Illinois’s Centers for Independent Living provide community-based, disability-led services that promote independence, advocacy, peer support, and community participation.
About
Centers for Independent Living, commonly called CILs, are community-based, nonresidential organizations designed and operated with significant leadership from people with disabilities.
They are not assisted-living facilities or residential homes.
Illinois currently has 22 Centers for Independent Living located throughout the state.
Different centers serve different counties and communities.
Core Services May Include
Information and referral
Independent-living skills training
Peer counseling and peer support
Individual advocacy
Systems advocacy
Transition services
Community-integration assistance
Disability-related information
Some centers also have specialized staff who work with Deaf, hard-of-hearing, or DeafBlind consumers.
Who They Serve
Centers for Independent Living are cross-disability organizations.
They serve people with many different disabilities, including people who are blind or visually impaired.
Services and geographic coverage vary by center.
Finding the Correct Center
Visitors should use the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois or Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living directory to determine which center serves their community.
An accessible text-based directory or list is provided below rather than requiring the use of an interactive map.
Centers for Independent Living emphasize disability-led services, personal choice, self-advocacy, peer support, and independent living.
A local CIL may help someone find information related to transportation, housing, community services, advocacy, independent-living skills, and other disability resources.