Welcome to the West-Central Independent Living Solutions website! There are a number of basic social and political issues WILS addresses. One of the biggest issues many people with disabilities face is everyday stigma and discrimination. WILS works to eradicate this problem through community education and the empowerment of individual consumers. The benefit for the consumer is that the community accepts them for who they are rather than what the community wants them to be. The benefit to the community is that it will become more inclusive and responsive to all people's needs and issues.

We hope that you find this website very informative and helpful. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve our site, please e-mail us.

Our Mission

• West-Central Independent Living Solutions works to empower people with disabilities to achieve and maintain their independence.

Our Four Core Services

• Information And Referral:
  • WILS has access to an almost unlimited supply of information and services geared toward promoting independent living.
• Advocacy:
  • WILS works with consumers to advocate on their own behalf. WILS also works with local, state, and federal legislators to get favorable legislation for people with disabilities.
• Peer Support:
  • WILS works with consumers and their families individually. More than 51% of WILS' staff and board are comprised of people with disabilities, which provides us the experience and expertise to assist other people with disabilities.
• Independent Living Skills Training:
  • Many individuals with disabilities do not have the skills to live independently. WILS provides specific courses, individually and in groups to hone these skills.

Our Philosophy

• CHOICE:
  • WILS educates consumers about options that might allow them to live more independently. They can choose to use what they have learned to set new goals. Through community advocacy, WILS works to expand the available range of choices.
• CONTROL:
  • Once consumers have chosen the goals they wish to pursue, WILS assists them in accomplishing their goals. In this way, the consumers are in control, deciding what needs to be done and how to achieve it. WILS policies are strongly influenced by consumer needs and interests. Advocacy activities are consumer-controlled and well.
• CHANGE:
  • By learning to make independent choices and by taking control of their own decisions, consumers, with WILS’ support and assistance, move away from unnecessary dependency. WILS’ itself, through community education and advocacy, works to encourage removal of institutional and attitudinal barriers to full inclusion of people with disabilities in community life.

Our Service Area

• WILS, service area includes: Johnson, Pettis, Henry, Benton, Lafayette and Saline Counties of Missouri.