West-Central Independent Living Solutions Information

“West-Central Independent Living Solutions works to empower people with disabilities to achieve and maintain their independence.” WILS provides its consumers with the four core services: Information and Referral Advocacy Peer Support Independent Living Skills Training The “Independent Living (IL) Philosophy” guides WILS' policies and procedures. Choice: WILS educates consumers about options that might allow them to live more independently. They can choose to use what they have learned to set new goals. Through community advocacy, WILS works to expand the available range of choices. Control: Once consumers have chosen the goals they wish to pursue, WILS assists them in accomplishing their goals. In this way, the consumers are in control, deciding what needs to be done and how to achieve it. WILS policies are strongly influenced by consumer needs and interests. Advocacy activities are consumer-controlled as well. Change: By learning to make independent choices and by taking control of their own decisions, consumers, with WILS' support and assistance, move away from unnecessary dependency. WILS itself, through community education and advocacy, works to encourage removal of institutional and attitudinal barriers to full inclusion of people with disabilities in community life.