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• What is the Endependence Center?

            Endependence Center, Inc., is a consumer controlled, non-residential,

        community based Center for Independent Living that assists persons

        with disabilities to lead independent, productive lives; by developing

        skills, individual potential and encouraging full community participation.

        Endependence Center, Inc., serves persons with disabilities to create

        positive life changes in self-direction, housing, education, employment,

        and community involvement. ECI serves the community to create an

        environment that is accessible to all citizens. Endependence Center, Inc.,

        is a private, non-profit organization serving South Hampton Roads;

        funded by federal, state and local governments, grants, contracts,

        fees for services and private contributions.

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• History

            The Endependence Center (ECI) was the first Center for Independent

        living in Virginia. ECI is one of a network of Centers for Independent

        Living in the Commonwealth and more than 300 nationwide. The service

        area includes Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk,

        Franklin and Isle of Wight County.

               Annually, hundreds of individuals with disabilities receive direct

        services. The "Peer Counseling" model is highly successful and is the core

        of our services program. The Center has expertise in a broad range of

        disability related areas. Staff are often asked to participate in state and

        national level policy development and advocacy. The Center provides

        advice and consultation in such areas as Special Education, Accessible

        Design, Disability Awareness Training,Housing Policy and Planning.

        Consumers (individuals with disabilities) control all aspects of the

        Center including service delivery, management and establishment of

        policy. The Board of Directors is composed of members from the local

        community, the majority of whom are consumers. The majority of Center

        staff members also are consumers.

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• What is Independent Living?

            What is independent living? Essentially, it is living just like everyone

        else--having opportunities to make decisions that affect one's life, able

        to pursue activities of one's own choosing--limited only in the same

        ways that one's non-disabled neighbors are limited. 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 to do with self-determination. It is having the right and the    

        opportunity to pursue a course of action. And, it is having the freedom to

        fail -- and to learn from one's failures, just as non-disabled people do.

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• Counseling Service

        Peer Counseling

        This one-to-one counseling model emphasizes that a counselor

        with shared experiences is the best guide to independence.

        The Peer Counselor

      1.  Provides motivation and serves as a role model for achieving

                full potential.

        2.  Helps in the establishment of realistic goals for independence.

        3.  Assists with self-exploration of realistic goals for independence.

        4.  Provides emotional support.

        5.  Provides referrals to appropriate community resources.

        Group Counseling

        This monthly support group provides a forum where individuals

        with disabilities explore common issues and share strategies for success.

        The purpose of Group Counseling is to --

            1. Help build a peer support network.

            2.  Provide a setting to discuss disability issues.

            3. Encourage problem solving through individual empowerment.

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• Independent Living Training Skills

        Training provides participants the basic skills to support independent

        living goals. Trainings take place in a classroom setting or can be

        individually designed. Examples Include --

            1. Self-Advocacy/Assertiveness

            2.  Sexuality

            3.   Employment Readiness

            4.  Literacy

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• Advocacy and Workshops

            1. Systems Advocacy

                Staff members engage in activities that result in positive

                changes and greater accessibility to service delivery systems on the

                 local, state and national levels.

            2. Individual Advocacy

                Assistance is provided to individuals with disabilities to resolve  

                discrimination complaints in all areas including housing, education,  

                employment, transportation, public accommodation and community

                programs.

           3. Information and Referral

                Current disability related information and referral to other

                community organizations and programs is provided.

            4. Educational Workshops

                ECI organizes and conducts workshops on disability-related

                topics such as:

                        - Center Services

                        - Disability Awareness Sensitivity Training

                        - Programmatic and Physical Accessibility

                        - Disability Law and Regulatory Requirements such as:

                                ADA, VDA, Rehab. Act (504), EDIA, Fair Housing Act

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• Disability Services

            1. Technical Assistance

                    ECI surveys public and private facilities to determine the

                    most economical and efficient accessibility.

            2. Housing Referral and Placement
                    ECI works with the individual and public/private housing

                    sources to locate affordable and accessible housing.

            3. Employment Services

                   Employment counseling, pre-employment skills/training and

                    job placement is provided by ECI.

            4. Contract Services

                    ECI has developed an expertise in a number of disability

                    related areas. The staff of ECI are recognized at both the State

                    and National level and are often selected for policy and technical

                    Contract services on both the national and state-wide basis and

                    has developed fee schedules for a wide array of services offered

                    to public entities, private corporations and other non-profit     

                    organizations. ECI can provide the following services on a

                    contract basis:

                            Americans With Disabilities Act:

                                    ECI will assist with the compliance issues for Title I

                                    (Employment), ]Title II (State and Local Government)

                                    and Title III (Public Accommodations). ECI staff is

                                    available to present a variety of services in this area.

                                    Disability Awareness trainings for staff, Human

                                    Resource Policy development and review for compliance

                                    and physical and programmatic accessibility. All

                                    services are constructed around the needs of the

                                    particular organization and developed in conjunction

                                    with the contracting agency.

                                        Unique materials include ADA

                                    Title by Title summaries, handbooks for supervisors

                                    and a cognitive curriculum specifically designed to

                                    teach ADA requirements to individuals with cognitive

                                    disabilities.

                        Physical Accessibility Surveys:

                                    ECI has developed an expertise in the area of

                                    physical assessment. ECI staff have conducted

                                    national contracts for HUD Section 504 Compliance

                                    for both non-profit and public housing providers.

                                    State-wide contracts with private property

                                    management firms for Title III compliance for

                                    commercial properties and ADAAG/UFAS reports

                                    for federal contracting public entities. Reports

                                    are provided which include recommendations

                                    and the corresponding code requirement from

                                    the applicable Federal guideline. ECI will work

                                    with on-site staff or be available to advise

                                    contractors until the completion of alterations

                                    recommended in any report. ECI staff will work

                                    with design architects to review and recommend

                                    designs which promote full utilization of facilities,

                                    new construction requirements for public and

                                    private sector developers and recommendations

                                    for effective and efficient modification and alteration

                                    of existing buildings.

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• Education

        ECI has a staff experienced in the area of IDEA requirements and

        can develop training programs for local organizations or educational

        organizations interested in understanding and furthering the educational

        opportunities for children with disabilities. ECI staff can work with local

        school administrations, teachers associations and parent organizations

        in the development of working models which promote compliance and

        cooperation in this most important of disability related areas.    

        Consultation and training materials are available.

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• Housing

        ECI staff will assist both public and private housing providers

        with a variety of housing services. Physical Site assessments with

        written reports to achieve compliance with HUD Section 504,

        HUD Fair Housing Amendments are provided. Training for Housing    

        staff on accommodations for individuals with disabilities and techniques

        for determining legitimate requests from tenants with disabilities.

        Disability Awareness Training for housing staff, Housing Rights

        workshops for Tenant Management groups and Fair Housing Training

        for private sector property management firms. If your organization

        can benefit from the above services, please send inquiries to the

        Director of Community Services.

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• Volunteer Services
  

        ECI provides an opportunity for individuals to assist the Center to

        achieve its goals in a variety of settings.

• Transportation

        Transportation to and from Center activities may be provided

        as required.

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