LIFE has been honored with the GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency, which acknowledges our efforts in providing clear, accurate, and accessible information to anyone who wants to learn more.
GuideStar is part of the nonprofit Candid. It determines where nonprofits spend their funds, where they get their money, and why it matters. This information is available to grantors, grantees and the public.
Charity Navigator has given LIFE it’s highest award, a 4-star rating. This earned us a “great” assessment with a score of 91%.
It means that LIFE “exceeds or meets best practices and industry standards across almost all areas. Likely to be a highly-effective charity,” according to the organization.
We are honored to be recognized for our work in the community, which couldn’t happen without our funders, staff, consumers and board members.
History
Living Independence for Everyone, Inc. started in the home of two women with disabilities. They had a vision of equal rights, equal opportunities, and people with disabilities living independently as part of their communities.
Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE), Inc. began in Chatham County in 1986 and grew to serve eleven counties in southeast Georgia from our Savannah office. In 2019, LIFE Jesup opened to serve an additional nine counties, expanding LIFE’s service area to twenty counties.
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 for all residents with disabilities. This includes providing services in urban and more rural areas.
The foundation of Independent Living is the peer relationship – people with disabilities supporting others with disabilities. Through shared experiences, peers can offer support, encouragement, and practical insight as people make their own choices and pursue their goals.
Independent Living recognizes that those goals look different for everyone. They may include going to school, working, volunteering, voting, building relationships, being involved in the community, or simply being a good neighbor. LIFE supports people in identifying what matters to them, building on their skills and strengths, and making their own decisions about how they want to live their lives.
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.
