Home > Advocacy in Action > 2006 Legislative Initiative
In FY 2005, the WV Centers for Independent Living met the independent living needs of 362 individuals with disabilities in a 27 county area of West Virginia through the Community Living Services Program (CLSP).
The purpose of the Community Living Services Program is to "ensure that West Virginians with disabilities have equal access to the resources and supports they need to live self-determined, independent lives in their own homes and communities."
Some of the services provided include:
The FY 2005 budget for the independent living services program included $207,441.00 in federal funding and $22,800.00 in state funds. West Virginia is currently receiving the maximum federal funding level available to provide independent living services. Funding increases for the program must come from state revenues.
With the current level of federal and state funding, the WVCIL is able to serve people with disabilities in only 27 of West Virginia's 55 counties. Provided, in PDF format, is a map of West Virginia highlighting the counties served.
As of November 1, 2005, the WVCIL has a waiting list of approximately 400 individuals with disabilities requesting independent living services. The waiting list continues to grow daily. To learn more about the WVCIL 2005 Waiting List view a copy of the most recently updated list, in PDF format: 2005 Waiting List.
Since current funding is inadequate to meet the independent living needs of the approximately 410,000 people with disabilities across our state (the highest rate in the nation), the WVCIL is committed to educating and encouraging our legislators during the 2006 WV Legislative session to recognize that independent living services are critical to ensure that people of all ages with disabilities across our state have access to the resources they need to live independently in their homes and communities.
WVCIL is requesting an increase of $500,000 in state funding, bringing it to a total of $524,000, in the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services budget for Independent Living (IL) Services to expand the availability of such services to the disability community in West Virginia.
The WV Centers for Independent Living is a statewide network of independent living centers in West Virginia. There are four federally funded centers for independent living in West Virginia, three CIL branch offices and a Web-based virtual CIL in West Virginia located at www.mtstcil.org.
Mountain State Centers for Independent Living supports the efforts of the Delegates to the 2005 Youth Caucus to pass legislation to annually designate the third week of October as "Disability History Week".
Updated: January 22, 2006
