Houston Center for Independent Living

Overview
Headquarters: 
Houston, TX, United States
Website: 
hcil.cc
Founded: 
1975
Areas of Focus: 
Human Services
Diseases / Disorders
Populations Served: 
All Populations
About Us
Mission: 

HCIL, BCCIL, and FBCIL promote the full inclusion, equal opportunity and participation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of community life. We believe that people with disabilities have the right to make choices affecting their lives, a right to take risks, a right to fail, and a right to succeed.

Programs: 

Information & Referral

"I'm looking for a place to live, once I've completed my stay at the rehab hospital. The doctor said I may also need some help with my personal care. Do you know where I might find accessible housing? Do you know where and how to find a personal assistant?"

HCIL, BCCIL and FBCIL staff will help you learn who to call and what to ask.

Peer Support

"I am visually impaired, and it's hard to meet people.

I'm lonely and need to become involved in something."

One of our greatest roles is sharing experiences and offering encouragement from someone who has been there. Support from peers can assist you as you explore integration into the community.

Individual & Systems Advocacy

"There is a class in bookkeeping I'm interested in taking at a nearby business college, but there is no elevator to the top floor where the class is being offered. I am a wheel chair user... what should I do?"

It is important to know your rights and advocate for them.

HCIL, BCCIL and FBCIL staff will work with you to make sure you have that knowledge. Self advocacy is the best advocacy of all.

Independent Living Skills Training

"I will be getting out of the hospital soon and will be doing things around the house differently than before my disability. Who can help me with some ideas?"

Information from professionals is one thing, but actually applying it to real life is another. HCIL, BCCIL and FBCIL offer information and workshops on topics such as financial and money management skills, personal attendant management, using public transportation systems, social security do's and don'ts, adaptations to the home, and much more.

Coordination of Services

"I have been given a lot of information about benefits and services so that I can live independently, but can someone help me put the pieces of the puzzle together?"

While CIL staff maintains an entire data base of resource information to provide consumers the most choices, we are continuously looking for ways to fill the unmet needs that still exist. These are just a few of the resource tools available to CIL staff:

  • Rehabilitation Act
  • Technical assistance
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Disability culture and awareness
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  • Leisure and recreation opportunity options
industry: 
Nonprofit