CILO - Center for Independent Living Options

Breaking Down Barriers. Creating Options. Promoting Change.

Who We Are

No one asks to be disabled by injury, disease or act of nature. Today, hundreds of people, and their families and friends in Greater Cincinnati will learn that their lives are about to change forever. If you or someone you know has a disability, please give us a call to learn how we can help.

The Center for Independent Living Options (CILO) is dedicated to helping individuals who have physical, sensory, cognitive, and/or psychological disabilities to maintain active, productive lives of their choosing. In fact, we are who we serve. We are governed, managed, and staffed by a majority of professionals with disabilities. This gives us personal insight into the issues that people with disabilities face.

Our Mission

To break down architectural and attitudinal barriers, build bridges to understanding, and create options and choices in the continuous process of empowerment of persons with disabilities

Independent Living Skills Training

Learning or re-learning how to be self-sufficient in today�s world is essential to the goal of living independently. As you might imagine the barriers can be overwhelming. That�s why CILO offers Independent Living Skills Training. This program is designed to empower individuals with disabilities to make and act upon their own choices. Individualized training and group workshops provide the information, resources, and skills necessary to create and/or maintain independent lifestyles.

The ILS Program may assist you in the following areas:

Building Self Esteem
Assertiveness
Social Skills
Money Management
Personal Image
Interviewing Techniques
Career Options

The Independent Living Skills Training Program includes three kinds of activities:

Individual Training
For individual training, a person meets with our ILS coordinator to set specific, written goals and to set a training schedule to meet those goals, and agrees to follow the action steps necessary to meet their goals.

Group Training
Group training is implemented when staff members identify an area of ILS training common to many consumers. The ILS coordinator develops a training curriculum to address this need, schedules a time to hold the training, then publicizes it to those who have indicated interest. Group trainings are usually held once a week for several weeks and have a specific focus.

One-Session Workshops
One-session workshops are developed for group training needs that are extremely focused, or that require outside expertise. These one-day trainings follow the format of extended group trainings and often feature outside speakers.

Our current ILS workshops include:

High School Outreach
This workshop includes goal setting, resources and research, and appropriate action steps for high school students exploring independence.

Money Management
Our money management workshop features budgeting, smart shopping, different types of accounts, and comparing financial service providers.

Personal Safety
This important workshop covers street safety, recognizing dangerous situations, theory, and practical techniques for physical safety and protection.

Consumer Rights & Responsibilities
This workshop focuses on the differences between rights and responsibilities. Participants will expand their knowledge of the human rights of free speech, freedom, and the right to be treated fairly.