Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO) - Ronkonkoma, NY

Location: Ronkonkoma, NY.

The Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO) has been providing programs and services to people with disabilities in Suffolk County since 1985. SILO is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, consumer controlled, non-residential, civil rights, mentoring and educational organization. SILO's philosophically is tied to the nationwide Independent Living Movement which asserts that people with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities, needs and desires, as their non-disabled peers.

SILO is Suffolk County's Independent Living Center and one of 39 Independent Living Center sponsored by the New York State Education Department through the Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation Department (ACCES-VR). There are over a thousand Independent Living Centers throughout the United States and its territories, adhering to the same philosophy and providing similar services and programs to people with disabilities.

SILO has the reputation of providing the most comprehensive cross-disability related services to the disabled community in all Suffolk County. As an advocacy agency we work with individuals, businesses, and other government and private agencies to promote equal access for people with all disabilities. SILO is not a "case management" agency; rather, our focus is on empowering the individual, by educating and preparing them to advocate for themselves. Most of our staff are people with disabilities themselves, and this peer model facilitates for a better relationship between the Specialist and the individual being served. SILO's services are person-centered so individuals determine their own individual short and long term goals.

SILO encourages people with disabilities to take an active role in the community in which they live, work and play. So if you are a person with a disability, a family member or a friend of a person with a disability living in Suffolk County, we urge you to become involved in making our community more accessible to all. Individuals with disabilities are welcome to join our peer support group, or become a part of our advocacy training workshops. We welcome volunteers to participate in one of our many programs, your skills and personal experiences can assist SILO in achieving its goal of full integration for people with disabilities throughout Suffolk County. We need you to become involved.