Upcoming Events
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."
PILC’s Summer Youth Program Helps Build Futures
Youth Encountering Success helps equip high school students with the skills to make those positive choices. By exposing young people to ideas about higher education, vocations or volunteering, they gain a better idea about building meaningful lives after high school graduation.
Students toured the Elizabeth Jane Bivins Culinary Center where a huge kitchen produces meals for distribution all over the Panhandle. Large cooking kettles and tumble chillers process quality meals for home deliveries and network programs.
Amarillo’s Faith City Mission fills another great need, and students learned about the agency’s humanitarian projects. Just some of the programs include a food service, furniture give-away, homeless shelter, recovery programs and employment services.
Amarillo College gave the group a glimpse of higher education. Especially interesting was KACV-TV where their image was captured on television by a high-def camera. Students also toured fine art museum, fitness center and student union building where they learned that it’s the place to go for sodas, snacks and maybe some books for classes, too.
