Southwest Center For Independence

Programs: The independent living program is our principal program. As a certified center for independent living we have a mandate from the federal government to provide the following services, and to provide additional services to meet the needs of local people with disabilities. Information, referrals, and options counseling to help people find and decide on resources individual and systems advocacy to eliminate barriers facing people with disabilities peer support from other people with disabilities who have been there independent living skills training to allow people to manage their own lives, speak up for themselves, and access the programs and services they want transition services for those wanting to leave a restrictive environment (like high school, the parents home, or nursing homes) for a less restrictive one, and to help people stay out of institutionswe provide these services through a framework of consumer control (people develop their own goals, and people with disabilities run the company), cross disability services (serving people of any age, with any disability), a focus on self-help and peer support, and the goal of equal access to society. In 2017 swilc served 581 people. Of those, 35% were age 60+. The most common issues were community-based living, self-care, and personal resource management. An additional 1562 people received information & referral (without opening consumer service records).

southwest rides is our transportation program, providing free accessible driver-assisted transportation for people with disabilities, the aging, and veterans to medical appointments and the food bank. The program is still in development, having operated only the last 4 months of the year. There were 40 people who accessed assisted transportation in 2017.

the low vision program provides specialized independent living services for people aged 55 and older who are experiencing age-related vision loss. Services include peer support groups, mobility and home assessments, access to assistive technology, and education about eye disease and technology. In 2017 112 people were served with 11 receivng assistive technology.