Eastern Shore Center for Independent Living (ESCIL) - Belle Haven, VA

Location: Belle Haven, VA.

The Eastern Shore Center for Independent Living, Inc. became its own entity in 1999, as a non-profit, non-residential center for independent living which receives part of its funding from the State of Virginia.  The E.S.C.I.L. is governed by a Board of Directors. At least fifty-one percent of the members of the Board of Directors have disabilities which helps to assure that the E.S.C.I.L remains in touch with the persons with disabilities in our community.

Mission Statement

The Eastern Shore Center For Independent Living (ESCIL) program’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to make their own life choices and to realize their greatest potential as individuals. A major component of this mission is educating and encouraging these individuals to be able to impact policies that affect their daily lives, as well as assisting them with accessing the resources that are necessary for their independence in their homes and community.

Independent Living should not be defined in terms of living on one’s own, being employed in a job fitting one’s capabilities and interests, or having an active social life. These are aspects of living independently. Independent Living means having the right and opportunity to pursue a course of action, and it also means having the freedom to fail – and to learn from one’s failure.

Philosophy of Independent Living

Independent Living is based on the premise that individuals with disabilities are capable of self-determination, and that programs established to provide services to individuals with disabilities should be impacted, at every point, by the individual themselves. Independent Living Centers are non-residential community based programs which reflecting the needs of individuals with disabilities and the community at large by taking direction from those who benefit most directly from the services provided. It is therefore, mandatory that all centers be private, non-profit, consumer controlled, and that they play a key role in effecting policies and programs that impact individuals with disabilities. Toward this end, ESCIL has committed itself to the establishment of an Independent Living Center to serve the citizens of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The establishment of this center has been like the Independent Living movement itself, an evolutionary progress.