You are about to enter the doors of the first virtual center for independent living.
If you've ever been to a concrete, 'brick and mortar' center, a lot of what you find in here will sound familiar. The language we use, our philosophy, and the way we assist people with disabilities is the same.
What is different is the way we reach out to you. CyberCIL of Arizona exists totally in cyberspace. No desks. No file cabinets. No pencil sharpeners. We'd love to hear from you, but you have to send e-mail. We don't have-and don't want--a way to handle the old type of letter (snail mail). CyberCIL is also an experiment. Tell us what works for you . . . and what doesn't.
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for people with disabililities to become more independent. Your feedback will make all the difference in the world. Read on to discover how CyberCIL of Arizona got started
The Arizona Governor's Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) recognized that CyberCIL of Arizona may be an effective way to bring independent living to isolated Arizonans with disabilities. Many Arizonans are unable to access traditional centers because of the rural nature of their communities. Others are closed off because of institutional, transportation, or economic barriers.
The Arizona SILC is a governor-appointed body which advises decision-makers in Arizona regarding issues of importance to Arizonans with disabilities. CyberCIL will operate in partnership with the Arizona Technology Access Project (AzTAP) and Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU)Program of Houston. AzTAP, a project of the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University, educates Arizonans about assistive technology and helps them secure the equipment which will increase independence. ILRU is a national center for information, research, training, and technical assistance for independent living. All three of the organizations receive funding through the US Department of Education.
Below is the mission which guides the activities of the CyberCIL of Arizona.
The mission of CyberCIL of Arizona is to provide innovative, meaningful assistance in accordance with the principles and philosophy of independent living to, and on behalf of, Arizonans with disabilities so that they may attain or continue an independent lifestyle.
Independent Living has a short, but proud history based on strong principles. Chief among those principles is Consumer Control-the belief that people with disabilities must exercise power and authority over the programs and services designed to assist them.
CyberCIL of Arizona embraces the principles of independent living in the development of its service model without regard for the barriers faced in cyberspace. In fact, the center and its Board of Directors welcomes the challenge of constructing futuristic models on the sturdy framework of past leaders.
For more information on the history surrounding IL, read History of Independent Living by Gina McDonald and Mike Oxford.
Welcome to CyberCIL of Arizona, the first virtual Center for Independent Living!
Our Executive Director
Judy Benshoof became a person with a disability in 1970. She has worked at Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) since 1990 as a field representative in the Personal Assistant Services department, then as an Independent living advocate, peer counselor, independent living skills trainer and home modification coordinator in the Community Integration department. Judy has also been involved with the development of CyberCIL since 2000 as a board member, the peer counselor and the interim independent living skills trainer. Judy is a graduate of Des Moines Area Community College, Arizona State University and San Francisco State University. Her office is located in Pinal County, AZ.
Our Services
If you have ever been to a traditional Center for Independent Living, a lot of the features that you find in CyberCIL will be familiar, and the methods that we use to assist consumers are similar.
The primary difference is our location. CyberCIL of Arizona exists completely in cyberspace, enabling us to provide Independent Living services to persons with disabilities throughout the state of Arizona and the world. Our goal is to assist persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible in their community. You can let us know how we can assist you by completing our Consumer Information Tracking System. Your feedback will assist usas we continue to develop our services, so if you have any suggestions or ideas, feel free to contact me at jlbenshoof@CyberCIL.comor you can complete our Consumer Satisfaction Survey online.
Our History
CyberCIL of Arizona was the creation of advocates in 1998who believed that isolated Arizonans with disabilities needed the support of a center for independent living.
With the assistance of Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) Program of Houston, CyberCIL established itself as a non-profit Arizona corporation in 2000 with a mission to assist "Arizonans with disabilities so that they may attain or continue an independent lifestyle." ILRU is a national center for information, research, training and technical assistance.
At about the same time, the Arizona Technology Access Project (AzTAP) lent a hand by providing the in-kind support of their webmaster. AzTAP, a project of the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University, educates Arizonans about assistive technology and helps them secure equipment that will increase their independence.
In 2002, the Arizona Governor's Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) began providing financial support to CyberCIL. This funding made it possible for us to reach out to all areas of Arizona, collaborating with our sister centers in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Tuba City and Prescott Valley.
Today, we embark on a new adventure as we hire our first Executive Director. With the increased support of the Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AZ SILC), CyberCIL becomes more and more of a reality. We remain a virtual center, existing entirely in cyberspace, while providing very real assistance to people with disabilities.