1. Where can I find more information about the Board of Directors, the goals and aspirations of PCIL and the financials available for public viewing?
   
   Visit http://www.donoredge.tfec.org to learn more about PCIL. 
   
   
2. What is the difference between the PCIL and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)?
   
   The PCIL is a non-profit statewide membership association comprised of all CILs in Pennsylvania.  The Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is a federally mandated governor-appointed, consumer-controlled Council comprised of a combination of CIL Directors and consumers.  It has diversity in geography, ethnicity and disability.  The SILC operates as a non-profit organization and is the chief planning body for Independent Living programs in Pennsylvania.  They also participate in and offer guidance about policy and legislation in both the state and the federal government. 
   
   
3. What is Independent Living?
   
   Consumer choice, autonomy and control define the Independent Living Movement. The Independent Living philosophy holds that individuals with disabilities have the right to live with dignity and with appropriate support in their own homes, fully participate in the communities of their choosing, and to control and make decisions about their lives.
   
   
4. What is the Independent Living movement?
   
   Ed Roberts (1939-1995) was an international leader and educator in the independent living and disability rights movements. He fought throughout his life to enable all persons with disabilities to fully participate in society. Ed was a true pioneer: he was the first student with significant disabilities to attend UC Berkeley. He was a founder of UC's Physically Disabled Students Program, which became the model for Berkeley's Center for Independent Living (CIL) and over 400 independent living centers across the country. He was one of the early directors of a CIL.
   Ed Roberts and other students with disabilities from the University of California at Berkeley, along with disability advocates, led by Judy Heumann, demanded control over their lives and full access in their communities. Due to these efforts, Ed Roberts was a pioneer in the Independent Living Movement and was known internationally as the "Father of Independent Living."
   
   
5. What are Centers for Independent Living (CIL)?
   
   Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are nonprofit community-based nonresidential organizations directed by people with disabilities. CILs are required by the 1992 Amendments of the Rehabilitation Act to have a minimum of 51% of individuals with disabilities on their Governing Boards and on their staff, including those in decision making positions.
   
   
6. How are CILs funded?
   
   The 1978 reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act included funding for Independent      Living and the establishment of Centers for Independent Living throughout the country. Signed into State law in 1994, the INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES ACT (ACT 139 of 1994) established the Statewide Independent Living Council as the chief planning body for Independent Living programs in the State. This legislation mandates the same standards and assurances for State-funded CIL's as are required by the Federally-funded Centers, in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1992. In Pennsylvania, nine CILs are federally funded and nine are state-funded.  The funding provided assists each CIL in providing the four core services which include:  independent living skills training, peer mentoring, information and referral and advocacy.  Each CIL also obtains a mix of public and private funding from government, foundations, corporations, and individual contributions, which allows each to offer additional programming such as transition services, nursing home transition, deaf interpreter programs, etc. 
   
   
7. Why do CILs have such a variety of names?
   
   Each local CIL chooses its own name, usually something that defines a philosophy, geographic location, or for what they are known. Although Pennsylvania has 18 Centers, areas remain underserved or unserved.  PCIL is working with SILC to increase the number of CILs in the Commonwealth.
   
   
8. What is Bobby compliance?
   
   Bobby WorldWide is a tool for Web page authors. It helps them identify changes to their pages so users with disabilities can more easily use their Web pages. The suggestions made by Bobby help authors to add information to a Web page which will help special browsers work more effectively. Bobby compliance informs viewers that your site meets Section 508, WAI Priority 1, WAI Priority 2, and WAI Priority 3 guidelines for Web accessibility. To learn more about making your website accessible, visit http://www.cast.org/Bobby/

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