About Us

The Center for Independent Living of South Florida, Inc. is:

• A 501(c)(3) charitable organization
• community-based
• non-residential
• not-for-profit
• managed and staffed by people with disabilities, and
• dedicated to serving people of all ages and types of disabilities and their families.

This building serves as the headquarters for the Center for Independent Living of South Florida, Inc.

Since our creation in 1993, we have grown from a one-room office to a 15,000 square foot facility on the Upper Eastside near downtown Miami that serves all of Miami-Dade County. The Center is located on two accessible bus routes (the 3 and 16) which move north and south. Transfers to the People Mover and the Metro train systems are available to downtown Miami and to accessible bus routes moving east and west all along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor. Bus Stops for north/south buses are located just outside the Center. Paratransit vehicles transport individuals to and from the Center on a daily basis.

Mission:

Our mission is to empower persons with disabilities to reach their highest level of independence and to advocate for systems change that results in access, equality, inclusion, independence, and choice for all people with disabilities.

Goals:

• To provide the four core services of information and referral (I&R), peer support, independent living skills, and individual and systems advocacy.

• To provide collateral independent living services empowering people with disabilities to reach their highest potential of self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

• To engage in systems change activities which promote and enhance the achievement of equality, dignity, freedom of choice and full, inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities, their state and their nation.
• To expand the financial resources of programs providing services to the disability community of Miami-Dade County.
• To inform elected and appointed officials, the general public and other agencies and individuals about the issues that have an impact on people with disabilities.

Philosophy:

The Center promotes and practices an independent living philosophy of peer role modeling, self-determination, equal access, and advocacy to maximize leadership, independence, productivity, and full inclusion of people with disabilities in society.

The foundation of the Center is based on the four core services of: Individual and systems advocacy, peer support, independent living skills, and information and referral. Around the core foundation we’ve built a full range of independent living services that support the organization’s mission to accomplish both individual and systems change by creating an environment where opportunities exist for individuals with disabilities to maximize their individual and group potential. We accomplish this by recruiting and training individuals with disabilities to serve on committees, alliances, coalitions, advisory boards and boards of directors to influence disability policy and funding in our community.

Board of Directors:

Officers

• President                         Alvin W. Roberts
• Vice President               Robert Lessne, Ph.D.
• Secretary                         Rochelle Baer, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
• Treasurer                         Joseph Alfano, M.B.A.

Directors

• Director                           Patricia Perisse Bochi, J.D.
• Director                           Max Gauthier
• Director                           Gregg Goldfarb, P.A.
• Director                           Barbara Gratzke, B.S.
• Director                           Sandra Hix, M.A.
• Director                           Jose Granda, B.A.
• Director                           Stephen Mander, J.D., Judge
• Director                           Chaplain Donald R. Pruessman, M.A.
• Director                           Chierno Skinner, M.B.A
• Director                           Ann Thomas, J.D.
• Director                           Jay Weiss, M.B.A.

Client Satisfaction:

It is extremely important to the Center that people who come to us are satisfied with the help they receive. To make sure that we are giving the right kind of help in the right way, we ask those who receive our help whether they are satisfied, and if not, why.

Here is our consumer satisfaction survey that anyone who has received services from the Center may complete. We urge you to do so. The information and comments you provide will be held completely confidential. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the survey, please contact us at:

CURRENT CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY 2008