Texas State Independent Living Council — Peer Support for People in Institutions

Project Summary
The Texas State Independent Living Council (Texas SILC) trained people with developmental disabilities (DD) to become peer-support specialists for residents of state-supported living centers, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities. As mentors, these specialists supported their peers in areas including resident rights, formal and informal services that support independent living, person-centered planning, and voting rights. For this project, Texas SILC partnered with Centers for Independent Living in south and northwest Texas; the Valley Association for Independent Living, and Disability In Action to develop peer-support training. 

TCDD funding supported this project to increase access to information and training for people with DD, families, and caregivers to advocate for themselves and collaborate with allies to impact public policy, service systems, and community supports.