Independent Living Funding

The West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (the Council) is supporting the improvement package for a $500,000 continuing increase in funding for independent living services submitted by the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services. Independent Living (IL) services are critical to ensure West Virginians with disabilities have access to the resources and supports they need to live self-determined, independent lives in their own homes and communities.

Uses of the funding during FY 06:

95%, combined with federal funds, to the centers for independent living (CILs) for the Community Living Services Program to provide:
Home Modifications
Assistive Devices and Equipment
Communication Services
And other IL services that enable individuals to live independently
5% to the Council to support administrative costs and IL projects

2006 Statistics of West Virginians with Disabilities and their Independent Living Service needs:

272 people with disabilities received services
14 people passed away while waiting for services
$204,441 in federal funding was utilized
$22,800 in state funding was utilized
$76,792 in additional resources were leveraged (increasing resources by 34%)

IL services enable West Virginians with disabilities to return to or remain in their own homes and communities and are critical to West Virginia's compliance with the most integrated setting provision set forth in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Olmstead Decision.

Waiting lists maintained by the CILs totaled nearly 300 people as of September 30th. The CILs, with the support of the SILC, have decided to expand their service areas for this program to provide statewide coverage (see attached map). This will result in rapid growth of the waiting lists, with individuals from the previously unserved counties being added on with at least some hope of receiving services in the future.

For more information contact Ann Watts McDaniel, WV Statewide Independent Living Council 304-766-4624 (office) or 304-617-1417 (cell) or email: ann.meadows@wvsilc.org.

Pursuant to the WV Independent Living Act of 2001, funding for independent living services is governed by the State Plan for Independent Living and is monitored by the WV Statewide Independent Living Council.