Disability Advocates of Kent County - Grand Rapids, MI

Location: Grand Rapids, MI.

Mission Statement & Values

We provide programs and services that assist individuals with disabilities so they may lead full and exciting lives.

History

Disability Advocates of Kent County was founded in 1981 by persons with disabilities who sought to help themselves and other persons with disabilities gain control over their own lives. We began as the Grand Rapids "Center for Independent Living," the title used by other such emerging efforts around the country. In 2002, we changed our name to Disability Advocates of Kent County to more accurately describe the role we play in our community and to better define our geographic reach.  Throughout our entire thirty-three year history, we have maintained our status as a federally and state-recognized "center for independent living" as defined in the Rehabilitation Act.

One key fact about us is that "we are who we serve." Over 50% of our board, staff, and volunteers always have been--and always will be--individuals with a disability.

We are a dynamic collection of people supporting people with disabilities in achieving their independent living goals and working toward an accessible and inclusive community for all.

On the individual level, Disability Advocates’ expert and knowledgeable staff provides support in a variety of issue areas including transportation, housing, employment, and veteran’s assistance. And while we help thousands of individuals each year, we also advocate for systems change at the local, state and federal levels. We believe that this involvement helps to assure that these systems meet their intended goals and are changed when necessary.

We began as the Grand Rapids “Center for Independent Living,” the title used by other such emerging efforts around the country. One key fact about us is that “we are who we serve”—over 50% of our board, staff and volunteers are and have always been persons with a disability.

At Disability Advocates of Kent County, we continue to do our best each day to help individuals with disabilities lead full and exciting lives in our community.

Our Mission

• Help individuals with disabilities live full and exciting lives

• Focus on changing the Individuals environment to suit their needs. Not the other way around.

• Change the subhuman perspective society adopts towards Individuals with disabilities from the lack of exposure to such individuals.

We believe any Individual:

• Has the right to live as independently as possible

• Has worth, dignity and the capacity to contribute

• Has the right to affect decisions that impact upon the successes or failures in their lives

• Has the right to make choices and to have a voice

• Has the right to share and participate in community activities