CORE SERVICES

Each Center for Independent Living in Virginia provides four basic core services.

PEER COUNSELING
The Independent Living Coordinators employed by the Center are individuals with disabilities who share similar life experiences to those coming into the Center and are able to share their experience in a manner that will assist those coping with the effects of disability in their lives.  Participants are expected to develop a plan to achieve maximum independence and set goals toward accomplishing that independence.  Through counseling, participants learn about the needs and resources required for meeting their individual independent living goals.  Counselors assist but do not set, the individual to set achievable goals that best fit their own level of aspiration within reasonable timeframes.  Peer counseling can be provided individually or in a group setting.

INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING
Based on the needs of participants, programs are designed to teach individuals with disabilities the skills necessary for acquiring, maintaining, or increasing their independence.  Individual and group training is provided in several categories including personal assistant management, building self-esteem, money management, navigating one's environment, and self-advocacy.  All programs are designed to meet individual needs.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
Center staff members identify resources, services, and service providers in public, private, and community organizations that are capable of assisting in achieving the goals set in the Peer Counseling process.  Building on the concept that knowledge is power, information is provided about community and personal assets that can bring accomplishment to personal goals.  Referrals to other service organizations are regularly a part of putting together the "total package" to meet individual independent living needs or the removal of barriers to achieving those goals.

INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY
JCIL is committed to the concept that self-advocacy is the most powerful element of community and institutional change.  Staff members train and assist individuals with disabilities to understand and exercise their civil rights regarding government and other service providers.  Junction Center for Independent Living, Inc. will intervene with governmental entities, individuals, groups, agencies, organizations, and systems to insure the maximum inclusion of persons with disabilities in community life.