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Services for Independent Living (SIL) is a not-for-profit center for independent living (CIL).  As a CIL, 51 percent or more of the agency's Board of Directors and staff are persons with disabilities who have personally experienced the attitudinal and physical barriers associated with having a disability.

SIL serves a seven county area:

Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cooper, Howard, Montgomery and Randolph.

SIL is:

  • Consumer-Controlled - vests power and authority in individuals with disabilities;

  • Community-Based - designed by and for the local community;

  • Cross-Disability - serves persons with all types of disabilities;

  • Non-Residential - does not operate any type of residential facility.

SIL's Three Guiding Principles:

  • Choice.  SIL educates people with disabilities about the many opportunities available in their community, enabling them to make more informed choices.

  • Control.  People with disabilities have control over their lives through informed choices.  SIL empowers people with disabilities, encouraging them to become informed and thereby control their lives.

  • Change.  Change occurs on an individual and systems level through information, education, and advocacy.

Four Core Services:

  • Advocacy.   SIL strives to enable people with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights to obtain services and benefits

  • Independent Living Skills Training.  Through education and support, SIL helps consumers develop individualized independent living plans and teaches skills and techniques necessary to maintaining and increasing their level of independence.

  • Information and Referral.  SIL provides consumers and their families, service providers, and the community-at-large with information about and referral to community resources and disability services.

  • Peer Support.  SIL provides mentoring opportunities for others with similar disabilities to discuss problem-solving strategies for overcoming barriers in their lives.