Eastern Shore Center For Independent Living
NO LONGER MUST DISABLED INDIVIDUALS OF VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE LIVE IN A COCOON OF DOUBTS FEARS, MYTHS OR MISCONCEPTIONS OF WHAT THEIR FUTURE CAN HOLD.
THE EASTERN SHORE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING BELIEVES THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS THE RIGHT TO FLY FREE AS A BUTTERFLY TO REACH HIS OR HER OWN LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Mission Statement
The Eastern Shore Center For Independent Living (ESCIL) program’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to make their own life choices and to realize their greatest potential as individuals, to assist people with disabilities to be able to impact policies that affect their daily lives and to access resources necessary for their independence in their homes and community.
Independent Living should not be defined in terms of living on one’s own being employed in a job fitting one’s capabilities and interests, or having an active social life. These are aspects of living independently. Independent Living has right and opportunity to pursue a course of action. And, it has the freedom to fail – and to learn from one’s failure.
Philosophy of Independent Living
Independent Living is based on the premise that individuals with disabilities are capable of self-determination and that programs established to provide services to the individual with disabilities should be impacted at every point by the individual themselves. Independent Living Centers are non-residential community based programs reflecting the needs of individuals with disabilities and the community at large, taking direction from those who benefit most directly from the services provided. It is therefore, mandatory that all centers be private, non-profit, consumer controlled, and that they play a key role in effecting policies and programs that impact individuals with disabilities. Toward this end, ESCIL has committed itself to the establishment of an Independent Living Center to serve the citizens of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The establishment of this center has been like the Independent Living movement itself, an evolutionary progress.
