Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are community-based centers that are run by and for people with disabilities and offer a broad range of services to empower and enable people to stay in the community (ACL, 2020).
Watch and listen as video blog (vlog) host, Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Extension Program Specialist for Special Populations at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, speaks with Pat Morse, LMSW, Program Manager for the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living (BVCIL) about the importance of CILs and highlights specific topics and resources for parents and caregivers.
In part eight of the nine-part vlog series, Ms. Morse provides a brief overview of peer support and identifies programs, services, and resources available through CILs to assist individuals with special needs in asserting control over personal circumstances and choices to increase their independence. Note: Peer support is not considered professional counseling, but rather helps individuals connect and provide knowledge and experiences based on shared health-related conditions as their peers.
Don’t forget to catch up on all of our CIL episodes below.
- Pt. 1: Overview of Centers for Independent Living & Administration for Community Living
- Pt. 2: Centers for Independent Living: Preparing Parents & Caregivers
- Pt. 3: Centers for Independent Living: Transitioning to Adulthood
- Pt. 4: Centers for Independent Living: Advocacy & Self-Determination
- Pt. 5: Centers for Independent Living: Employment Services
- Pt. 6: Centers for Independent Living: Person-Centered Planning
- Pt. 7: Centers for Independent Living: Preventing Abuse, Neglect, & Exploitation
Stay tuned next month as the OneOp Military Caregiving concentration area shares their final vlog session of the series. Vlog host and guest speaker will close out the series by discussing how CILs incorporate caregiver support in the transition process as they navigate services for their loved one with special healthcare needs.
*Additional resources for providers and caregivers at: CIL Vlog Resources by Category
