What
is a CIL?
Liberty Resources is one of over 400 independent living centers
nationwide. All centers are consumer controlled; that is, a majority
of the governing Board and staff are people with disabilities.
Centers for Independent Living must provide assistance without
regard to disability type and respond to the unique needs of
people with disabilities within their communities. Like all Centers
for Independent Living, Liberty Resources enables persons with
disabilities to live self-sufficiently in a manner of their own
choosing by providing individuals with a menu of services. Core
services which must be offered by each center are:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Liberty Resources, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board was established in 1982 when Liberty Resources, Inc. became an independent and self-governing entity. The Board is controlled by Persons with Disabilities and is responsible for establishing plans, policies, and goals for the Center. The Chief Executive Officer is directly accountable to the Board and, on its behalf, the Executive Committee of the Board. The Board meets periodically at Liberty Resources and staff will be notified of the time and date of such meetings. All Board meetings are open to the public unless a matter requiring confidentiality is being considered.
Click here if you would like to fill out a nomination form for Liberty Resources Board of Directors.
Four Core Services
ADVOCACY
The roots of all Independent Living Centers lie within
the Disability Rights Movement of the 1970s - a movement initiated
to enable individuals with disabilities to have the same life
choices as non‑disabled persons. Liberty Resources maintains
a commitment to work to continually advocate for the rights of
individuals with disabilities. Activities focus on individual,
as well as systems change advocacy.
- Consumer Advocacy Group
Known as Consumer Connection, group consists of individuals, as well as a coalition of Liberty’s Consumers, who devote their time to advocate on behalf of all Consumers around key issues such as Personal Assistance Services, housing, health care, and transportation. - ALFIE
The Alliance For Inclusive Education (ALFIE) is comprised of current and former disabled students of the Philadelphia School District, parents, and other interested disability rights advocates and organizations. ALFIE’s mission is to promote inclusion of all students in education in Philadelphia and eventually, statewide. - Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors of Liberty Resources. Its composition includes Board, staff, Consumers, and community members. Its charge is to determine and prioritize the advocacy agenda for the CIL. - Collaboration with DIA
Disabled in Action (DIA) is the Philadelphia chapter of the national grassroots advocacy group known as ADAPT. Liberty works closely wit DIA in support of local, statewide, and national advocacy efforts. These efforts include legislative days, rallies, protests, marches, and non-violent demonstrations.
INFORMATION & REFERRAL
This service provides Consumers,
families, and professionals with information about disability
issues and programs, facilitating linkage through referrals to
needed services within Liberty Resources or from another resource.
Click here to see the answers to some commonly asked questions.
- Peer Support Services offer a Consumer the opportunity to work with one individual or within a group. A Consumer may be paired with another person with a disability who has life experiences to share and to mentor the less-experienced Consumer. With this individual support, the Consumer can explore options, make informed decisions, and achieve individually defined control over his or her life.
- Peer Support Counselors may be staff members or Community Advocates. Community Advocates are specially-trained Consumers who visit other Consumers in nursing homes and provide peer support, companionship, and share information on independent living to those who wish to transition into the community.
- Cross‑Disability Support Groups are made up of individuals with a variety of disabilities, who come together to share their experiences and support and who learn from one another. Currently, active support groups are for young people between ages 18 and 27 and disabled women over age 50.
- Volunteer Program - To assist the Center in all operations from skills training to clerical activities, volunteers who have disabilities, as well as those who do not, are recruited on a regular basis. Volunteers broaden their horizons and, in some cases, increase their prospects for employment through their experiences at Liberty Resources.
- Youth Outreach Project -The Young Persons' Outreach Project (YPOP) focuses on school-aged children with disabilities and their parents to role model as well as educates them about independent living. Center staff provides skills training and assist with planning independent futures. Participation in Transitional Fairs is a big part of YPOP.
SKILLS TRAINING
Training services offer individuals the opportunity
to learn and practice those skills needed to live independently
in the community. Training is provided individually and in small
groups and emphasizes independent living skills, such as budgeting/
financial management, personal assistant management, nutrition
and meals, Consumer rights and responsibilities, community mobility,
socialization, and communication. Read
more about our skills
training classes.
