§ 19801 — California Welfare and Institutions Code

An independent living center shall:

(a) Be a private, nonprofit organization controlled by a board of directors. A majority of the board shall be comprised of individuals with disabilities.

(b) Be staffed by persons trained to assist persons with disabilities in achieving social and economic independence. The staff shall include as large a proportion as is practicable of individuals with disabilities.

(1) Peer counseling.

(2) Advocacy.

(3) Attendant referral.

(4) Housing assistance.

(5) Information and referral.

(d) Provide other services and referrals as may be deemed necessary, such as transportation, job development, equipment maintenance and evaluation, training in independent living skills, mobility assistance, assistive technology, and communication assistance. Assistive technology may include information and outreach about appropriate assistive technology devices or services and referrals that will enable individuals to gain access to assistive technology in order to meet their needs and expand options for independence and productivity. Assistive technology activities shall involve collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation and the nonprofit contractor selected to implement the federal Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394), which shall serve as the framework for offering assistance to individuals with disabilities.

(e) Promote and practice the independent living philosophy of:

(1) Consumer control of the center regarding decisionmaking, service delivery, management, and establishment of the policy and direction of the center.

(2) Self-help and self-advocacy.

(3) Development of peer relationships and peer role models.

(4) Equal access of individuals with disabilities to society and to all services, programs activities, resources, and facilities, whether public or private and regardless of the funding source.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 493, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)