By Bob Lujano

For the last 10 years, I have been a committee member of my state’s Center for Independent Living (CIL), which is a powerful, community-based, non-residential organization designed by and for people with disabilities. Their mission is rooted in promoting autonomy, self-determination and full participation in community life.

Unlike service providers that cater to individuals with disabilities, CILs empower those they serve by placing decision-making power in their control. Some of the programs that CILs conduct involve policy, transition services and independent living skills training. (NCIL, 2025). CILs can also provide counseling services, secure housing, transportation referrals and technology services.

It is important for people with disabilities (PWD) to be part of local CILs because they can amplify the voice of someone with a disability. The involvement of PWD can be the reason for changes in their disability community.

Below are tips and suggestions on how people PWD can become active service recipients, staff members, leaders and advocates within their local CILs. Participation in local CILs can encourage leadership, foster community integration and strengthen the disability rights movement (Living, 2025).

Understanding the Role of CILs

CILs exist to support PWD in living independently and being included in society. They provide essential core services that address a wide range of needs:

• Peer Support: Connecting with others who have similar experiences to provide mutual guidance.
• Advocacy: Both at the individual level, such as navigating services, and at the systems level, like advocating for policy changes.
• Independent Living Skills Training: Teaching skills such as budgeting, self-care, communication and community navigation.
• Information and Referral: Connecting individuals with suitable services and resources.
• Transition Services: Supporting life transitions such as moving from school to adult life or from institutional care to community living.

Ways to Get Involved with CILs

Here are several ways to engage with CILs based on your goals, interests and life experiences:

As a Consumer of Services

• Contact a CIL: This is how to get involved and where to contact your local CIL to schedule an intake appointment (Hermann, 2025).
• Set Goals: Talk about your needs and goals, such as finding housing, securing employment or accessing transportation.
• Plan for Independence: Collaborate with staff to develop an Independent Living Plan, a helpful but voluntary roadmap for achieving your goals (Living A. f., 2025).

As a Peer Supporter or Volunteer

• Mentor Others: Use your experiences to support those on a similar journey.
• Volunteer: Assist in community outreach, education sessions or awareness events.
• Build Community: Help organize and participate in events that foster disability pride and public understanding of disability culture and community.

As a Staff Member 

• Join the Team: Apply for positions such as Independent Living Specialist or Program Coordinator. Here is a list of jobs.
• Value Your Lived Experience: CILs prioritize hiring people with disabilities, recognizing them as experts in their own lives.
• Professional Growth: Take advantage of job training and ongoing development opportunities at your local CIL to enhance your skills and career.

As a Member of the Board of Directors

• Lead from Within: CILs are required to have a majority of board members who have disabilities.
• Govern and Guide: Contribute to decisions about programs, policies and funding.
• Amplify Community Voices: Bring insight and representation from your local disability community.

As an Advocate

• Get Involved: Participate in advocacy campaigns focused on issues like accessible transit, fair housing or education (Living A. f., 2025).
• Speak Up: Provide testimony at legislative hearings or contribute to public comment processes.
• Collaborate: Join coalitions and advisory boards to increase collective impact.

Steps to Get Connected with Your Local CIL

• Locate your State’s CIL Network: Use resources such as the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living  (APRIL, 2025) or your state’s Department of Rehabilitation (RSA, 2025) to locate your local center to get connected to local CIL’s outreach programs and services These services assist in helping PWD maximize their independent living opportunities.
• Contact your CIL: Contact the advocacy group via email advocacy@april-rural.org .This can also help in connecting with local CIL’s newsletters and current information.
• Engage:  Follow the CIL on social media, subscribe to newsletters and participate in community forums and events.

Addressing Barriers to Participation

To truly include all people with disabilities, CILs work to eliminate barriers to engagement. Here are a few examples:

• Transportation: Learn about paratransit systems, ride-sharing subsidies and transit routes (Lujano, 2025).
• Communication Access: Ensure that events and materials are available in accessible formats, including American Sign Language (ASL, 2025), captioning, large print or plain language.

CIL are more than just service agencies; they are essential hubs for advocacy, empowerment and community engagement. When individuals with disabilities take part in shaping these centers—as consumers, leaders or advocates—they help ensure that the services provided genuinely reflect the needs and values of the community.

You have a role in the Independent Living Movement. Whether you are seeking support or offering it, your input and experiences are important. Let’s connect and get involved together.

References

APRIL. (2025, 06 12). Association of Programs for Rural Independet Living. Retrieved from APRIL: https://www.april-rural.org/index.php/en/

ASL. (2025, 06 12). American Sign Language Dictionary. Retrieved from ASL: https://www.signasl.org/

Hermann, T. M. (2025, 06 05). ILRU. Retrieved from TIRR Rehab and Research: https://www.ilru.org/projects/cil-net/cil-center-and-association-directory

Inscape. (2025, 08 11). Understanding barriers to CIL’s change. Retrieved from inscapeconsulting.com: advocacy@april-rural.org

Living, A. f. (2025, 03 01). Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Retrieved from acl.gov: https://acl.gov/news-and-events/events-and-observances/developmental-disabilities-awareness-month

Living, A. f. (2025, 05 12). What is the Independent Living Living Services Program? Retrieved from acl.gov: https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/centers-independent-living

Living, N. C. (2025, 06 05). NCIL works to enhance the human and civil rights of all people with disabilities. Retrieved from NCIL: https://ncil.org/

Lujano, B. (2025, 06 01). Tips and Suggestions for People with Mobility Limitations Using Public Transportation. Retrieved from NCHPAD: https://www.nchpad.org/resources/tips-and-suggestions-for-people-with-mobility-limitations-using-public-transportation/

NCHPAD. (2022, 01 07). A Guide to Shool Physical Activity Programs. Retrieved from NCHPAD: https://www.nchpad.org/resources/a-guide-to-inclusive-physical-activity-programs/

NCIL. (2025, 08 11). What CILS and SILCS DO. Retrieved from ncil.org: https://ncil.org/about/independent-living/what-cils-and-silc-do/

RSA. (2025, 06 12). Rehabilitation Services Administration. Retrieved from RSA: https://rsa.ed.gov/