Silicon Valley Independent Living Center

Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) is a cross-disability, intergenerational, and multicultural disability justice organization that creates fully inclusive communities that value the dignity, equality, freedom, and worth of every human being. We do this by building disability identity, culture, and pride; creating opportunities for personal and community transformation; and partnering with others to ensure that civil and human rights are protected. SVILC was founded in 1976 by a small group of people with disabilities as an Independent Living Center (ILC) to serve the needs of Santa Clara County residents with disabilities. Independent Living is both a philosophy and a goal that people with disabilities should have the same civil rights, options, and control over their lives as people without disabilities. As one of 29 consumer-controlled, non-residential ILCs in California, and over 400 across the nation, SVILC is a private nonprofit organization where over 70% of the 21 highly-skilled staff and 14 board members are persons with disabilities who have an intimate understanding of disability issues.