What Services Do Independent Living Centers Provide?

All Independent Living Centers provide a set of core services geared toward promoting self-help, equal access, peer role modeling, personal growth, and empowerment. The scope of services is directed by individual and community needs.

The core services are as follows:

• Peer Counseling 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 ones own life.

• Independent Living Skills Training teaches everyday life skills and is often provided by people with disabilities. Training may include budgeting, meal preparation, arranging transportation, or personal assistance services, job seeking, and self-advocacy.

• Information and Referral Services aim to provide individuals with resources and options that may be necessary in making informed choices about living, learning, and working independently.

• Individual and Systems Advocacy addresses access to equal opportunities in exercising social, economic, educational, and legal rights. Independent Living Centers work 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.

Other services that are often provided by Independent Living Centers include:

• Housing assistance

• Acquiring and maintaining appropriate benefits and entitlements

• Architectural and communication barrier consultation

• Personal counseling that is non-clinical and short term in nature to address individual goals

• Securing, learning how to use, repair, and maintain equipment

• Assistance in registering to vote

• In-service training, workshops/seminars on disability issues, disability laws and Independent Living philosophy

• Disability awareness training

• Developing Plans to Achieve Self Support (PASS) for recipients of public assistance (SSI/SSDI)

• Specialized training and services specific to certain communities