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  3. Aging and Disability Networks
  4. Centers for Independent Living

Centers for Independent Living

Local, community-based nonprofits providing in-person support to help people with disabilities thrive and live independently

Find a CIL Near You at dial.gov

Living with Independence

The Independent Living (IL) Movement is built on the belief that people with disabilities have the right to:

  • Make their own choices
  • Direct their own lives
  • Have equal access to society

"Nothing about us without us." — IL Movement

What CILs Do

Authorized Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, CILs work to:

Empower people with disabilities with the knowledge, strategies, and resources they need to direct their own lives.

Teach people with disabilities skills needed to live independently, find work, and support themselves financially.

Led by People with Disabilities

  • More than 350 CILs operate across every U.S. state and territory.
  • Two-thirds of CIL staff are individuals with disabilities. They use their own experiences and practical tools to help others make their own choices and shape their own lives.
  • People with disabilities hold 75% of CIL decision-making positions.

CILs by the Numbers

  • 40,000 youth transitioned into the workforce.
  • 50,000 individuals pursued employment through vocational services.
  • 201,000 individuals achieved personal goals in health, household management and budgeting, community living, self-advocacy, and technology access.
  • 7,456 individuals moved from institutional settings into the community.

Sources: CILs PPR FY22 (Public); 2020–21 Annual Report

Core Services Offered by Every CIL

  • Information and referrals to services and resources
  • Training in independent living skills, such as personal care, budgeting, and household management
  • Peer counseling, support, and mentoring
  • Individual and systems advocacy
  • Transition support to help move into and remain in the community, including young adults planning for life after school

Additional Services, Based on Community Need

  • Job search assistance and training
  • Housing searches, modifications, and assistance
  • Assistive technology access, training, and support
  • Transportation assistance
  • Healthcare navigation and service access
  • Benefits eligibility, application, and enrollment assistance
  • Recreation, socialization, and peer supports
  • Emergency preparedness and response planning
  • Advocacy and assistance in schools
  • Legal rights education

Real People. Real Impact.

From School to Success, George Thrives

In his final year of high school, George, a 19-year-old with an intellectual disability, participated in Project SEARCH at the Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast. Through hands-on job training in several fields, he gained the skills and confidence to enter the workforce.

After graduation, a local car dealership offered him a full-time job in its maintenance department. The CIL helped George and his family find and use the programs and services that supported his employment.

George now works full time. He has earned his driver’s license and owns a car, which helps him get to a job he loves.

Shared Experience Helps Emma Stay in School

Eight-year-old Emma was born with one arm. After she experienced ongoing bullying, her school viewed her response as “bad behavior” and threatened to expel her. She was referred to Able SC.

The CIL paired her with LaQuanda, a staff member with a similar disability. LaQuanda helped the school recognize the bullying and make changes to better include students with disabilities.

With LaQuanda’s support, Emma’s family and school developed a plan that allowed her to stay enrolled. LaQuanda also became a mentor who could draw on shared experience. Her guidance helped Emma stay in school, build confidence, and imagine a future in which she lives independently.

All Allan Wanted Was to Live on His Own

Allan, 66, was receiving treatment at a rehabilitation facility after experiencing homelessness. He wanted to live independently in the community.

His local CIL helped him access his Social Security benefits, which allowed him to qualify for a subsidized apartment. When an apartment became available, the CIL team supported his transition by providing household essentials, including furniture, linens, and groceries.

Allan now enjoys his own apartment and everyday freedoms he did not have before, such as doing his own laundry and going shopping.

Small things that mean everything.
 

Other Related Questions:

What Is the Independent Living Services Program?

ACL's independent living programs work to support community living and independence for people with disabilities across the nation based on the belief that all people can live with dignity, make their own choices, and participate fully in society. These programs provide tools, resources, and supports for integrating people with disabilities fully into their communities to promote equal opportunities, self-determination, and respect.

Learn more about the Independent Living Services (ILS) Program.

What Is a State Independent Living Council (SILC)?

Each state and U.S. territory is required to maintain a statewide independent living council (SILC). The council and the centers for independent living (CILs) within the state develop a state plan for independent living (SPIL). The SPIL is a document required by law that indicates how the IL network is going to improve independent living services for individuals with disabilities over the next three years. It identifies the needs and priorities of consumers, providers, and other stakeholders and sets forth goals and objectives to respond to them.

Having a strong network for independent living in a state or territory is crucial. Collaborating on the SPIL development can help create a cohesive and unified vision among all stakeholders who have an interest in issues that impact citizens with disabilities.

Learn more about the statewide independent living councils (SILCs).

What Is a State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL)?

State plans for independent living (SPILs) show how federal, state, and other funds will be used to support the state’s independent living programs, as well as collaborations with other partners in the state and other ACL grantees to enhance and expand service delivery and options for individuals with disabilities.

Sec. 704(a) of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, requires the review and revision of the SPIL no less than once every three years to ensure the existence of appropriate planning, financial support and coordination, and other assistance to appropriately address, on a statewide and comprehensive basis, needs in the state for:

  • The provision of independent living services in the state.
  • The development and support of a statewide network of centers for independent living.
  • Working relationships and collaboration between centers for independent living and:
    • Entities carrying out programs that provide independent living services, including those serving older individuals.
    • Other community-based organizations that provide or coordinate the provision of housing, transportation, employment, information and referral assistance, services, and supports for individuals with significant disabilities.
    • Entities carrying out other programs providing services for individuals with disabilities.

The SPILs also includes the following:

  • The core services that WIOA requires.
  • An explanation and requirement for the state matching requirement.
  • Legal basis and certifications, DSE assurances, and SILC assurances.
  • A chart for the financial plan.
  • A chart for centers' for independent living service areas and oversight.
  • A signatures section.

More Information and Resources:

Monthly OILP Connection Calls

November 2024 OILP Connection Call

December 2024 OILP Connection Call

List of Centers for Independent Living by State

View a list of centers for independent living by state.

Office of Independent Living Programs Contact List

View the Office of Independent Living contact list.

Office of Independent Living Programs Monthly Newsletters

To request a copy of the newsletter, please email OILP@acl.hhs.gov. 

2026 Newsletters

2025 Newsletters

2024 Newsletters

2023 Newsletters

Fiscal Information for IL Programs

Fiscal Information for IL programs page.

Program Performance Reporting Information
Compliance and Outcome Monitoring

The Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) uses a three-tier system to evaluate and monitor center for independent living (CIL) grantees. Tier one includes a grantee dashboard completed over the course of the fiscal year. Tier two reviews focus on specific program(s) or fiscal issues. Tier three are comprehensive program and fiscal reviews. The Compliance and Outcome Monitoring Protocol (COMP) provides transparency and consistency in the oversight of CIL grantees, helps identify training, and technical assistance needs across the network. 

The purpose of the COMP is to improve program performance. The OILP relies on the COMP to provide consistent federal oversight of CIL grantees. Grantees may use the COMP to understand program and fiscal requirements and to conduct self-evaluations. Non-federal reviewers will use the COMP as a resource to ensure consistency during onsite reviews. 

Learn more and view COMP documents.

Compliance Reviews:

FY2024

FY2023

FY2021-FY2022

FY2020-FY2021

FY2019

  • ACL conducted pilot desktop reviews. Pilot reports were not made public.
Funding Tables

See funding tables for federal grant funds, provided to each state, under Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living Programs

 

View frequently asked questions and answers about the Independent Living Programs.

 

AoD IL Technical Assistance Evaluation

AoD contracted with RTI to evaluate the technical assistance offered to the independent living programs. Overall, respondents were satisfied with the current technical assistance offered. See the below materials for more detail:

Annual Performance Data and Outcomes

CIL Annual Performance Data

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires CILs that receive Title VII Subchapter C funding to report annually on their activities, achievements, resources, and needs.

CIL’s, using the Annual Program Performance Report (PPR) form, submit these data to the ACL Independent Living Administration.

ILS Annual Performance Data

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires that each designated state entity (DSE) and statewide independent living council (SILC) report annually on their activities, achievements, resources, and needs.

DSEs and SILCs, using the PPR form, jointly submit these data to ACL's Independent Living Administration.

The following includes downloadable ILS and CIL PPR datafiles.

CIL Annual Program Performance Report (PPR) Datafiles*  

The CIL reporting periods start on September 30 of the listed report year and end on September 29 of the following year. For example, the 2021 CIL PPR data reporting period is September 30, 2021-September 29, 2022.  

ILS Annual Program Performance Report (PPR) Datafiles*    

The ILS reporting periods follow the federal fiscal year for the listed report year. For example, the 2021 ILS PPR data reporting period is October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021. 

*The datafiles provided here do not include qualitative data. These data have been removed from these files to protect the privacy of individuals receiving and providing ILS and CIL services.

Annual Reports

2020-2021 Annual Report

On February 14, 2024, Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities Jill Jacobs submitted the 2020 and 2021 combined annual report on the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) program in accordance with Title VII, Chapter I, Part C in the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.

2019 Annual Report

On Monday, November 30, 2020, Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities Julie Hocker submitted the 2019 annual report for the independent living programs, in accordance with Title VII, Chapter I, Part C in the Rehabilitation Act, as amended. This report reflects the more than 200,000 individuals who in PY2019 benefited from community-based services to live independently in communities across our nation.

2018 Annual Report 

On Monday, March 30, 2020, Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities Julie Hocker submitted the 2018 annual report for the independent living programs, in accordance with Title VII, Chapter I, Part C in the Rehabilitation Act, as amended. 

Additional Resources

Last modified on 08/21/2026


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