Upcoming Events

Limited activities during May due to building renovations. We still keep regular office hours. Call 806-374-1400.

May 31 - 3:00pm

Special Message

Panhandle ILC is your "Key to Independence" a symbol of the assistance and encouragement we offer to people with disabilities. More than 40 years ago in California, a group of people living in nursing homes simply because they were disabled, refused to give up their rights. Working together, they formed the first Independent Living Center, left the nursing homes, and began advocating for themselves.

This spirit continues in Centers all across America and in Amarillo where we help fill in the gaps left by other agencies. We encourage people to become their own advocates, take risks, accept responsibility, and gain control over their own lives. It's about participating as full and equal members of the community.

The philosophy behind Independent Living is that: "Everyone, regardless of disability, should have equal access to the rights and responsibilities that each citizen has to be as active and productive a member of society as he chooses to be."

Editorial by D. J. Stubben, PILC President

Editorial
by D. J. Stubben
PILC President

Since 2001, it has been my privilege to see Panhandle ILC grow from meager beginnings into one of our community’s most effective organizations. Now in my second term as a Board member, I am honored to be working with other dedicated men and women as we prepare to move to our new home at 417 West 10^th. This is truly an awesome milestone in our Center’s history.

It seems that times were much simpler in 2001 when the Center was providing the most basic activities including Advocacy, Peer Counseling, Life Skills Training and Information and Referral services. As we listened to our consumers’ needs, PILC expanded services. We developed our youth program, added travel training, and re-engineered our employment services. Happily, we soon found ourselves out of space and still growing.

Ray Aplin is one of our Board members who has served PILC longer than even he can remember. He also volunteers at the Center twice a week and often must find a place to work; usually in a room where other activities are going on. As a PILC consumer, as well, Ray attends events and meetings that are held here at the Center. He and other people with disabilities fully understand our space problem and our need to expand in order to meet our consumers’ needs.

We are especially blessed to live and work in a community that supports our growth and is making this new building

A model ADA accessible kitchen and a spacious consumer activity area are illustrated in renderings donated by Lavin Architects.

possible. Several area foundations are pledging funds for vital renovations. Local businesses are donating their time and resources to help make the most of our dollars.

We look forward to formally recognizing the many people who are sharing whatever they can to make this dream of a new home come true.

The purchase of our new building was made possible by a one-time gift from the Cy Pres Myers trust, a fund which benefitted all Texas centers for independent living. PILC’s Board of Directors and staff seized the opportunity to invest these funds in a long-termproject that will have a lasting impact on the lives of the people we serve. I am awed by the many people and resources that all came together to purchase our own building. Thank all of you for your support in words, actions, donations and prayers. As we move forward, we will remember all of you who have taken us to the next step in service.