The
WV Statewide Independent Living Council was established under the
1992 amendments of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Council members
are appointed by the Governor and include representatives from the
centers for independent living, the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation
Services (WVDRS), and other state agencies that provide services for
individuals with disabilities. The Council consists of twenty-four
voting members and five ex-officio, non-voting members. A majority
of the voting members are individuals with disabilities who are not
employed by a center for independent living employees or a state agency.
This means that the council is consumer controlled and directed, in
keeping with the independent living philosophy.
The independent living
philosophy is one of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination,
equal access, and individual and systems advocacy in order to maximize
the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals
with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals
with disabilities into the mainstream of society.
The Council meets bimonthly,
on the first Wednesday of the even months of the year. Should you
have an issue you would like the Council to address or if you would
like to speak at a meeting, contact the SILC office two weeks prior
to the scheduled Council meeting. The SILC values the input of individuals
across the state and wants to know what your needs and concerns are.
