Helping People Live Life on Their Own Terms
Many people first hear the phrase Center for Independent Living after experiencing a disability themselves or while helping a family member navigate an unexpected life change. Until that moment, most have never heard the term before, and they often assume it refers to a residential facility or assisted living community.
In reality, it is something very different.
A Center for Independent Living, often called a CIL, is a community-based organization that helps people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and participate fully in their communities. Rather than providing residential care, a CIL provides information, advocacy, resources, and support that empower individuals to make their own choices and live the lives they want to live.
At The Whole Person, that philosophy guides everything we do.
A Movement Built by People with Disabilities
The Independent Living movement began in the late 1960s and early 1970s when people with disabilities began challenging the long-held belief that they should live in institutions or rely on others to make decisions for them.
Instead, they advocated for something much more fundamental: the right to direct their own lives.
That movement helped reshape the conversation around disability. Rather than viewing disability as something that needed to be “fixed,” it emphasized removing barriers that prevented people from fully participating in society. Accessible transportation, employment opportunities, housing, education, and community inclusion became central goals, and Centers for Independent Living were created to help make those goals a reality.
Today, hundreds of Centers for Independent Living serve communities across the United States, each committed to promoting independence, self-determination, and equal opportunity.
What Makes a Center for Independent Living Different?
One of the things that makes a Center for Independent Living unique is that it does not tell people how they should live. Instead, it helps individuals discover the resources, services, and support they need to make informed decisions for themselves.
Every person’s situation is different. Someone recovering from an injury may need temporary assistance while returning home from the hospital. Another individual may be looking for accessible housing or transportation. A family may have questions about Consumer Directed Services or Medicaid programs. Someone else may simply need help understanding what resources are available.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, a Center for Independent Living meets people where they are and helps them navigate the path forward.
The Core Philosophy Is Choice
Perhaps the most important thing to understand about a Center for Independent Living is that independence is not measured by whether someone receives assistance.
Many people who live independently use wheelchairs, rely on caregivers, receive transportation services, or use assistive technology every day. Those supports do not diminish independence. They often make it possible.
The true measure of independence is whether individuals have the ability to make decisions about their own lives. It is about choosing where to live, setting personal goals, participating in the community, and directing the support that helps make those choices possible.
That philosophy is at the heart of every Center for Independent Living across the country.
How The Whole Person Supports Independent Living
As Kansas City’s Center for Independent Living, The Whole Person offers a wide range of services designed to help individuals overcome barriers and live as independently as possible.
Our team helps people connect with community resources, navigate benefits, explore transportation options, understand home and community-based services, pursue employment opportunities, advocate for their rights, and identify accessibility solutions that support everyday life.
For some individuals, that may mean finding the right caregiver. For others, it may involve home modifications, peer support, independent living skills, or simply having someone who understands where to begin.
No matter the starting point, the goal remains the same: helping individuals maintain control over their own lives.
More Than Services
A Center for Independent Living is more than a place to receive information.
It is a place where people are encouraged to ask questions, explore possibilities, and discover solutions that fit their own goals and circumstances. It is a place where independence is defined by choice rather than limitations.
Every day, Centers for Independent Living help people build confidence, overcome barriers, and create opportunities that allow them to participate fully in their communities.
That work continues because independence is not something that belongs to a select few. It is something every person deserves the opportunity to pursue.
We’re Here to Help
Whether you are living with a disability, supporting a loved one, or simply trying to understand what resources are available, you do not have to navigate the journey alone.
At The Whole Person, we are proud to serve as Kansas City’s Center for Independent Living, helping individuals and families find the support, information, and advocacy they need to live with greater independence and confidence.
If you are not sure where to begin, start by reaching out. Sometimes the first conversation is all it takes to discover new possibilities.
The Whole Person
3710 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 561-0304
Independence looks different for everyone. Our role is to help you achieve it on your own terms.
