Centers For Independent Living
According to the US Department of Education (DOE), the purpose for Centers for Independent Living, or CILs, ILs, and/or ILCs as they are sometimes otherwise called, is to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities and to integrate these individuals into the mainstream of American society. Links and blurbs on the Independent Living USA (ILUSA) ILC Directory homepage provide more indepth explanations behind the concept for and the creation of these centers.
Basically and simply put, the entire reason that CILs are in existence is to assist people with disabilities in their advocacy and self-advocacy efforts. CILs are also intended to operate pretty much as a grand central station for information dispersal. Bearing that in mind, should you not immediately be able to locate an independent living center in your area, try calling the nearest one you can find and ask them to help you locate a CIL within reasonable travel distance from your place of residence.
Regarding currently available listings, the National Council on Disability (NCD) provides a very detailed independent living centers directory that covers several territories in addition to the continental United States. The NCD's listings include physical location and email address information as well as phone, fax, and TTY numbers where available.
Advocacy Opportunity As you check out the (NCD's independent living centers directory, keep an eye out to make sure that the information as provided is current for your local CIL. If you see inaccurate or missing information, try contacting the CIL in question and let them know their information needs updated on that particular resource. You might also try dropping a quick email noting the same to the NCD by way of their comment/feedback address publicly provided on their CIL directory webpage.
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