North Country Center for Independence
Main Menu Home Mission What is Independent Living? Services Issues & Advocacy Calendar Photos Staff & Board Links
102 Sharron Avenue
© 2007, North Country Center Updated: 4 / 25 / 07 |
|
| "Consumer choice, autonomy and control define the Independent Living Movement. The independent living philosophy holds that individuals with disabilities have the right to live with dignity and with appropriate support in their own homes, fully participate in their communities, and to control and make decisions about their lives." -- National Council on Independent Living |
The first Center for Independent Living grew out of an innovative disabled students' organization at the University of California at Berkeley, in the late 1960's. It was founded by Ed Roberts and other students with disabilities, who discovered that they were able to help each other individually and improve accessibility and support services on the campus by working together ... combining their talents and experiences to create an expert resource on disability matters, and a potent political movement for disability rights. From its campus origins, the first Center for Independent Living became a consumer-run disability resource for the entire Bay Area community, then was replicated in several other CILs around California. At about the same time, other similar organizations sprang up in various cities around the United States. All of these organizations were founded, governed, and staffed by people with disabilities. All of them combined individual services with strong social and political advocacy. Centers for Independent Living are community resource and advocacy organizations. They typically do not grant money to individuals, and do not operate residences of any kind. CILs promote full integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, choice and control in disability services and policies, and barrier free communities. CILs serve people with all types of physical or mental disabilities, of all ages and income levels.
Today there are over 450 Centers for Independent Living in the United States ... with Centers in every state and territory.
For a more detailed exploration of Independent Living, visit the Resource Kit for Independent Living.
