About Independent Living

Independent Living Specialist Provides information about community resources that best fit the individual needs of each person. She assists individuals and their families in finding the most appropriate tools to enhance their ability to live as independently as possible through all types of Independent Living Skills Training. Assist with transitioning people living in nursing homes/ board and care facilities in returning to their own home. Provides presentations in the community regarding Center services and disability sensitivity training. Also provides Personal Care Attendant (PCA) referrals, travel training, youth service and individual advocacy, benefits counseling to ensure. Empower People with Disabilities to be as independent as possible by working one on one with individuals to assist them in setting goals that to enhances their independence.

Network with other organizations in the community to ensure services services are available and being provided to individuals with disabilities. Attend outreach events in the community.

One of the primary principals of the independent living philosophy is integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. ILS and consumers work together to identify skills needed to live successfully and independently on their terms. To achieve these goals they work one-on-one in the home, out in the community or at CIL’s offices.

Common ILS goals that are learned or improved include:

Money management: Develop a Budget, Dealing with delinquent debt, Clipping Coupons, Food Preparation on a Budget, Check Writing and Definitions, Identifying Needs vs wants.
Self-empowerment Trainings: ADA Training, Benefits Counseling, Accessible and affordable housing.
Health and Fitness: Finding Doctors, Scheduling Appointments, Navigating Healthcare, Insurance Systems and Living Well with Disability.
Social Skills: Making Friends, Meeting New People, Healthy relationships, Personal Hygiene and Safe use of Social Media.
Home Management: Basic housekeeping, Deep Cleaning and Organizational Skills.
Travel Training: Driver’s Education, learning how to use public transportation and Paratransit.
Self-Advocacy: Individual Advocacy Training and Benefits Assistance.
Peer Advising: Cross Disability peer to peer support in group or individual settings.
Home & Community Safety: Emergency Preparedness and Community Resources
Job Seeking Skills: Working Well with Disability, Basic Computer Skills and Networking.

What is Independent Living?

Centers for Independent Living are community-based, cross-disability, non-profit organizations that are designed and operated by people with disabilities. CILs are unique in that they operate according to a strict philosophy of consumer control, wherein people with all types of disabilities directly govern and staff the organization. Centers for Independent Living Provide:

Peer Support
Information and Referral
Individual and Systems Advocacy
Independent Living Skills Training
Transition

RSI’s Independent Living Program

We educate and empower people with disabilities to achieve the independent life of their choice.

The Independent Living Philosophy?

The Independent Living Movement is founded in the belief that people with disabilities, regardless of the form, have a common history and a shared struggle, that we are a community and a culture that will advance further banded together politically.

About Independent Living