Centers for Independent Living

CIL staff, boards and consumers work together to remove barriers and prejudices in society so that all individuals can live and work and enjoy all that their communities have to offer. At a minimum, 51% of the staff and boards of CILs are persons with disabilities, which means that they play significant roles in the decision-making responsibilities of the Centers.

The CILs are federally mandated under Section 725 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, amended 1998. They are funded with Federal and State dollars and through local community grants & private donations.

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are unique disability-led, cross-disability, locally administered not-for-profit organizations, providing advocacy and support to assist people with disabilities of all ages to live independently and fully integrated in their communities. CILs have served as the voice of the disability rights movement in Connecticut since their inception more than thirty years ago. CILs assist individuals in navigating complex service systems and advocate to ensure access to their chosen services and supports. Core programs include information and referral services, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, independent living skills training and transition services for both youth transition and nursing facility transition. CILs are responsive to the unique needs of each community. Other services vary from individual center to center but generally include: assistance with housing, education, employment, benefits, assistive technology, medical needs and personal care attendant services, among others.