What is STIC

WHAT IS A CENTER
FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING?

Nonresidential: First of all, Centers for Independent Living are nonresidential. That means nobody lives at our center, and we do not own or operate housing for people with disabilities.

Consumer-Controlled: Centers for Independent Living are controlled by people with disabilities. Most of the members of our Board of Directors have disabilities and most of our management staff have disabilities. At any given time, many or most of our other staff have disabilities. People who use our services decide what services they will get and what use they will make of them. They are responsible for the results of the decisions they make.

Peer Approach: Centers for Independent Livingare based on the idea that people with disabilities know best how to meet their needs and can serve as examples for other people with disabilities--their "peers"--to follow. That is why whenever possible, people with disabilities provide the services at STIC.

Community Change Agent: Assisting people become independent one person at a time is too slow, and we would never be finished if that is all we did. A big part of our work is about getting governments, agencies, schools, and businesses to change how they operate to make sure that people with disabilities are integrated into the community, have good integrated jobs and quality education, and play their proper role in leading society and its organizations. STIC is not just a service agency, we are people with disabilities and their families and friends, all of whom are working to change our community. We encourage and expect you to participate.