Introduction

Our Mission is to offer assistance to people with disabilities in fulfilling the goals of independence and self-sufficiency.

History

The first Independent Living Center was organized in Berkeley, California in 1971 by Ed Roberts as an offshoot of his personal mission to attend the university in spite of a severe disability. Officially created and funded in amendments to the Federal Rehabilitation Act, today nearly 500 centers and satellites exist in all 50 states, 17 in Florida.

The Center for Independent Living of Broward, serving all of Broward County, was incorporated in 1991 as a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization. A majority of both the staff and the board of directors are people with disabilities, ensuring that the mission is integrated into our programs, services, and advocacy efforts.

Information & Referral

With a complete resource library, access to the Internet, and a comprehensive list of community services, we can answer questions or direct an individual with a disability, family member or professional to a variety of resources.

Our WebSite goal is to extend the availability of our resources on the World Wide Web making them accessible, including text, audio and video tutorials. Your participation and feedback is wanted, needed and welcome.

Peer Support

A professional staff of individuals with disabilities assists in coping with a disability, recognizing barriers, and identifying independent living goals. Several support groups offer a non-threatening environment where people with disabilities can work together to solve problems.

Advocacy

We provide assistance to individuals with disabilities in learning to become self advocates, a skill critical to independence. This is accomplished through providing information on various civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We also assist with communication skills, knowing what to ask and who to ask, writing letters, and conducting successful meetings.

Much of our advocacy work is directed toward systems that serve people with disabilities: public and private agencies as well as public officials at the local, state, and national level. We work with other disability organizations to unify our efforts and expand our base.

Assistive Devices/Technology

People with disabilities can become familiar with a variety of low tech and high technology devices, software, and equipment to determine what works for them. Professional staff demonstrates, assesses and trains in its use. A fully operational computer lab offers people with disabilities the opportunity to improve typing skills, use the Internet, or develop a resume, as well as become proficient in using adaptive computer technology.

Housing Solutions

Overcoming barriers to affordable, accessible housing is a priority. We assist people with disabilities in finding affordable housing, finding a roommate and buying/ financing a home.

We offer barrier free home modification services, including a comprehensive consumer interview and home assessment. We determine eligibility in various local, state, and federal programs, and work with licensed professionals who specialize in barrier free design and construction.

We provide counseling and assistance to people who choose to move out of a nursing home and into the community.

Employment Solutions

In order to overcome barriers to employment, our professional staff is available to potential job seekers as well as potential employers. We assess the interests and skills of individuals with disabilities; help them become job ready by building their confidence, improving their skills, and matching them with a job that utilizes their abilities. We offer benefits counseling to potential employees, and provide a support system for people with disabilities who are working.
We provide training to employers on disabilities, the ADA, and modifications to worksite.

Sexuality for Adolescents and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Our training sessions will focus on relationships among people with developmental disabilities.

Workshops are designed to address the needs of parents, consumer, and professional. Four 6-part workshops will cover topics such as Physical and Emotional Development, Social Relationships, Preventing Abuse, Preventing HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Body Image and Self Esteem, and Making Choices.

Independent Living Skills

Whether one-on-one, workshops, or small classes, we assist people with disabilities in gaining skills needed in order to function independently at home, at work, or in the community. Examples include money management, shopping, cooking, nutrition and meal planning, fitness, resume writing, and keeping your job, understanding your benefits, effective communicating, self esteem, managing stress, sexuality, using community resources, using assistive technology, or buying a home.

High School/ High Tech

Students participate in workshops, skills classes, summer internships, trainings, conferences, retreats, and leadership development opportunities.

Components include: comprehensive assessment, informed goal setting, mentoring, experiences in high tech work environments, exposure to college environments, advocacy and independent living skills and training in the use of assistive technology

Transition Services

We provide parent and student workshops that address goal setting, introduction to adult services, independent living and employment opportunities, as well as federal disability laws. Parents and students will become partners in the planning process.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OF BROWARD

The Center for Independent Living of Broward is a non-profit organization whose mission is to offer assistance to people with disabilities in fulfilling the goals of independence and self sufficiency. The Center's professional staff includes several individuals with disabilities.

Services include:

• Information and Referral
• Peer Support
• Advocacy
• Assistive Devices/Technology
• Housing Solutions
• Employment Solutions
• Independent Living Skills Training
• High School/High Tech
• Transition from School to Adulthood
• Relocating out of Nursing Homes

ALL people with disabilities have the potential to change our view of the world.

Some rather famous examples include:

• Stephen Hawkings--Quadriplegic--Theoretical Physicist
• Albert Einstein--Dyslexic--Scientist
• Helen Keller--Blind and Deaf--Advocate
• Rosie Talamantes--Spinal Cord Injury--Scientist
• John Huckenberry--Spinal Cord Injury--Journalist
• Leonardo Da Vinci--Processing Problem--Scientist & Engineer
• Thomas Edison--Hearing Lost & Learning Disabled--Inventor
• Marilyn Hamilton--Spinal Cord Injury--Inventor
• Richard Leakey--Amputee--Paleoanthropologist
• Ralf Hotchkiss--Spinal Cord Injury--Engineer
• John Wesley Powell--Amputee--Geologist & Ethnologist
• Kay Redfield Jamison--Manic Depressive--Professor of Psychiatry
• Dale Chihuly--Vision (lost an eye)--Glassmaker
• Alfred Nobel--Epilepsy--Chemist & Engineer
• John Milton--Blind--Poet
• Wilma Mankiller--Muscular Dystrophy--Advocate
• Guy De Maupassant--Epilepsy--Author
• Veo Mehta--Blind--Journalist
• Dimitri Mihalas--Bi-polar--Astronomer & Educator
• Isaac Newton--Epilepsy--Physicist
• Janet Reno--Parkinson Disease--former U.S. Attorney General
• Ed Roberts--Polio--Advocate & Director, California Vocational Rehabilitation System

WHY CAN'T YOU BE NEXT ?

CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OF BROWARD IS SPONSORED IN PART BY:

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
• US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
• FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
• VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SER­VICES
• BROWARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
• ABLE TRUST FOUNDATION
• FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL
• UNITED WAY OF BROWARD
• COUNTY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
• CITIES OF: PEMBROKE PINES, PLANTATION, POMPANO BEACH

AFFILIATED WITH:

• FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (FACIL)
• NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDEPENDENT LIVING (NCIL)
• BROWARD COALITION OF DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

Created on 2003-02-04 10:24:27 by install Updated on 2005-03-21 13:33:56 by LL