Assessing the Geographic Distribution of Centers for Independent Living Across Urban and Rural Areas

Abstract

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) have emerged as a significant source of services, supports, and advocacy for people with disabilities in the United States. Since 1978, the federal government has funded an increasing number of CILs around the nation to provide services to and advocate for people with disabilities. Others have been created with state and local funding. No data have been collected to assess the extent of CIL expansion, however. We identified 336 CILs and estimated that these centers operate 253 subordinate sites. We conducted a survey of a random sample of 62 CILs to assess the geographic areas they served and the extent of their service. Results suggested that CIL services are provided to more than 212,000 individuals living in 60% of the nation's 3,141 counties. Data show, however, that residents of nonmetropolitan (rural) counties are far less likely to receive direct services from a CIL than their urban counterparts. CILs reported a median annual budget of $327,691; they allocated 54% of their resources to direct services and 27% to community advocacy. We estimate that an additional $71.5 million will be needed to achieve universal access to CIL services. Results are discussed in terms of the rural population of people with disabilities as representing a traditionally underserved group, and the need to expand CIL services to provide more equitable access for currently unserved and underserved U.S. populations.