SILC Introduction

Background
The Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is a federally mandated organization established under Title VII, Section 705 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973 as amended 1998. The Arizona Governor's Executive Order Number 2007-15, amending and superseding Executive Order 1998-10, documents the general provisions of the Arizona SILC.

The Governor of Arizona appoints a minimum of 15 and up to a maximum of 21 volunteer members for terms of three years to direct the not-for-profit organization objectives. These members are decision making body for the work of the council. The primary purpose of the council is to assess and advocate for independent living programs and services for Arizonans with disabilities throughout the state. The SILC office is centrally located in Phoenix, Arizona. An executive director, an executive assistant and a program coordinator are responsible for carrying out the operational aspects of the organization.

GOAL

The goal SILC is for people with disabilities to live and participate in an integrated community.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of SILC include but are not limited to people with disabilities:

• having equal access to programs and services,
• making their own decisions and controlling the care they receive,
• getting the support of other persons with disabilities,
• becoming leaders and having a chance to make changes, and
• being productive and contributing to their communities,
  
  FOCUS

The focus of AZ SILC is to:

• Promote and support the enhancement and expansion of independent living programs and services,
• Work collaboratively with the Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (AZRSA) on developing and drafting the State Plan for
  Independent Living, and
• Advise policy makers and service providers about disability related issues.

MEMBERSHIP

The current members of SILC represent Arizonans of all disabilities, ages, ethnicities, and genders from around the state. It is a community oriented group. Council members are appointed by the governor and must include:

• a voting majority of people with disabilities who are not employed by the state or a Center for Independent Living (CIL),
• at least one director of a Center for Independent Living,
• at least one representative from any of the 121 Native American Rehabilitation projects in the state,
• a representative from the Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration,
• Representatives from other state agencies that provide independent living services and
• other appropriate individuals.

COMMITTEES:

• Executive - directly supervises the executive director, monitors the budget, and oversees the fiscal management of the council.
• Community Collaboration - establishes working partnerships with other community groups in order to use all available resources and avoid overlapping efforts.
• Membership and Nominating - identifies and recruits candidates for council membership and oversees the election of new officers.
• Networking and Resources - promotes and supports communication among the CILs, assess CIL capacity to provide services, and identifies potential resources to build capacity.
• Public Policy - works with legislators and other policy makers to address issues that affect people with disabilities.
• Outreach - conducts presentations and distributes materials related to SILC activities and disability related issues to unserved and underserved populations within the disability community.