1139C Plaza Drive

Grundy, VA 24614

Telephone:

(276) 935-6088

Toll Free:

(800) 597-2322

E-mail:

cils@vmmicro.net

 CILS Services

Many individuals are not aware of the services provided by a center for independent living, or the philosophy upon which CILS was established. Judy Heumann of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living perhaps said it best, "To us, independence does not mean doing things physically alone.  It means being able to make independent decisions.  It is a mind process not contingent upon a normal body."

Building upon those guiding principles, CILS assists individuals with disabilities to live as independently as possible, maintain the highest level of functional independence as possible, enjoy life as a fully integrated member of the community, and to live each day the same way as an individual without a disability  of the same age and background would live.

CILS provides many services, including the four core services.  These services are offered to consumers (individuals with disabilities) to assist them in living as independently as possible.  These four core services include:

• Information and Referral (I&R)

• Independent Living Skills

• Peer Counseling

• Individual and Systems Advocacy

Information and Referral (I&R) - CILS maintains comprehensive files and resources on locally available accessible housing, transportation, employment opportunities, personal care attendants, interpreters, readers, recreation and personal experiences from CILS staff members.  I&R is a service CILS provides to both individuals with and without disabilities.

Independent Living Skills - CILS provides skills training courses required a person with a disability needs in order to live more independently.  These skills may include using public transportation, managing a budget, assistive technology training, coping with insensitive and discriminatory behavior, and supervision of personal care providers.

Peer Counseling - CILS offers peer counseling to individual with disabilities.  Peer counseling allows an individual with a disability to work with other individuals with disabilities who are independent members of the local community.  The interaction allows for exploring options, solving problems, making adjustments to a newly acquired disability, discussing changes in living arrangements, and learning to use community services more effectively.   

Advocacy - CILS provides two types of advocacy: Individual and Systems. 

Individual advocacy involves staff members working with individuals with disabilities to obtain support services from other community agencies.

Systems advocacy involves staff, board members, and volunteers initiating efforts toward making changes in the community to make it easier for individuals with disabilities to live independently.  These changes may affect legislation, policy, housing, business, transportation, health care, employment opportunities, accessibility, or any other issue affecting the ability of an individual with a disability to live independently.

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Other services provided by CILS include:

• Community Education

• Outreach

• Technical Assistance: Accessibility and Legal Issues

• Recreational Activities

• Interpreter Services

• Computer Training

• Home Modifications

• Disability Awareness

Additional services provided by supplementary funding including:

• Consumer Service Fund (CSF)

• Rehabilitative Service Incentive Fund (RSIF)

• Local funding

• RSIF - Competitive Grant

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