About ILRU
The ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) program
is a national center for information, training, research, and technical
assistance in independent living.
Its goal is to expand the body of knowledge in independent
living and to improve the utilization of results of research programs and
demonstration projects in this field.
It is a program of TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation
and Research), a nationally recognized medical rehabilitation facility for
persons with disabilities.
Since ILRU was established in 1977, it has developed a
variety of strategies for collecting, synthesizing, and disseminating
information related to the field of independent living. ILRU staff--a majority
of whom are people with disabilities--serve independent living centers,
statewide independent living councils, state and federal rehabilitation
agencies, consumer organizations, educational institutions, medical facilities,
and other organizations involved in the field, both nationally and
internationally.
IL NET is a collaborative project of the Independent Living
Research Utilization (ILRU) of Houston, Texas and the National Council on
Independent Living (NCIL )in Arlington, Virginia .The IL NET is a national
training and technical assistance project working to strengthen the independent
living movement by supporting Centers for Independent Living ( CILs) and
Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) directors, managers, and staff.
IL NET activities include workshops, national
teleconferences, technical assistance, on-line information, training materials,
fact sheets, and other resource materials. The mission of the IL NET is to
assist in building strong and effective CILs and SILCs, which are led and
staffed by people who practice the independent living philosophy. The IL NET
program has these objectives: Assist CILs and SILCs in managing effective
organizations by providing a continuum of information, training, and technical
assistance. In addition, the IL NET
is supportive of efforts of the local and state centers to
become strong community advocates.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Requests for technical assistance, whether from center
staff, board members, or others involved in independent activities, are handled
through a single point of contact at ILRU. ILRU staff determine who among
various partner organizations and individuals are the most qualified to respond
to the request, then provides referral to one or more potential technical
assistants who may be ILRU staff, NCIL staff or board members , or other
members of the project's technical assistance network. In each project year, IL
NET staff has responded to over 10,000 telephone requests. |
