WHERE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CAN FIND...
- Resource Information
- Advocacy
- Self-Empowerment
- Who We Are
The DuPage Center for Independent Living is a non-residential, community-based, not-for-profit agency which provides advocacy and services to persons with disabilities in DuPage County.
- Our Philosophy
We believe that the presence of a disability must not be allowed to rob a person of his/her right to control the direction of his or her life and to fully participate in the community. We practice this belief by teaching consumers the skills to manage their lives, by providing peer counseling and support, and by advocating for a more open and accessible community.
Most of the people on our staff and our Board are persons with disabilities. This brings a level of understanding and experience which sets the Center apart from traditional service agencies. It also provides positive role models for individuals seeking services.
- Who We Serve
DuPage Center services are available to any individual with a disability, regardless of the type of disability, the age, the gender or the ethnicity of the individual.
SERVICES
- Information and Referral
The Center provides information and referral to anyone seeking it, including persons with disabilities, families, friends, professionals and others. We maintain extensive files on products, equipment, service agencies, housing, transportation, legislation, specific disabilities, and many other topics.
- Peer Counseling
Self-help and peer support are fundamentals of the Independent Living movement. The Center provides peer counseling in both individual and group settings, allowing a full exchange of brainstorming, problem-solving, and sharing of concerns, successes, and techniques for addressing issues.
- Independent Living Skills Training
The Center works with consumers to increase skills which help them gain more control of their lives. Such skills can include money management, job seeking, household management, self-esteem, assertiveness and socialization skills.
- Deaf Services
This program provides services which assist persons who are deaf or hearing impaired to overcome barriers which prevent them from participating in the hearing world. This program parallels the skills training and peer counseling programs, providing similar services designed to meet the needs of individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired.
- Personal Assistant Program
The Center works with consumers who need to hire personal assistants (PAs), teaching them the skills to recruit, interview, hire, train, manage and‹if necessary‹fire PAs. We also recruit and provide orientation to persons wanting to work as PAs, and refer them to consumers. In both instances, we emphasize the role of the consumer as the employer, and the PA as employee, not caregiver.
- Technical Assistance for Business
To promote accessibility and a more open environment throughout the County, the Center provides technical assistance to the business community to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws.
Services include:
- Accessibility Surveys
- Policy Review and Recommendations
- Sensitivity/Awareness Training
- Identification and Implementation of Reasonable Accommodations
EMPOWERMENT
The Key to true empowerment is full knowledge of one's rights, how those rights are protected, and how to utilize the laws that provide such protection.
The Center provides training to consumers on the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Amendment Act, the Illinois Environmental Barriers Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act and other laws related to disabilities.
Other self-advocacy skills are taught, including how to communicate and negotiate with agencies, service providers, employers and others in order to obtain needed benefits, services, or accommodations. Consumers are taught how to participate in the legislative process, and are encouraged to register and to vote.
In addition, the Center advocates for positive change in the community, working to create an awareness of the barriers to participation by persons with disabilities, and how such barriers can be removed.
The DuPage Center is always seeking members, volunteers, Board and Committee members, and donations. You are invited to become a part of our effort.
HELP SUPPORT THE DUPAGE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
The DuPage Center for Independent Living works to empower persons with disabilities in DuPage County to effectively control and direct their lives.
Direct and indirect services are provided so that persons with disabilities can achieve maximal physical, mental, emotional, functional and social independence.
The Center provides leadership through training, community development and advocacy to enable persons with disabilities to fully participate in family, social and community life.
Your support will help us achieve this mission.
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