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Independent living.
It’s
self-reliance.
It’s the freedom to pursue goals.
It’s
removing barriers.
It’s changing lives…
changing
Georgia.
Changing lives, changing Georgia. It’s what independent living is all about. The Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, Inc. is a nonprofit organization. We believe that disabilities exist because barriers exist. Thus, our mission is to ensure equal participation of disabled people in their communities. We do this by granting funds to agencies that serve Georgians with disabilities and by advocating for statewide community-based support services — in programs run by and for people with disabilities
SILC of Georgia changes lives by managing and distributing funds that
make independent living a reality for people we know and love: people like our
children, our brothers and sisters, our parents, grandparents and friends.
Through grants, we make it possible for them to be more self-reliant — in
urban, suburban and rural regions of the state. These grants provide
opportunities for many Georgians to remain in their own homes and communities
rather than nursing homes or institutions. These grants ensure that homes and
public places are accessible to people with all types of disabilities. And
these grants also ensure that important information and services are available
to people with hearing, vision and other impairments.
SILC of Georgia’s purpose is also to educate the public about our
services and the unique needs of people with disabilities. We do this by
conducting and publishing the results of public opinion polls, disseminating
information on a variety of issues and advocating for social change—
change that enriches the lives of all Georgians. Like we have helped enrich the
life of Josephine Pearson. Josephine is blind and received mobility training
from Walton Options for Independent Living.
WOIL is an Augusta area Center for Independent Living that receives some of its
funding from SILC of Georgia. “When I went blind I was scared. I sat
here alone and afraid. But mobility training helped me realize I can still
participate in my life and the lives of others. I’m even planting a patio
garden and enjoying my yard again, thanks to the confidence I have gained from
the WOIL program.”
These pages illustrate how Georgia residents and Centers for Independent Living benefit from SILC of Georgia funding, and our vision for a barrier-free environment in our state.