference

A peer run organization that understands
the needs of people with disabilities.

Independence
and Freedom

Dedicated and committed
team members.
advocacy for people with disabilities

Advocacy

We are strong advocates for people with disabilities and do not charge our consumers for our services.

Icon of person with stars around their head

Empowerment

We work to empower people with disabilities to achieve their goals and lead full, satisfying lives.

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Teamwork

Working with our consumers, their family and friends we know that we are all stronger as a team.

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Local

Located in Saranac Lake and also serving Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, we are easy to reach. We will even come to you.

In-Page Navigation

Click on the buttons below to be taken to the relevant section within this page.

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Tri-Lakes Center for
Independent Living

Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living (TLCIL) is a 501c(3) not for profit, non-residential civil rights organization providing a wide range of services to a growing population of people with disabilities. We work to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are honored and respected, allowing them to live with dignity.

Our consumers range from youth to the elderly, veterans and those with autism, who are deaf or hard of hearing, the blind and those with other visual impairments, those who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), stroke, cancer, arthritis, mental illness and physical impairments.

We also work to educate the public about the needs of people with disabilities and the structural accomodations required for businesses to be in compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”).

Services

At Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living we enjoy working with our consumers and are strong advocates for people with a variety of disabilities. We provide an array of support services to help them lead full, productive and happy lives.

Please click on the boxes below to be taken to the corresponding section of our Services page to learn more about how we can help you.

Resource Room at Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living

Advocacy

Architectural Barrier Assessments

Benefits Acquisition
& Advice

Employment Seeking

Independent Living Skills Training

Information
& Referrals

Loan Closet

Peer Mentoring

Transitional Services

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More Than 1,300
Consumers Served
Since 2017

100 Consumers Served
in Essex County
in 2021

People We've Helped

During the past year we’ve helped hundreds of people with disabilities throughout our area.

PPE and COVID-19 Related Services

Information and Referral Services

Advocacy and Legal Services

Benefits Advisement and Acquisition Assistance

Two Decades of
Advocacy and Support

Years of Service

For over 20 years we have provided access to support services for people with disabilities throughout the Adirondack’s Tri-Lakes (Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake) region.

Individualized Services

Everyone’s needs are different and we carefully attend to each consumer as an individual.

Dedicated Staff

Our staff at Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living are committed to helping people just like you achieve your goals.
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Latest News

Recent posts from Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living staff providing important news and information.

Please click on the post introduction, below, to be taken to the specific page for that post.

You can slide the news from side-to-side to view more articles.

Saranac Lake Sensory Garden

TLCIL is working on the creation of a Sensory Garden here in Saranac Lake. A sensory garden is a...

NYS Senate Bill S7374

TLCIL recently advocated against NYS Senate Bill S7374. The bill, if signed into law, would have...

Let’s Keep Staying Safe!

We’ve all been dealing with COVID for what seems like an eternity and, unfortunately, it’s not...

Event Schedule

Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living hosts, sponsors and attends events throughout the region.

Please click on the event introduction, below, to be taken to the specific page for that event.

“I went in for help applying for SSDI, and even when lawyers couldn’t help me, the center was there for me and won my case!“

Cynthia T.

“TLCIL is the last, true peer advocate organization in the county. They improve the quality of life in Franklin County by bringing organizations and resources together, meeting individuals where they're at and working directly with them to help ensure good outcomes. They work to empower instead of enable, to raise up instead of push along, and to defend where needed.”

Jason M.

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What Our Consumers Say About Us

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It's not about the work, it's about the people we work for.

Thank you to all of our consumers, their families and friends who have allowed us to be a part of their team and grow together.

“TLCIL has been a lifesaver for me. Mary, Susan, Kevin and staff were able to advocate for me when I was too ill to do it for myself. They made me aware of community resources I didn’t know existed or was even eligible for. Mary helped me through a devastating period of my life, from encouraging me to seek help for my mental illness and teaching me how to advocate for myself. This agency worked with me for two years, always with a friendly, knowledgeable attitude to help me win my disability case. TLCIL helped me get my life back and boosted my self-esteem in the process. I’ll never be able to express how grateful I am for all they’ve done for me especially during a pandemic when other services were halted. We brainstormed, problem solved and even laughed a little. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

C. Jock