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What is Independent Living?

"Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities and self-respect. Independent Living does not mean that we want to do everything by ourselves and do not need anybody or that we want to live in isolation. Independent Living means that we demand the same choices and control in our everyday lives that our non-disabled brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends take for granted. We want to grow up in our families, go to the neighborhood school, use the same bus as our neighbors, work in jobs that are in line with our education and interests, and start families of our own.

Since we are the best experts on our needs, we need to show the solutions we want, need to be in charge of our lives, think and speak for ourselves - just as everybody else. To this end we must support and learn from each other, organize ourselves and work for political changes that lead to the legal protection of our human and civil rights.

We are profoundly ordinary people sharing the same need to feel included, recognized and loved.

As long as we regard our disabilities as tragedies, we will be pitied.
As long as we feel ashamed of who we are, our lives will be regarded as useless.
As long as we remain silent, we will be told by others what to do." Adolf Ratzka 2005

The Independent Living Center, Inc. (ILC) is a non-profit organization run by persons with disabilities for persons with disabilities. Our mission is as follows:

"Promote choice, independence and quality of life for individuals and families living with disability."

We are a non-profit 501 (C) 3 corporation registered with the IRS and State of Alaska. In keeping with IL Philosophy, a majority of ILC's staff and Board of Directors are people who experience disabilities. ILC was incorporated in 1991 and we have grown to support three offices on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. The Homer office opened its doors in 1991 and covers Anchor Point, Ninilchik, Seldovia, Port Graham, Nanwalek and all communities in between. We opened a satellite office in Soldotna in 1995 to serve the Central Kenai Peninsula, including Soldotna, Kenai, Kasilof, Clam Gulch, Nikiski, Sterling and Cooper Landing. The satellite office in Seward was opened in 1997 to better serve the communities of Moose Pass and Seward. We make quarterly visits to Kodiak Island and communities in the Valdez/Cordova Census Area. All of the services we offer are designed to assist families and individuals who experience disabilities to live as independently as possible in the homes and communities of their choice.

The services we provide are consumer directed. You as the consumer along with your family and/or support system, identify the services you need and together with staff, decide how best to acquire the services and assistance you need. Please check out the services link to find specific services and contact information for staff that can assist you or review the program brochures below.