Liberty Resources Home Choices

About

Liberty Resources, Philadelphia’s Center for Independent Living, advocates with disabled people, individually and collectively, to ensure our civil rights and equal access to all aspects of life in the community.

Story

Founded in 1980 by members of the grassroots advocacy group Disabled in Action, Liberty Resources embraces the principles of self-determination and Consumer control – the majority of our governing Board and over 51% of our staff are people with disabilities. In accordance with the philosophy of the Independent Living Movement, which stemmed from the Disability Rights Movement of the 1970s and begat Centers for Independent Living, LRI offers a menu of wraparound services focused on providing tools and resources to empower people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyles.

Mission

Liberty Resources, Philadelphia’s Center for Independent Living, advocates with people who have disabilities, individually and collectively, to ensure our civil rights and equal access to all aspects of life in the community.

Products

LRI serves as a major point of entry into the community for people with disabilities in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, and offers four core services that all CILs must provide by federal mandate:

· Advocacy: Affecting systems change at all levels to secure and protect the rights of individuals with disabilities

· Skills Training: Offering individuals the opportunity to learn and practice those skills needed to live independently in the community

· Peer Support Services: Allowing a Consumer the opportunity to work with another disabled person exploring options, making informed decisions, and gaining individually defined control over his or her life

· Information and Referral: Providing our Consumers, their families, and professionals with information about disability-related issues and programs, facilitating linkage through referrals to services

Recognizing the need and demand for additional services, LRI also offers the following ancillary services:

· Attendant Care, a critical, Consumer-directed Independent Living service which supports a person’s ability to work, live, and attend school independently

· Nursing Home Transitioning Services, which increase outreach and awareness for those who want to transition out of a nursing home to independent living

· Supports Coordination, a Consumer-directed service which provides information, assistance with problem-solving, and referrals to community-based services

· Liberty Retreads, a wheelchair recycling and repair clinic designed to be cost-effective for Consumers