About
For over 30 years, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) Fresno has worked with consumers to promote their independence in the community. CIL's service area includes the five counties of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Madera and Merced.
By charter, at least 51 percent of employees at CIL have disabilities, as does 51 percent of the center’s board of directors. This underscores the importance of consumer control in CIL. The center vests power and authority in individuals with disabilities and is designed by and for the local disability community.
It is also important to note that CIL does not operate any type of residential facility. CIL is not assisted living or skilled nursing facilities, a common misconception. Instead, the CIL staff direct their efforts toward the goal of freeing people with disabilities from institutional living, while educating the community on accessibility issues. With the proper support system from the community, people with disabilities can live where they choose and pursue their dreams just as any other individual does.
Toward this mission, CIL provides peer counseling, information and referral, independent living skills training, individual advocacy for a particular individual and systems advocacy for the community. These and other services provided by the CIL Fresno may be found on the Services page.
Source: CFILC
History of the Independent Living Movement
The birth of the independent living movement has been attributed to a group of students at U.C. Berkeley with disabilities. In 1962, the first severely disabled student was admitted to U.C. Berkeley. By 1969, the number of students with severe disabilities had increased to 12. The UC hospital surroundings were familiar to the new tenants, who had spent countless days and nights in custodial institutions.
A sense of unity and selfconfidence developed as the residents lived in close, continuing contact with each other. As they became more aware of the degree to which control over their lives had been taken over by medical and rehabilitation professionals, the students drew on their own experience to develop a philosophy of independent living. The students believed that they didn’t need to change to become integrated, but rather the environment and the attitudes toward persons with disabilities needed to change. The core of these students moved on to start the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley.
Since the founding of CIL in Berkeley, 28 other Independent Living Centers (ILC) have taken shape across California and many more in the United States, bringing this philosophy to their consumer base.
Source: CFILC
Staff
CIL Fresno - Main Office
Executive Director
Bob HandDirector of Program Services
Jimmie SotoOffice Manager
Tony KoReceptionist/Program Assistant
Olivia ChávezAssistant Bookkeeper
Jennifer CokeStaff/Community Interpreter
Robin ShawAssistive Technology Advocate
Camille GastonAssistive Technology Advocate
Natalie HardyBRIDGES Counselor/SOAR Liaison
Ileana PérezBRIDGES Counselor
Leah StruckBRIDGES Counselor
Suzanna GámezJob Developer
Rebecca JohnstonJob Developer Assistant
Carl NooneCAP Advocate/ Independent Living Specialist
Reyes SandovalCAP Advocate
Suzanne AmesCommunity Work Incentive Coordinator
Anne Marie RennellsIndependent Living Specialist
Vidal MedinaIndependent Living Specialist
Barney MorrisIndependent Living Specialist
Gloria GómezPeer Group Support
Bonnie RuskoSystems Change Advocate
José Luis BarrazaJob Developer
Rebecca Johnston
CIL Fresno - Madera Office
Coordinator of Programs & Services
Tamala Fields
CIL Fresno - Merced Office
Coordinator of Programs & Services - Merced & Fresno Office
Tommy Monreal
Center Work Incentive Coordinator
Xao Thao
CIL Fresno - Visalia Office
Community Work Incentive Coordinator
Talina Veliz
CIL Fresno - Hanford Office
Idependent Living Specialist
Emily Worthington
Board Members
Bonnie Rusko
PresidentPaula McElwee
Vice-presidentEve Sproule
SecretaryJanice Brown
TreasurerJudith Nishi
Co-Chairperson FundraisingBill Hyatt
Past PresidentAbdul Mahmood
Karin Anderson-Lloyd
Raymond Garcia
Mary Long
Leona Montalvo
Volunteers
Denise Trellas