Independent living & disability support in California

Ask a centre for information and referrals based on your needs and goals.

Checked October 15, 2026

Information and Referral means hearing a person’s story and understanding what their needs are. It means being a good listener, asking questions and giving helpful information or referrals to other agencies or people who can help.

Ask about individual advocacy and work to improve access to services and community systems.

Checked October 15, 2026

Advocacy has two sides: Individual and systems. Individual advocacy means an ILC staff member may accompany a person to medical appointments, housing interviews, Social Security visits or meetings with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. Systems change means the ILC may do things like advocate to a transit agency for better routes or buses. ILCs may also help by advocating for curb cuts, street crossings, buildings or anything else that will help all people have equal access to society.

Skills support can include budgeting, transportation, assistive technology and social skills. Discuss your own goals with the centre.

Checked October 15, 2026

Independent Living Skills are any skills that can help an individual with a disability do what they want to do on their own. Things like budgeting, public transportation training, Assistive technology training and social skills can all be part of independent living skills.

Peer counselors with disabilities can share experience, mentoring and resources.

Checked October 15, 2026

Peer Counseling is based on the idea that people with disabilities know best how to take care of themselves. Peer counselors are people with disabilities who can serve as mentors or resources to other people with disabilities who face challenges in living independently.

Ask about transition from institutional care, youth transitions and support to remain at home. Contact the provider for its assessment and programme criteria.

Checked October 15, 2026

Transition can mean helping a person to move from a nursing home to a place to live independently in their own community. It can also mean helping a young person to move to their next steps after high School. Diversion includes services that help people with what they need to live independently in their own home so they do not have to live in a nursing home.

ILCs can help people learn to recruit, hire, train and manage personal assistants. This referral/training support does not by itself approve IHSS or provide a paid caregiver.

Checked October 15, 2026

Personal Assistants can help with a variety of needs for some people with disabilities. Hiring, training and letting go of Personal Assistants is something that people who use them need to learn how to do. ILCs can provide training in these tasks and help people who need these assistants to find them.

Ask about accessible housing resources and advocacy. Assistance with lists or voucher applications does not establish an open waitlist, available unit or benefit approval.

Checked October 15, 2026

Some people with disabilities may require places to live that are accessible to wheelchairs or other assistive technology. They may need help finding places to live that are affordable on a fixed income. ILCs can help people to get signed up with affordable housing lists and apply for Section 8 vouchers. They can help people with disabilities to understand and advocate for their right to accessible housing.

Ask about devices, training and resources for daily activities. Equipment, lending and funding options vary by provider and programme.

Checked October 15, 2026

Assistive Technology is a device or a service which helps a person with a disability to do personal or work-related tasks. Independent Living Centers can provide training in different types of Assistive Technology and help people with disabilities to find their own Assistive Technology devices or services.

Parent-focused support, peer groups and educational/IEP resources for families and disabled children/youth. The provider lists Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma and says these services are offered in English and Spanish.

Checked October 15, 2026

Matrix Parents at Marin CIL provides parent-focused support and services for the families of children living with disabilities and opportunities for disabled children and youth. Through our peer-led support groups and information and referral materials, we help families of very young children around diagnosis. Our Parent Advisors collaborate with parents in ensuring educational access through early childhood services and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) support, including training workshops and one-on-one IEP case conferencing. For integration-aged youth and adults, we aim to help create and sustain an individual's independent living on their own terms. We proudly provide these services in English and Spanish for families living in Marin, Solano, Sonoma, and Napa counties. Start Here To get started, please call our helpline at 800-578-2592 or info@matrixparents.org.