The Center for Independent Living of Northeastern Minnesota provides disability services throughout the region under the name AccessNorth.  Ten offices in the Northland focus on four core services: independent living skills training, information and referral, advocacy and peer counseling.  Plus there are 30 other disabillity-related services including the availability of personal care assistants in its PCA Choice program.

Independent Living Skills Training
AccessNorth staff provides independent living skills training in any life area in which a consumer has a goal to become more independent within your home and community.  We have a variety of independent living skills assessments to utilize which can help you determine goal areas.

Information and Referral
AccessNorth provides individuals with disabilities, family members, other service providers, and the community at large with information on options and resources which enable people with disabilities to live more independently in the community of their choice.

Advocacy
AccessNorth offers two kinds of advocacy:

(1) Individual consumer advocacy, which involves center staff working with you to learn and understand your rights and obtain the support services you need to live independently.

(2) community advocacy, which involves center staff, board members, and volunteers initiating activities to make changes in the community that make it easier for all persons with disabilities to live more independently.

Peer Counseling
AccessNorth offers a mentor program in which a person with a disability can work with other people who have disabilities and who are living independently in the community. The objective is to learn, explore options and brainstorm problems that sometimes occur for people with disabilities.  One example, making adjustments to a newly acquired disability or learning to use community services more effectively.

AccessNorth also offers many other services ranging from computer classes to support groups.

AccessNorth has facilities in Aitkin, Brainerd, Cloquet, Coleraine, Duluth, Hibbing (Main Office), International Falls, Pine City, Two Harbors and Walker.