Santa Clara — Independent living support directory

Serving Counties: Santa Clara

California Independent Living Center Directory

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you have a disability and want to live more independently, you may be able to benefit from Independent Living Services. Reach out to your local Independent Living Center for more information on getting involved using the link below.

(408) 894-9041

To be eligible to receive any of SVILC’s services, one must complete the Intake process.

Anyone can receive services, to qualify, one must: be a person with a significant disability or impairment, which limits their ability to function independently in their home community, or environment, or engage in employment; be able to benefit from independent living services to achieve a greater level of independence; and live or work in Santa Clara County, or be unable to receive independent living services that SVILC provides in your own county of residence.

San Jose Office – Main Office 25 N. 14th Street, Suite 1000 (10th Floor) San Jose, CA 95112 Telephone: (408) 894-9041 TTY: (669) 231-4771

South County – Gilroy Office 7881 Church Street, Suite #C Gilroy, CA 95020 Telephone: (408) 843-9100

provides free services to all persons with disabilities of all ages who seek services to help further their independence in Santa Clara County.

Parking $2/hr levels 1-3.

Free parking onsite.