Living independently means different things to people. For some, it is the freedom and ability to make choices on how to live their life. For others, it may mean living free from the restraints of institutional care. No matter the definition, the choice to live as one chooses is the basis of the Independent Living Program.

The NICIL Team works with our consumers on the goals that they want to select. Our work is consumer focus/consumer-driven with support from the NICIL Team members. We do not tell our consumers what to do. Instead, we talk about options and give support so that the consumer can make an informed choice.

Believe it or not, defining independent living is hard to put into words! So here is some of the support we are able to help our consumers with as they live their independent life:

• Housing (identification of appropriate housing, applications, etc.)
• Benefit program support (Medicaid application, Social Security application, etc.)
• Advocacy support (understanding rights, training on self-empowerment, etc.)
• Peer support (understanding and navigating a disability)
• Information and Referral (getting resources to support)

Much more as independence is living!