 About Three Rivers Independent Living
Disabilities are a normal part of life. Everyone has abilities and sooner or later most everyone faces a disability issue. While each disability, whether it be mobility, cognitive, mental, emotional, speech or vision, all have their unique concerns and differences. Yet people with disabilities share the commonality of confronting barriers, such as fear, ignorance, insensitivity, unequal access to services, inaccessible facilities and isolation from the community.
Independent living philosophy is the belief that all people with disabilities have the right and responsibility to control and direct their lives. Independent Living Centers work with people with disabilities to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all sections of society as equal members of society. Independence means that people with disabilities may be able to decrease their dependence on family, friends, and community resources. Support services can often provide a disabled person with the tools that are needed to achieve self-sufficiency.
 The history of independent living stems from a philosophy which states that people with disabilities should have the same civil rights, options and control over choices in their own lives as do people without disabilities.
Independent living is closely tied to the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. Basic issues - disgraceful treatment based on bigotry and erroneous stereotypes in housing, education, transportation, and employment - and the strategies and tactics are very similar. This history and its driving philosophy also have much in common with other political and social movements of the country in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
What is a Center for Independent Living?
A Center for Independent Living is a grass roots, private, non-profit, non-residential, consumer-controlled, community-based organization. A Center provides services and advocacy by and for people with all types of disabilities. A Center for Independent Living serves as a strong consumer voice on a wide range of national, state, and local issues. TRILC staff members work to assure access to health and social services, housing, employment, transportation, recreation, and all aspects of community life. It is having the right and the opportunity to pursue a course of action. And it is having the freedom to fail and to learn from failures as everyone else does.
 What is Three Rivers Independent Living Corporation?
TRILC is a private, non-residential, non-profit corporation which serves people with disabilities in northwest Iowa. Our mission statement is: TRILC is the gateway to consumer services and inclusion into the community for persons with disabilities". TRILC is one of seven Independent Living Centers in Iowa and over 800 in the United States.
TRILC receives some funding to provide independent living services. One major source of funding is through a Title VII grant of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This grant requires TRILC to be governed by a board of directors whose majority is composed of individuals with disabilities. TRILC's board of directors oversees TRILC's programs, services, and planning for the center.
In addition to grant funding, TRILC accepts any size of donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. TRILC needs donations for continued operation and success. TRILC donations are both tax deductible and greatly appreciated.
TRILC staff members provide technical assistance to public officials, service providers, and businesses. Services to individuals and families are provided free of charge. TRILC serves consumers without regard to race, age, sex, ethnic background, religion, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. TRILC staff work hand-in-hand with their clients to attain the goals the client has set for themselves
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