MISSION

The Movement Towards Independent Living (MAVI in spanish) is a private non-for- profit organization devoted to the mentally and physically challenged community of Puerto Rico. We promote independence, productivity and integration with society. Our mission, to help the physically and mentally challenged achieve "Independent Living" by empowering them in their daily lives.

Independent Living Philosophy

Independent Living philosophy establishes that challenged people have the same options, control and civil rights as other people. Our center operates under 4 key ideals:

• EMPOWEREMENT: The majority of directive positions will be held by people with dissabilities. We strive to include people with various types of dissabilities in order to promote diversity.
  
  
• PEER COUNSELING : Our peer counseling program takes into mind the idea that people under similar conditions fit best to help others with dissabilities. We look to build relationships and provide models of work with our consumers.


• SELF HELP AND ASSISTANCE: The goal is for the consumers to develop the skills necessary to reach their goals and objectives; our center serves as an assistant in the process. We do not get things done for the consumer, we help the consumer get things done by themselves.
  
  
• EQUAL ACCESS: Our center has been adapted to provide equal access to people with different dissabilities. In order to fullfill this goal we have equipped our center with ramps, automatic doors, accesible parking, braille documentation, ample hallways and more. We also provide educational material in different formats. These are some of the ways in which we make our center available to people with different types of dissabilities.
  

Our Objectives

• To develop the skills necessary for independent living in the disabled community.

• To provide information, counseling, referrals and assistance to the dissabled community.

• To promote the integration of people with dissabilities with the community so they can enjoy their live's to the fullest.

• To inform the community about their rights and services available to them.

• To promote self motivation, direction, leadership and group identity.

• To participate as an agent of social change, fighting for the rights of people with dissabilities while encouraging individual contributions to the cause.

• To help in the improvement in the quality of life for people with dissabilities.

• To develop the skills for employment and training.

• To assist people with dissabilities who which to work under the Ticket to Work Program.

• To develop resources in order to provide other complementary services including: Assiste Equipment Donations, ADA Conferences, personal assistance and psycological services amongst others.

Our History

Ed Roberts was an important figure in the movement towards independent living. He is considered the father of the Independent Living movement. Even though he was disabled (Polio), he accomplished many of his goals in spite of other people's negative perception. Ed Roberts studied in the prestigious Universiy of Berkeley, California and served as director for California's Vocational Rehabilitation Administration. Along with Judith Heumann and other activists, he established the first center for independent living in Berkely, California and worked during the elaboration of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which established the centers for independent living. Ed Roberts died unexepectedly on march 14 of 1995.

Today, there are approximately 600 centers for Independent Living in the United States including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's first Independent Living center was started under the Department for Vocational Rehabilitation during the early 1980's. In 1988 the program was transferred to MAVI, a private non for profit corporation which to this day still provides services to the mentally and physically challenged.

In 1995, MAVI, created its first satellite to provide services to the souther region of the island. In 2001, this center becomes a stand alone corporation and the second center for Independent Living in the island. During this very same year, and in colaboration with the Independent Living Division of the Administration for Vocational Rehabilitation, steps were taken to establish a new satellite to provide services to the north-central part of the island. In May of 2002 the this new center opens its doors. In april of 2002 the honorable ex-governor of Puerto Rico, Sila M. Calderon, signed the Law Num. 54 of april 11, 2002 declaring the first week of May as the Week for Independent Living. Currently MAVI is working to establish a new center to serve the disabled community on the south-eastern region of the island.