“Some organizations see things as they are and ask why, we dream things that never were and say why not.”

The Purpose of the Awards

Above all, the purpose of these awards is to reflect the responsiveness, good management and effectiveness of independent living partners in Wisconsin today. This includes individuals and groups/organizations.

The ILCW Awards recognize excellence in all aspects of independent living that not only validates persons with disabilities, but also recognizes the Independent Living philosophy. These awards also allow the independent living partners an opportunity to experience a sample of those who are furthering choice and opportunity for people with disabilities. This includes maintaining an awareness of who and/or what organizations may be making a difference. The awards embrace true cross-disability collaboration because the state councils each receive a vote on those who are recipients.

ILCW urges respondents to nominate individuals and/or organizations which embrace full and active participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of the society.

Criteria for the Awards

Consumer Excellence Award:

• Is a resident of the State of Wisconsin
• Lives the Independent Living Philosophy to the fullest
• Has overcome the odds in deciding upon and taking a course of action that fulfills a career or personal goal
• Demonstrates leadership qualities that further opportunities for people with disabilities
• Has contributed to the IL movement at the local, state, or national level in some way

Community Partner Award:

• Organization is physically located in Wisconsin.
• Demonstrates a commitment to furthering independence in employment, public service or service delivery.
• Promotes opportunity and choices for people with disabilities.

You may also consider the following in your submission:

• Types of activities nominee has been involved in
• Attitudinal and philosophical background
• Length of commitment
• How the community benefits from their contribution
• Please limit nomination narrative to two pages.

The Independent Living Paradigm

The Independent Living (IL) Movement has been created by and for people with disabilities. It contributes to the way people with disabilities view themselves and to the way in which service delivery mechanisms in the community respond to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities. The IL approach empowers people with disabilities to examine choices, to make their own decisions, and to take risks as a means of directing their own lives. The IL model offers an alternative to the medical model traditionally assigned persons with disabilities. Under the guise of the medical model, professionals chart and control the outcome for persons with disabilities: the disability becomes both the focus and the "problem." As such, solutions incorporate medical/rehabilitative interventions such as counselors, doctors, rehabilitation workers, etc., which seldom include the person with a disability in the decision-making process. In the IL model the social construct of persons with disabilities, including physical and attitudinal barriers, are the problems, because they reinforce the negative stereotypes of persons with disabilities as dependents and helpless. In contrast, the IL model offers solutions to existing problems, skills development, peer support and self-help to remove barriers and to empower rather than to dis-empower persons with disabilities. Independent Living includes control, flexibility and choice in all aspects of the lives of persons with disabilities.

The Independent Living Movement

Because the IL Movement operates at a grassroots level, within the community, persons with disabilities are in a position to recognize the gaps in services and barriers that prevent them from participating fully in society. It follows, then, that persons with disabilities should be allowed to develop, scrutinize and control outcomes with respect to direction that responds directly to their needs.

Independent Living Awards

Community Partner Award

The award recognizes the group or organization, public or private, which demonstrates and facilitates growth towards greater independence for people with disabilities.

Consumer Excellence Award

The award recognizes the individual who has demonstrated longstanding efforts to improving opportunities through dedicated leadership and advancement for persons with disabilities.