Center for Independent Living
The world’s first organization run by and for people with disabilities, the Center for Independent Living (CIL), founded in 1972, supports disabled people in their efforts toward independence. CIL encourages people with disabilities to make their own choices and works to open doors in the community to full participation and access for all.
Assistive technology, often referred to as “A.T.,” includes just about anything – that is, any physical material or object – that makes it easier for a person to perform a task. Explore the world of A.T. with The CIL’s Assistive Technology Program.
CORE
SERVICES
CIL’s CORE Services adopts the cross-disability approach and the peer-based model that are central to the Independent Living Philosophy.
Our core support includes:
Peer Counseling
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Staff with disabilities help empower others with disabilities by sharing resources, knowledge of living with a disability, and goal setting.
Information & Referrals
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CIL provides information about a wide variety of disability-related issues and community resources.
Advocacy
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Self-Advocacy – Speak up for yourself.
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Individual Advocacy – Speak up for another.
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Systems Change Advocacy – Make a change for others.
Independent Living Skills Instruction
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Individuals work to advance the skills necessary to live more successfully and independently with an ILS instructor. ILS training is done one-on-one in the home, out in the community, or at CIL’s offices.
Personal Assistance Service Referrals
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Identify available and affordable personal assistants.
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Learn to interview, hire, train, supervise, and/or fire personal assistants.
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Create an employment agreement that clearly states the job duties of their personal assistant.
Housing Assistance
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Understand the housing options available to them.
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Locate and secure affordable housing.
Our Community Connections team will help you gain the skills to confidently and independently navigate the San Francisco Bay Area.
The CIL’s Lifestyles Program offers adaptive sports and life skills activities for both youth and adults with disabilities.
The CIL’s Youth Programs are meant to help students with disabilities be successful with their transition into postsecondary life.
Emergency Preparedness and Resiliency
The Center for Independent Living’s Emergency Preparedness Program supports community resilience and readiness planning to prepare for disaster recovery and Public Safety Power Shutoff events, and ensures people with disabilities and older adults are integrated in state- and county-wide planning, response, and recovery processes for disasters.
Additional office in:
1470 FRUITVALE AVE. OAKLAND, CA. 94601
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