• Independent Living (IL) Centers were founded on the belief that people with disabilities belong in the community, not in institutions.
• The first IL Center was organized during the 1960s in Berkeley, California. Now there are over 500 IL Centers in the country.
• The Alliance is one of 7 Independent Living Centers in Washington State.
• An IL Center is a community-based organization that works with individuals with disabilities on obtaining access to housing, employment, transportation, communities, recreational facilities, health and social services, and more (www.ilusa.com).
• Those using services are participants, not clients.
• Services are directed by participants.
• IL Centers work with individuals who have all types of disabilities.
• At least 51% of staff and board members must have disabilities.
• IL Centers are not residential.

Four Core Independent Living Services
1. Information and Referral
2. Independent Living Skills Training
3. Peer Counseling (on an individual and group basis)
4. Advocacy (self advocacy and systems advocacy). Our advocacy efforts at the Alliance include the Disabilities Law Project with a lawyer who handles civil rights cases for community members.

"Independent Living is having the right and opportunity to pursue a course of action. And, it is having the freedom to fail-and to learn from one's failures, just as nondisabled people do."
From ILRU