Workforce Innovations

CONNECT! Partner

Silicon Valley Center for Independent Living

Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC), a community-based, not-for-profit agency serving individuals with disabilities, celebrated 30 years of service to Silicon Valley on December 6, 2006.

Since opening its doors, SVILC has advanced its mission of ensuring that people with disabilities have the same control over their lives as those without disabilities. The organization works hard to change attitudes and eliminate barriers that those with disabilities routinely face, whether at home, in the workplace, in a social environment, or the community at large.

SVILC helps its clients though an impressive array of services, including personal assistant services, counseling, individual and systems advocacy, vocational services, independent living skills training, housing placement, information and referral resources, and access to assistive technology.

Carol Picchi, a 2006 CONNECT! Alumni Awards honoree, has benefited greatly from SVILC’s programs and services. Carol, who was born with cerebral palsy, first got help from the organization when she was seeking accessible housing and residential skills training during college. Years later, following a serious accident, Carol returned to SVILC for skills training and vocational services. Today, because of Carol’s tremendous determination and the help she received, she is completely independent. “SVILC,” Carol says, “is a great resource that is willing to go the extra mile.”

SVILC does go the extra mile for those with disabilities throughout Silicon Valley. In addition to their main office in San Jose, SVILC now operates facilities in Gilroy and Morgan Hill to better serve South County residents.

For more information about SVILC, visit their website at www.svilc.org.