Ohio SILC

About Us

Mission | Council Members | Ohio SILC Office & Staff

Established in 1992 by amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) contains eleven representatives from Ohio's disabilities community. The Ohio SILC is an independent agency created by the Governor's Executive Order in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act that requires each state to establish a SILC to be eligible for federal funding under the Act.

Our Mission

The Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is committed to promoting a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and systems advocacy, in order to maximize leadership, empowerment, independence, productivity and to support full inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society.

Ohioans in Unity

We believe the Administration, Legislature and citizens of the State of Ohio must:

actively strive to redirect dollars from large institutional settings to community-based programs, services and options for people of all ages who have physical, cognitive, mental, sensory or other disabilities.

promote the rights and abilities of people with disabilities by ensuring that laws, service options and opportunities preserve the dignity of people with disabilities and support their right to live, work, be educated, and participate in the community to the extent that they choose.

ensure individual rights and social control by directing state agencies to include consumers in all levels of the decision-making process and encouraging state agencies to employ persons with disabilities in leadership positions.

ascertain that consumers and advocates for services make up a majority of all commissions, task forces, and advisory boards.

guarantee that all individuals, regardless of disability, have access to this community support system resulting in an inclusive society.

respond to the needs of people with disabilities and enact and amend legislation that supports full inclusion in the community.

make as their first priority, full funding of community-based, consumer-directed services whose outcomes ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate as equal citizens.

The Ohio SILC:

Promotes the independent living philosophy.

Works to expand independent living services into unserved and underserved areas.

Determines if available services meet the independent living needs of Ohioans with disabilities.

Writes a comprehensive State Plan every three years that outlines steps to improve the lives of Ohioans with disabilities. Coordinating services is an important component of the plan to avoid duplication among state and private entities. The Ohio SILC works in partnership with the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC), Ohio's statewide network of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other state and private entities to accomplish its State Plan.