A disability is a permanent physical, cognitive, sensory or psychological impairment that substantially limits someone from one or more major life activities. These activities include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, learning and caring for yourself.
What is the “independent living” philosophy?
The independent living philosophy promotes respect, self-determination and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Other core values of independent living and the disability rights movement include dignity, peer support, consumer control, civil rights, integration and advocacy.
Ed Roberts is often called the father of the independent living philosophy. Inspired by his own severe disability as a result of polio, Ed was influenced by the civil rights movement and the peer support model. After facing obstacles when he tried to enroll at the University of California at Berkley, Ed formed a student organization that worked to remove barriers and provide services for students with disabilities. The movement that Ed and other advocates began now flourishes in the form of Centers for Independent Living.
What is a Center for Independent Living (CIL)?
Centers for Independent Living were created by Congress in Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A CIL is a non-residential, non-profit, community-based, consumer-controlled, cross-disability agency providing four core services:
In addition, CILs offer a number of other services, depending on the specific needs of their clients and whether such services are available elsewhere in the community. Today, more than 400 CILs operate throughout the United States, funded by a mix of public and private resources.
How does a CIL differ from other service providers?
Centers for Independent Living are unique in that the majority of people who govern, manage and staff them have a disability themselves. This approach, described as “consumer control,” is based on the idea that people with disabilities can best understand how to assist and advocate in the independent living process. Unlike other service providers, we are who we serve, we share the same interests and concerns as those we serve, and we are directly affected by the systems and services we seek to improve.
What determines eligibility for CIL services?
Our clients are eligible for core services based on self-identification of their disability. In order to receive additional services, it’s sometimes necessary to provide further documentation, at the request of the particular funding source.
Is there a fee for CIL services?
Most services at CIL are provided free of charge. In some cases, a client’s income must be below a certain level in order to qualify for the service or to receive the service at no charge. However, we don’t turn away anyone because they are unable to pay.
