Partnerships

ILO’s partnerships with other families and community groups (churches, disability service providers, social service organizations and other non-profit organizations) provide support for our self-advocates that extend and supplement public funding. When we use the term “community partnership”, we refer to partnering with other families and community groups to create more choices and a better quality of life for our self-advocates. Combined with public funding, strong community partnerships offer sustainable independent living opportunities for our family members with special needs.

Promoting Independence

Currently 54 million individuals with disabilities live in the United States. Each one of these 54 million people needs a place to live and access to the resources that support them so that they may live as independently and inclusively as possible in the community.

• At this time many of these individuals rely on government funding to meet their needs.
• Some individuals with disabilities do not have access to government funding due to long waiting lists or because they do not qualify.
• Many individuals eligible to receive government funding must wait until sufficient funding is available.
• Other individuals who receive support but need additional services cannot receive them because of the long waiting list, and some state(s) do not have the budget for the additional services.

Waiting lists for funding or additional funding for services are extremely long, and individuals can wait many years. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee funding will ever become available.

At ILO, we believe that combining private supports with public funding is the answer.

To learn more about community partnerships, please click here to download the Center for Independent Futures® free guide, Alternative Housing Options for Individuals with Disabilities: A Guide for Forming and Implementing Community Partnerships.