What would independent living look like in Armenia? What resources, skills, and opportunities would make independent living possible for people with disabilities? How would an Independent Living Resource Center (ILRC) define its mission and vision, and what services would it provide?
These and other topics were discussed during weekly virtual consultations with our partner, Mobility International USA (MIUSA), and two leading U.S. Independent Living (IL) experts: Christina Mills, Executive Director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) and Darrel Christenson, Vice President of Community Integration of Ability360.
As we reported earlier, “Agate” is establishing an ILRC in Gyumri, within the frameworks of the “Leading for Independent Living” project. In weekly virtual discussions, U.S. IL experts have shared their experience with “Agate” staff, and offered advice on how to establish and operate an effective ILRC. This includes recommendations and strategies to successfully provide accessible services, consultations and referrals to people with different types of disabilities, and to empower community members with disabilities with knowledge and skills necessary for independent living.
After virtual discussions with U.S. IL experts and MIUSA staff, “Agate” staff created a mission statement and a vision for the ILRC in Gyumri, and identified the core services that will be provided to ILRC consumers.
[su_note note_color=”#c0e3f4″ text_color=”#000000″][su_quote]“We highly appreciate the virtual consultations. We are very lucky to have an opportunity to receive best practices and advice from our American partners, who have many years of experience in the sphere of effective management of Independent Living Centers (ILCs). As we will soon establish an ILRC in Gyumri within the frameworks of this project, at this stage we are gaining as much information as possible about the philosophy, culture, main values and core services of ILRCs. Our U.S. experts also share their lessons learned with us, so we can have a consumer controlled center, directed by people with disabilities, and based on human rights. “Agate’’ staff prepares for these consultations with responsibility and participates in them with great enthusiasm because each of them gives us a lot of knowledge and skills,’’ says Karine Grigoryan, President of “Agate’’ NGO.[/su_quote][/su_note]
The mission of the project is to empower people with disabilities in Armenia to live independently, advocate for their rights, and participate fully in their communities, and is implemented by two leading disability organizations: Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and “Agate” Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities NGO.
This project is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of Agate and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.