Our History

Independent living centers emerged from a movement that was itself a response to the self-identified needs of severely disabled persons that were inadequately addressed by traditional service programs. The independent living movement asserts the ideas of consumerism, self-direction, self-help and peer service provision. Peer support is the “bedrock’ of the independent living movement. In the history of independent living centers, peer mentors, advocates, etc. provided skill training, advocacy, information and referral and many other services as a normal part of peer support. It is this history and the sharing of experiences, resources and skills that IU will utilize to provide a response to the need for additional peer support as identified by IU consumers and the basis for successful barrier removal and increased community participation of Center consumers with psychiatric disabilities.

Independence Unlimited, Incorporated (IU) is a non-residential, non-profit center for independent living that serves very diverse populations in 38 cities and towns in mainly Hartford County. The Center, which was established in 1982, is governed and managed by people with disabilities.

Our core services include:

• peer counseling
• independent living skills training
• information and referral and,
• advocacy services (systems and individual).

We provide a variety of other services that benefit persons with disabilities such as assisting persons with disabilities in transitioning from institutions into community-based settings. The primary purpose of the agency is to support persons with disabilities to live in the community as an alternative to institutionalization.