Centers for Independent Living

The center provides services for people with disabilities, older adults and veterans, in Los Angeles County. Services include attendant registries, centers for independent living, disability related transportation, housing search assistance, independent living skills instruction, and specialized information and referral. Services are restricted to the San Fernando Valley including Burbank and Glendale, the Santa Clarita Valley, and Lancaster, excluding home barrier evaluation/removal services, which is open to Los Angeles County residents.

Specialized information and referral is available to a variety of services and agencies which can assist people to increase their level of independence. This may include referrals for affordable, accessible housing; advocacy to ensure clients' rights, including assistance in landlord/tenant disputes and in questions of access for people with disabilities, and education in self-advocacy; independent living skills training; attendant referrals (personal assistant); individual and group counseling; and services for deaf and hearing-impaired clients, information about obtaining a TTY line, assistive technology and home modifications.

The independent living skills training is individualized and is based on a plan developed between the client and coordinator. The agency operates a training house where skills are taught and practiced. The areas of training may include homemaking, management of finances, personal hygiene, horticulture, use of adaptive equipment, self-dependency, office simulation, job/career assessment, and job search and placement. An Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury, ATBI, program which includes the above classes is also available.

The California Community Transition (CCT) program provides assistance in transitioning from an institutional setting (such as a nursing facility) back into the community. To be eligible, the applicant must have been residing in a health care facility for at least 3 months, must be a Medi-Cal recipient or Medi-Cal eligible, and has the desire to move into a community-based living arrangement. The Transition Specialist assists the applicant with housing search, assesses what support services are available to the client, and works with the person's physician and other care-givers to plan and coordinate a move to community living. The program can provide residents with a variety of secondary support services such as referrals for Personal Assistants, Independent Living Skills training, transportation services, employment assistance, and assistive technology devices.