Vocational Rehabilitation oversees the two Centers for Independent Living that serve Wyoming. Wyoming Independent Living serves the Eastern side of the state, and its home office is in Casper. Wyoming Services for Independent Living serves the Western side of the state, and its home office is in Lander.
The five core services for Independent Living are information and referral, advocacy, peer support, independent living skills training, and youth transition and nursing home transition and diversion. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires that at least 51 percent of Center for Independent Living’s staff and 51 percent of its board are people with disabilities.
The State Independent Living Council is charged with writing and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the State Plan for Independent Living.
The Older Blind Program is contracted to the Wyoming Department of Education, Vision Outreach Services. It is an independent living program for individuals 55 years of age or older that are blind or visually impaired, usually from glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Visual impairment is defined as 20/50 in the better eye with corrective lenses or a restricted field of twenty degrees or less. The services that are typically offered are low vision information, assessment of the home or environment, low vision equipment (magnification, lighting, talking devices), applications to foundations for financial assistance and peer support groups.
More information about the Centers for Independent Living and the State Independent Living Council can be found at the following links:
- Wyoming Independent Living
- Wyoming Services for Independent Living
- Wyoming Statewide Independent Living Council
- State Independent Living Council Brochure