Our History


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Founded in 2002, SOCIL is managed
by a Board of Directors and staff comprised of a majority of persons with various disabilities.

The foundation of CIL services is the peer relationship - people with disabilities assisting other people with disabilities as role models and mentors. Each center is unique because it offers services based upon the particular needs of its community. However, centers are alike in that they all offer core services.

SOCIL — Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living

“Access is Opportunity”

Who We Are

Our Mission

At SOCIL we believe access is opportunity, and our foundation is peer relationship — people with disabilities learning from other people with disabilities.

That’s why we are run and staffed by disabled people. We advocate alongside disabled people of all ages who want to live more independently.

The SOCIL team: a group of staff members smiling together indoors.
Our team

Our Services

Services at SOCIL are free to anyone with a disability in the Southeast Ohio region.

  • Advocacy
  • Peer Support
  • Disability Information
  • Independent Living Skills
  • Community Resources
  • Adaptive Sports & Wellness
  • Accessibility Support
  • Youth School Transitions
Two SOCIL community members who use wheelchairs sitting together and smiling in a community room.

Adaptive Sports

Adaptive sports level the playing field, giving people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities the opportunity to compete. Sports and activities include:

  • Boccia
  • Pickleball
  • Wheelchair basketball and football
  • Cornhole
  • Hikes, and more
A smiling SOCIL participant in a wheelchair holding a pickleball paddle and ball on an outdoor court.
Pickleball on the court

Ways to Get Involved

SOCIL offers a variety of advocacy groups to get involved with:

  • Youth Advisory Council (for youth ages 14–22)
  • Regional Disability Council (for adults with disabilities)
  • Parent Peer Support group

How to use our services

To use our free services, talk to any SOCIL employee or get in touch with us.

Our Impact

In 2025, SOCIL:

  • Served over 500 people
  • Advocated for two cities to create their ADA transition plan
  • Supported 30 families through our ramp program
  • Expanded into 5 additional counties
A group of SOCIL participants wearing green 2025 Cornhole Tournament shirts, smiling together at the event.
2025 Cornhole Tournament

Counties Served

SOCIL serves nine counties in southeastern Ohio:

  • Athens
  • Fairfield
  • Hocking
  • Jackson
  • Meigs
  • Morgan
  • Perry
  • Vinton
  • Washington
teacher speaking with student
About the Center for Independent Living
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A CIL is a non-profit, non-residential organization which assists people with significant disabilities who want to live more independently. They assist people of all ages with all types of disabilities.

In addition to the direct services we provide to individuals with disabilities and their families, SOCIL also serves the community at large. We help by creating an environment that is accessible to all through technical assistance and systemic advocacy.
Our Core Services
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SOCIL offers a wide variety of services but the core services are:


  • Information and Referral resources to address inquiries on housing, schooling, transportation, housing modifications, assistive technology, and benefits
  • Advocacy/Peer Support to allow people with a disability to explore options and solve problems
  • Independent Living Skills training to learn and/or improve life skills
  • Community-Based Living and Youth Transitions to locate community-based services