As we wrap up Disability Pride Month, it’s an opportune moment to celebrate and highlight the extraordinary contributions of a valued community partner dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities. Inglis, a Philadelphia-based organization boasts a rich history of nearly 150 years in disability services.
A Legacy of Compassion and Vision
Inglis traces its roots back to 1877, inspired by the vision of Annie Inglis, a young woman who contracted scarlet fever as a child and was left permanently disabled. Despite her challenges, Annie dreamed of a home for those who couldn’t be cured, envisioning a place of care and support for individuals with disabilities. Her mother, Caroline Inglis, transformed this dream into reality by founding the Philadelphia Home for Incurables, now known as Inglis House. Starting with a single $1 gold coin donated by Annie for fundraising, Caroline’s determination led to the establishment of one of the first facilities in Philadelphia offering residential medical care for the poor.
Evolution and Expansion
During our conversation with Inglis, Bryant Edwards, Digital Marketing Manager for Inglis, shared insights on how the organization has changed over the last 150 years: “I would say all the programs that we're doing. We've been actively trying to expand our offerings beyond just this one address (Inglis House) to the rest of the state. We recently opened our Innovation Center in Pittsburgh that just gives us a great hub in the western half of the state as well. We’re expanding to allow that access to as many people as possible.”
Over the decades, Inglis has evolved significantly, expanding its mission and services to meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities. From its humble beginnings, Inglis has grown into a comprehensive system of services and products designed to maximize the independence of adults with physical disabilities. Today, Inglis serves more than 2,000 people daily through a variety of programs aimed at promoting independence and enhancing quality of life.
Commitment to Independence and Accessibility
Preventive Measures and Inglis share one major goal in common. Providing empowered care by meeting people where they are. Sharing a commitment to ensuring people maintain as much independence as possible. Inglis tailors their facilities and support to enhance the independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The Inglis Innovation Center serves as the headquarters for various community-based programs aimed at redefining ability and independence. Programs like Inglis Assistive Tech Solutions, the Connections Enhanced Adult Day Program, and Home Modifications for Independence are just a few examples of how Inglis supports individuals in living their lives on their own terms.
Lauren Tilghman, Director of Communication at Inglis emphasized the importance of supporting individuals living independently: “A key factor is ensuring people can stay in their homes. Whether that's aging in place in their homes or being in a home that's accessible to their needs, no matter how unique those needs are. So we believe in full inclusion and accessibility and equity and part of that is ensuring that people can stay exactly where they wanna be and just feel at home there and feel connected to their community. So all of the services we provide are helping to enhance that and empower that and to meet people exactly where they are.”
Personal Stories: Impact and Empowerment
The impact of Inglis can easily be tracked by their number of programs, but it’s also illustrated through personal stories the team can share about the community. Bryant shared a memorable story of a resident named Tim: “We have a resident named Tim. He’s been with the house for a long time. He has a very big fascination with cars and can tell you anything about cars. I don't know anything about cars. He was one of the main factors in putting on our first car show and it was absolutely incredible. There were over a dozen cars and the place was packed. The community came. It was absolutely incredible. It was incredible to see that flourish. I got to meet him there, which was awesome.”
Challenges and Future Goals
Despite its continued success, Inglis faces ongoing challenges. Bryant highlighted funding as an ongoing hurdle: "I think one of the biggest things that I think all nonprofits face is funding. There are a lot of organizations benefiting a lot of great things, and only so much money to go around. So finding those resources and convincing the people with power to give us those resources and to work with people in the government and pass legislation. But I think when you are working with the disabled community, it's even bigger because they're so often overlooked."
Still, Inglis remains committed to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. Lauren outlined some of the organization's future goals: “To continue to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. It comes down to consistency again to just create more resources that are accessible to the Community. We're really looking to grow and expand our assistive technology program. We're looking to help partner with more community entities to have more affordable and accessible housing and of course work across the state ensure that people have access to that housing and that it's protected."
The Importance of Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and struggles of individuals with disabilities. When asked what message he would like to share with the broader community about the importance of recognizing and celebrating Disability Pride Month, Bryant was excited to share his thoughts: “Ohh, there's so many things! Disability Pride is so important because it's one of those things where if you're completely able-bodied, you may not be tomorrow. You may not be in 10 or 20 years. It could be where all of us are going to have something that we are limited on that's out of our control someday. And I think by starting today, the process of advocating and establishing accessibility will ultimately not only help people today but help you and the ones you love and others in the future.”
In the words of Bryant “let’s start today!” This Disability Pride Month we are happy to celebrate Inglis’s remarkable history and continuous commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities. Whether through residential care, community support, housing initiatives, or a really fun car show, Inglis’s dedication makes a difference every day. We are so happy to partner with Inglis and help an incredibly vibrant community continue to shine.
For more information about Inglis and its programs, or to get involved, please contact Inglis Community Services at 267-295-5400 or email community@inglis.org