About BILS

Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS) is a non-profit, community based organization dedicated to empower all people with disabilities to understand and exercise their civil and human rights in order to live fully integrated lives in mainstream society. BILS assists individuals by providing them the necessary tools to make informed decisions about their own lives through access to education, skills development, and access to the appropriate resources. On a systemic level, BILS is committed to facilitating social, economic, and civic change by advocating for the removal of architectural, communication, and attitudinal barriers that have limited the disabled community for far too long.

The following programs are available to all disabled persons:

Peer Counseling

Peer counseling at BILS is provided between two or more individuals with disabilities, to share ideas and experiences about living with a disability in order to gain greater awareness and control over one’s own life.

Information and Referral

BILS provides information and referral services to individuals in order to help them live independently and participate fully within the community.

Personal and Systems Advocacy

BILS works with individuals, community organizations, state/national networks; to promote full inclusion of people with disabilities, and to improve the implementation of existing laws: Federal, State, and Local.

Crime Victims and Domestic Violence Services

BILS offers services to victims of crime and domestic violence in the following areas: education of victim rights, assistance with filing claims, counseling, advocacy, home visit/hospital visit/follow ups, mediation, and shelter assistance. In addition, we also provide Women’s Support Groups and Men’s Support Groups.

Deaf Services

BILS provides valuable services to individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. These services include Crime Victims and Domestic Violence assistance, Benefits Entitlement, Information and Referral, Peer Counseling, and Advocacy among other services.

Housing

BILS provides assistance in finding housing for individuals with disabilities.

Benefit Entitlement

BILS works with individuals with disabilities in applying for benefits and navigating the benefit system.

Disclaimer: This project is supported by a National Crime Victims’ Right Week Community Awareness Project subgrant awarded by the National Association of Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance Administrators under a VOCA grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.