The primary funding for operation of the SILC originates with the Rehabilitation Services Administration, which grants Title VII, Part B funds to the state Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The SILC also pursues funding from other sources, both public and private, to accomplish its mission. The Independent Living program serves all ages of individuals who experience any type of disabili
ty. As the name of the program implies, its primary mission is to foster the independence of people with disabilities, including taking responsibility for personal choices. In addition, the program promotes full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life, and equal access for people with disabilities to the public facilities, programs and opportunities available to nondisabled peers. You are invited to explore the many helpful links that provide a more complete understanding of the Independent Living program, its philosophy, the regulations that guide it and the ways you or people you know can be involved in the Independent Living movement. The "Independent Living" Movement refers to a revolutionary approach to service delivery that is of, by, and for people with disabilities. The Movement began in the late 1960's as an outgrowth of the Civil Rights Movement. Unlike its predecessors, the Medical Model and the Social Service Model, the Independent Living Movement neither attempts to “fix” people with disabilities nor to “manage” their lives. The Independent Living Movement is based in an ideology that people with disabilities have both the right and the responsibility to govern their own lives. Full community integration is the cornerstone of the Independent Living philosophy. For this reason, services provided through the Independent Living Movement are non-residential and are available to consumers regardless of the type or origin of their disabilities. Champions of the Independent Living Movement advance empowerment and inclusion for all people with disabilities.
