dds

Department on Disability Services

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Independent Living Services

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Independent Living Services (ILS) program provides services to individuals with disabilities to help them to live as independently as possibly in the community.

RSA partners with the DC Center for Independent Living and other private agencies in the community to provide the following four core independent living services:

Advocacy
Independent Living Skills Training
Information and Referral
Peer Support

Eligibility

All individuals in the District of Columbia with a significant disability are eligible for independent living services. Any individual may seek information about Iindependent living services under this program and request referral to other services and programs for individual with significant disabilities, as appropriate.

See the Eligibility and Intake Process for more information.

Person-Centered Thinking

Person-centered thinking is a philosophy behind service provision that supports positive control and self-direction of people’s own lives. DDS is working to implement this through training sessions and other agency wide initiatives.

Employment First Initiative

Two people clasping hand, one in wheelchair

Under the Employment First philosophy, competitive, integrated employment is the first and overwhelmingly preferred option for working-age youth and adults with disabilities.