Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is Access Living and what kind of services does Access Living offer?

Answer: Access Living is a non-residential center for independent living which advocates on behalf of and provides services to anyone with any kind of disability to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of community life. Our work addresses specific issues with regard to: personal assistance; housing; civil rights advocacy and legal services; and education and youth development.

Question: What is a Center for Independent Living?

Answer: Centers for Independent Living are non-profit, non-residential community organizations that are run by and for people with disabilities and provide services to people with disabilities from cross-disability, multi-cultural populations.

Question: What is the Independent Living Movement?

Answer: The Independent Living Movement philosophy holds that individuals with disabilities have the right to live with dignity and with appropriate support in their own homes, to fully participate in their communities, and to control and make their own decisions about their lives.

Question: Are there programs available at Access Living that could help me find an accessible home or that could help with modifications to make my current home accessible?

Answer: If you call us, we can provide the tools to help people with disabilities find accessible, affordable housing. Access Living also has a modification program for public housing residents who have a Housing Choice voucher (Section 8), and also for people who own their home.

Question: I was the victim of discrimination based on disability. What can I do?

Answer: You can contact our Civil Rights Team and explain what happened. We will provide advice on how to proceed, where to file a complaint and/or refer you to an organization that may be able to help. In certain instances, we provide legal representation to consumers.

Question: What can I do if I am in search of an in-home personal assistant?

Answer: We maintain a pool of over 300 trained personal assistants. We can help you secure a personal assistant that is best suited for your needs. If you have other questions regarding Access Living and the programs and services we offer, please visit our online information and referral page.