Frequently Asked Questions

A Center for Independent Living (CIL) is a community-based, nonprofit organization run by and for people with disabilities. CILs support individuals with disabilities to live as independently as they choose through services such as advocacy, peer support, skills training, and assistance with community living.

CILs grew out of the Independent Living Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which was led by people with disabilities who wanted equal access, opportunity, and self-determination. The first CIL was founded in 1972 in Berkeley, California, by Ed Roberts and other disability rights activists.

The movement challenged the idea that people with disabilities needed to live in institutions or rely on others to make decisions for them. Instead, it promoted independence, inclusion, and full participation in community life — the right to make one’s own choices and live with dignity.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, especially Title VII, established federal funding for CILs. This law recognized independent living as a key part of rehabilitation and gave people with disabilities more control over the services they receive.

By law, at least 51% of a CIL’s board of directors and staff must be people with disabilities. This ensures that decisions and services are guided by lived experience and the values of the Independent Living philosophy.

Ed Roberts established the first ever Center for Independent Living and is known as the “Father of the Independent Living Movement"

He fought for the right to go to school, live in the community, and make his own choices—things many people with disabilities weren’t allowed to do at the time. When the university said they couldn’t house him in a dorm because of his disability, he didn’t give up. He worked with others to create accessible housing and services so students with disabilities could attend college too.

Ed helped start the first Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Berkeley, California, in 1972. This center became a model for hundreds of others across the country. He believed that people with disabilities should have control over their own lives, not be limited by society’s expectations or by inaccessible environment.

He showed the world that disability is a natural part of life and that people with disabilities have the same rights and potential as everyone else. His work helped inspire laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and continues to influence disability rights today.

All Centers for Independent Living across the country provide five Core Services that help people with disabilities live independently and participate fully in their communities. These services are flexible and person-centered — designed around each individual’s goals, abilities, and choices.

1. Transition Services

CILs assist people at key points of change in their lives, including:

Transition from nursing homes or institutions back into the community.

Transition of youth with disabilities into adult life after high school graduation, including work or higher education.

For seniors, Centers for Independent Living (CILs) help individuals avoid moving into long-term care facilities by connecting them with the supports and services they need to stay safely and independently in their own homes.

2.   Independent Living Skills Training

CILs help people build or strengthen the skills they need to live independently. This can include things like budgeting, cooking, using transportation, managing a household, understanding benefits, or using assistive technology. Training is individualized and often taught one-on-one or in small groups.

3.  Peer Support

People with disabilities support one another by sharing experiences, encouragement, and practical advice. This service is based on the idea that those who have faced similar challenges can best help others find their own path to independence and self-confidence.

4.  Advocacy

CILs work at both the individual and community level to remove barriers and promote equal rights.

• Individual advocacy helps people navigate systems such as housing, healthcare, or employment.
• Systems advocacy focuses on improving laws, policies, and public access so that communities become more inclusive for everyone.

5.   Information and Referral

CILs provide information about community resources, disability services, accessible housing, transportation, education, and employment opportunities. If a service isn’t offered directly by the CIL, staff can connect individuals to trusted local, state, or national resources.

Are these the only services CILs offer?

No. Many CILs provide additional programs based on community needs, such as employment support, assistive technology loans, veteran programs, housing assistance, or home modification projects. But all CILs share the same foundation — promoting choice, control, and independence for people with disabilities.

State Independent Living Council

A Statewide Independent Living Council, or SILC, is a group of people who work together to make sure people with disabilities have the support and services they need to live independently. Every state and U.S. territory has its own SILC.

The SILC helps plan how independent living programs work across the whole state. 

• They create a plan SPIL (called the State Plan for Independent Living) that sets goals and decides how funding will be used.
• Work with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to learn what people with disabilities in different areas need.
• Speak up for change by promoting laws, funding, and policies that make communities more accessible and fair.
• Teach the public about disability rights and the importance of inclusion.

Most of the members are people with disabilities from different parts of the state. They are chosen by the Governor and bring their own experiences and ideas about what independence and accessibility mean.

The Centers for Independent Living (CILs) help people directly in their communities — offering services like peer support and skills training.

The SILC looks at the “big picture” — planning, coordinating, and making sure independent living services are strong statewide.

Together, they help people with disabilities live the lives they choose.

 They provide an effective voice in the development of public policy, to give people with disabilities a fair shake.

The Fair Shake Initiative (FSI) works as part of the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (WVSILC).

The Fair Shake Initiative helps make sure people with disabilities have a voice in laws and policies that affect their lives. It focuses on fairness, accessibility, and equal rights across the state.

The program has a Fair Shake Coordinator who works with the SILC and other disability groups to keep this mission going.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of public life — including jobs, schools, transportation, and public places. It ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush. It was a landmark moment for the disability rights movement, comparable to earlier civil rights laws that banned discrimination based on race, color, sex, or religion.

The ADA was inspired by decades of advocacy from people with disabilities and their allies. It built upon earlier laws like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited disability discrimination in federally funded programs. Activists, including many from Centers for Independent Living and the Independent Living Movement, pushed for a broader law that would protect people in all parts of society.

In 2008, the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was passed to restore the original intent of the law. It broadened the definition of “disability,” ensuring that more people are protected against discrimination.

The ADA is divided into five main sections, called Titles:

Title I – Employment: Protects workers with disabilities and ensures equal employment opportunities.

Title II – State and Local Government: Requires public programs and services to be accessible.

Title III – Public Accommodations: Ensures access to private businesses and public spaces.

Title IV – Telecommunications: Requires telephone and internet companies to provide relay services.

Title V – Miscellaneous Provisions: Covers other protections, including retaliation and attorney’s fees.

A reasonable accommodation is a change or adjustment that helps a person with a disability do their job, go to school, or take part in everyday activities just like anyone else.

It’s a way to remove barriers so everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Examples:

• Adding a ramp or automatic door so someone using a wheelchair can enter a building.
• Allowing extra time to complete a test or work task.
• Providing materials in large print, Braille, or audio.
• Letting an employee adjust their schedule for medical appointments.

Does every request have to be approved?

No. The accommodation must be reasonable, meaning it doesn’t cause too much difficulty or cost for the business, school, or organization. But most accommodations are simple and affordable — and they help everyone by creating a more inclusive environment.

IDEA stands for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is a federal law that makes sure students with disabilities have the same right to a free and appropriate public education as other students.

The IDEA requires public schools to:

• Identify and evaluate students who may have disabilities.
• Create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each eligible student.
• Provide special education and related services to meet each student’s unique needs.
• Teach students in the least restrictive environment, meaning they should learn alongside their peers without disabilities as much as possible.

Before IDEA, many children with disabilities were not allowed to attend public school or didn’t get the help they needed. IDEA changed that by protecting the rights of students with disabilities and helping them succeed in school and life.

IDEA helps children and teens from birth through age 21 who have certain physical, learning, emotional, or developmental disabilities that affect their education.

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document that outlines the special education services, support, and accommodations a public school will provide to a student with a disability. It sets measurable annual goals and is created by a team that includes parents, teachers, and school staff. The plan ensures the student can thrive in school and access a quality education tailored to their unique needs.

This list includes notable individuals throughout history and in the present day who lived with disabilities, categorized by the nature of their disability. Many of these individuals went on to achieve greatness in their respective fields despite the challenges they faced. 

Physical disabilities

Stephen Hawking: This world-renowned theoretical physicist was diagnosed with a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 21. He spent most of his life in a wheelchair and communicated using a voice synthesizer operated by a single cheek muscle.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: The 32nd U.S. President contracted polio at age 39 and was paralyzed from the waist down. He often used a wheelchair privately and was careful to conceal his paralysis from the public.

Frida Kahlo: A celebrated Mexican painter, Kahlo contracted polio as a child and later survived a severe bus accident that caused her lifelong physical pain. Her art often explored her suffering and identity.

Christopher Reeve: The actor famous for playing Superman became a quadriplegic after a horse-riding accident in 1995. He then became an activist for spinal cord injury research.

Michael J. Fox: The actor was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease at age 29. He has since become a major advocate for Parkinson's research through his foundation.

Ludwig van Beethoven: This legendary classical composer began to lose his hearing in his 20s and was nearly completely deaf by the end of his life. He continued to compose masterpieces despite his deafness. 

Sensory disabilities

Helen Keller: After an illness as an infant left her deaf and blind, Keller became a world-renowned author, activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Stevie Wonder: Born prematurely, this legendary singer and musician became blind from an eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity. He is considered one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century.

Louis Braille: Blinded as a child, the French educator developed the Braille system, a form of reading and writing still used by blind and visually impaired people worldwide.

Marlee Matlin: The deaf actress became the youngest winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Children of a Lesser God. She is a long-time advocate for the deaf community. 

Neurodevelopmental and learning disabilities

Temple Grandin: An academic, animal behaviorist, and autism advocate, Grandin has written and spoken extensively about how her autism spectrum disorder allows her a unique perspective.

Thomas Edison: The prolific inventor of the light bulb and phonograph was known to have dyslexia and was hearing impaired.

Walt Disney: The creator of Mickey Mouse and founder of the Walt Disney Company reportedly had dyslexia.

Whoopi Goldberg: The award-winning actress and comedian has dyslexia, which can cause difficulties with reading. 

Mental health conditions

John Nash: The subject of the film A Beautiful Mind, this brilliant mathematician and Nobel Prize winner lived with paranoid schizophrenia.

Abraham Lincoln: The 16th U.S. President experienced severe clinical depression throughout his life.

Vincent van Gogh: The Dutch post-impressionist painter battled severe mental illness, which influenced his intense and emotional artwork.

Judi Chamberlin: A "mental patients' liberation activist," Chamberlin was a co-founder of the Mental Patients Liberation Front in the 1970s after being institutionalized for depression. 

Historical figures

Harriet Tubman: The famous abolitionist and "conductor" on the Underground Railroad suffered from epilepsy after a childhood head injury.

Harriet Martineau: This 19th-century British social theorist and writer was deaf and used an ear trumpet for her hearing.

Sojourner Truth: A former enslaved person who became an outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, and women's rights, Truth had severe learning disabilities and never learned to read or write. 

How to approach an organization?

When contacting a volunteer organization, consider your skills and what you can offer, and be ready to discuss any accommodations you might need to be successful.

Reflect on your skills and interests: Think about what you enjoy doing and what kind of environment you'd prefer. Do you like working with people, animals, or computers?

Contact a volunteer coordinator: When you reach out, be clear about your interest in volunteering and ask what kind of accessible opportunities they have. You can also ask to set up a time to discuss potential accommodations.

Be your own best advocate: You know your abilities best. You can empower yourself by explaining to an organization what you can do and how you can contribute meaningfully. 

Explore flexible and accessible volunteer roles

Many organizations are embracing inclusive volunteering by offering a variety of opportunities that can be adapted to different abilities.

Virtual and remote volunteering: If you have limited mobility or transportation access, you can look for organizations that need help with tasks that can be done online. For instance, some may need help with social media, writing, or data entry.

Animal shelters: Many shelters need volunteers to help with tasks beyond animal handling, such as stuffing envelopes, organizing supplies, or greeting visitors. Shelters are often open to finding a role that fits your abilities.

One-on-one roles: Some organizations match volunteers with individuals for mentorship and skill-building activities.

Be My Eyes: This app connects volunteers with people who are blind or have low vision to help them with small tasks through a live video call. 

Get involved with local organizations:

Volunteer: Local organizations rely on volunteers to operate their services and events. You could provide companionship, help with transportation, or assist with event setup.

Donate: Monetary donations or contributions of needed equipment and supplies can support an organization's mission.

Connect with organizations in West Virginia:

• WV Independence Network (WIN): consists of the 3 Centers for Independent Living in WV.  They include the Appalachian CIL, Mountain State CIL and LiveAbility.   The WIN assists individuals with disabilities by providing training and resources to become independent and those who are at risk of or transitioning out of institutions such as hospitals and long term care facilities. 

• Disability Rights of West Virginia: A non-profit that protects and advocates for the legal rights of residents with disabilities statewide.

• Special Olympics West Virginia: Offers year-round opportunities for volunteering at athletic events for people with intellectual disabilities.

• Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED): The CED in Charleston assists individuals of all ages with developmental and other disabilities.
• There are many other local and state organizations that you can find with an online search.  

Advocate for accessibility and inclusion

Promote inclusive language: Advocate for respectful language that honors the individual first. When in doubt, ask someone how they prefer to be addressed.

Increase accessibility: Help make public spaces, workplaces, and educational institutions more accessible, including both physical and digital spaces.

Challenge ableism: Speak up against ableist attitudes, discriminatory practices, and stereotypes in your daily life.

Raise awareness: Help spread information about disability rights and inclusion by sharing resources on social media, blogs, and other channels.

Promote representation: Advocate for authentic representation of disabled individuals in media, leadership positions, and art.

Elect disabled leaders: Consider voting for a person living with a disability to give them a voice in government and push for inclusive reforms. 

Practice respectful and kind interactions

Respect autonomy: Avoid making assumptions. Always ask a person with a disability if they would like assistance before you act.

Listen and learn: Pay attention to the experiences and perspectives of disabled individuals. Their lived experiences are the best way to understand the challenges they face and the support they need.

Build relationships: Take the time to get to know individuals with disabilities. Building a relationship is one of the most meaningful ways you can show support.

Offer support for daily life: You can assist with everyday tasks like grocery shopping, getting to medical appointments, or making minor home repairs for elderly or disabled community members.