Description:
Mission statement - Independent Living Resources is committed to community diversity through advocacy, choice and education resulting in empowerment for individuals with disabilities.
The Independent Living Center (ILR) serves all disability types and ages. Open evening and weekends by appointment.
ILR has four Core Services: Advocacy, Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, and Peer Support.
Other services provided by ILR include case management, benefits counseling, including work incentives benefits counseling; nursing facility transition, personal and supportive home care and provide services to difficult to serve, housing resource center, assistive technology information, loan closet and loan programs.
Advocacy is part of everything ILR does, including both individual and systems advocacy. Staff provide necessary information and support to help individuals advocate for themselves, or will assist if requested, on issues such as housing, employment, public benefits (including assistance with complaints and grievances), accessibility, discrimination, etc. ILR also supports people to be active and involved in systems advocacy and change, especially through a grass roots network called Act Now. ILR is a clearinghouse for the most current state and federal legislative and human services information that affects people with disabilities. ILR also does outreach and education in their service area promoting disability awareness and sensitivity.
ILR also provides information & referral about disability-related issues, resources and services; one-to-one peer support from trained volunteers and staff with the goal of assisting the person to learn coping skills for today's world; and one-to-one skills training in daily living activities that are essential to living safely and independently.
ILR staff are also trained to provide assessment and recommendations for assistive technology. Short-term loan of assistive technology and adaptive equipment is available so individuals can try out various devices during the decision-making process and find the most appropriate equipment may also be available.
ILR also helps administer alternative loan programs to help people with disabilities purchase assistive technology to live more independently and productively.
Wisloan provides loans for individuals with a disability to help purchase assistive technology or home modifications such as wheelchairs, visual aids, control/switches for lights, doors and appliances, vehicle adaptations, kitchen accessibility re-design, roll-in shower, ramps, etc.
Telework provides loans for individuals with a disability to purchase equipment and modifications needed to work from home such as computers, office machines, tools, telecommunication devices, modifications to create accessible home office, etc.
Personal and Supportive Home Care are on call 24/7.
Office Locations:
Main Office
4439 Mormon Coulee Rd
La Crosse, WI 54601 (La Crosse County)
Ph: 608-787-1111
Fax: 608-787-1114
Toll Free: 888-474-5745
TDD/TTY: 888-378-2198
Richland County Office
149 E Mill Street
Richland Center, WI 53581
Ph: 608-647-8053
Fax: 608-647-7783
Toll Free: 877-471-2095
Other Contacts:
TDD/TTY: (608) 787-1148
TDD/TTY: (888) 378-2198 Toll free
Personal Care Services: (608) 793-1700