History

Living Independence for Everyone, Inc. started in the home of two ladies with disabilities. They had a vision of equal rights, equal opportunities and integration into the community for all people with disabilities. From it’s beginnings in Chatham County in 1986, Living Independence for Everyone has expanded. LIFE provides aid to eleven (11) counties in southeast Georgia.

Through the advocacy efforts of the founders, LIFE was instrumental in bringing about accessible transportation. They also helped get feasible and accessible housing and a home modification program. This was for all residents with disabilities. Thus, the staff works to provide equivalent services to the more rural areas.

The foundation of Independent Living is the peer relationship. In other words, people with disabilities assisting other people with disabilities. As role models, mentors and counselors, peers have personal experience of focusing on what one can do, rather than what one cannot do. Center staff encourage people to use their skills, talents and abilities to attend school. They can also work, volunteer and fulfill civic duties such as voting or just being a good neighbor.

LIFE is a part of Georgia’s Independent Living Network (GILN) which is comprised of the Statewide Independent Living Council. Likewise, they have nine Centers for Independent Living. Above all, the Council’s role is to promote policies and practices that enable independent Living for all Georgians with disabilities. The Centers for Independent Living assist people with all types of disabilities to set and achieve personal goals toward independence. In addition, each of these organizations is governed and staffed by people with disabilities.

Area Contacts

Access 2 Independence

3127 Tower Road Suite B-2 Columbus, GA 31909
Phone: 706-405-2393
www.access2independence.com
Serves the following county in West Central Georgia: Muskogee

BAIN (Bainbridge Advocacy Individual Network)

316 West Shotwell Street P. O. Box 1674 Bainbridge, GA 39818
Phone: 229-246-0150
www.baincil.org
Serves the following counties in Southwest Georgia: Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Seminole, and Thomas.

Disability Connections

170 College Street Macon, GA 31201
Voice: 478-741-1425
Toll Free TTY/Voice: 800-743-2117
Serves the following counties in Central Georgia: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson.

Disability Resource Center

470-A Woods Mill Drive Gainesville, GA 30501
Voice 770-534-6656:
www.disabilityresourcecenter.org
Serves the following counties in North Georgia: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White

disABILITY Link

1901 Montreal Rd Suite 102 Tucker, GA 30084
Voice (404) 687-8890
TTY (404) 687-9175
Toll Free Voice/TTY (800)239-2507
http://www.disabilitylink.org
Serves the following counties in Metro Atlanta: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale

Northwest Georgia Center for Independent Living

242 North 5th Avenue Rome, GA 30165
Voice: 706-314-0008
Toll Free: 866-888-7845
Serves the following counties in Northwest Georgia: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield

LIFE (Living Independence for Everyone, Inc.)

5105 Paulsen Street Suite 143-B Savannah, GA 31405
Voice: 912-920-2414
https://www.lifecil.com
Serves the following counties in Southeast Georgia: Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh, Tattnall and Toombs

Multiple Choices

145 Barrington Drive Athens, GA 30605
Voice: 706-850-4025
FAX/TTY: 706-850-4044
Toll Free: 877-549-1020
www.multiplechoices.us
Serves the following counties in Northeast Georgia: Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton

Walton Options for Independent Living

P. O. Box 519 Augusta, GA 30903-5019
Voice: 706-724-6262
TTY: 706-261-0199
Toll Free: 877-821-8400
http://www.waltonoptions.org
Serves the following counties in East Georgia: Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, Richmond, Screven, and Washington.

In addition, LIFE is also a member of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) – a membership organization that advances the Independent Living philosophy and advocates for the human rights of, and services for, people with disabilities, with the end goal of furthering their full integration and participation in society.