Centers for Independent Living are self-help, advocacy and support organizations for people with disabilities, of all ages.
Independent
Living is a philosophy. Basically, it is living like everyone else, having
opportunities to make informed decisions that affect one’s life and having
choices to pursue goals of one’s own choosing.
These opportunities and choices are usually taken for granted by most
Americans. Physical and societal barriers often limit choices for Americans with
disabilities. However, Centers for Independent Living provide opportunities and
are dedicated to helping people to achieve their own independent lifestyles.
Although there are some unique differences, all Independent Living Centers work with individuals with all types of disabilities and are membership-driven—run by and for people with disabilities. Peers who have had personal experience in successfully establishing independent lives are committed to assisting other people with disabilities in achieving their own level of independence. Centers can be found throughout the United States as well as in some foreign countries.
Centers for Independent Living are controlled by people with disabilities and use a nondirective peer approach to services and activities in a supportive and informal environment. We provide freedom to all people to pursue their own dreams and we expect people to fully experience, accept and learn from the results of their own actions.
We emphasize community-change advocacy to increase the opportunities for full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. We promote a positive view of people with disabilities at all times.
SELF-HELP: refers to people with disabilities' efforts to come to terms with issues and fashion solutions for themselves (as opposed to the outdated models which foster dependency with solutions created by a "helper" or "professional").ADVOCACY: refers to both community-change advocacy and advocacy for individual issues.
SUPPORT SERVICES: refers to services available to people with disabilities in which the person both directs and manages the services they choose to help them to meet their own individual goals.
The philosophy of Independent Living respects and values each person. We believe people have a right to be included in their communities and that each person has a unique contribution to make to our society. You can become informed through:
WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS: The Alliance provides instruction in Independent Living through workshops and seminars designed to assist people with disabilities to learn skills and techniques that will enable them to live as independently as they desire. Workshop/Seminar topics range from using transportation systems to dealing effectively with insensitive or discriminatory behavior.
CONSUMER ACTION COMMITTEES: The Alliance supports and promotes consumer action in the form of ad hoc committees that meet to take action on important issues. Some of these committees include - Transportation Task Force and Strategic Council.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY NETWORK: The Alliance maintains affiliations with numerous resources that provide information about available assistive technology, strategies for funding these technologies and special programs that match people with used equipment.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: The Alliance established its formal program of Volunteerism in January of 1998, under a grant provided by the State Department of Labor. Since inception, the volunteer program has strived to develop a match between the needs of the volunteer candidate and the agency to ensure the Alliance meets its goals and objectives.
SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: The members of our Social Planning Committee coordinate participation by members in events where people with disabilities access recreational resources in the community. The Alliance supports these events by advocating for access and accommodation, by supporting use of transportation and by encouraging entertainment and recreation facilities to reach out and market to the disability community. Check the Social Recreation page for the latest news and upcoming events.
AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY SEMINARS AND CONSULTATION: The Alliance provides awareness and sensitivity seminars and consultation to businesses, service providers, government entities, professionals. Sessions focus on such topics as compliance with the "spirit" of the Americans with Disabilities Act, understanding the needs of people with specific types of disabilities and accessing supports for reasonable accommodation.