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Services

The UILC is a non–residential agency that provides services which enhance the independence of people with disabilities.

Staff members, some of whom have a disability, play an important role in the delivery of independent living services which include four core services of:

  1. Peer Support
  2. Information and Referral
  3. Independent Living Skills Training
  4. Advocacy

We provide these services both at the individual and community levels.

All services are demand driven.

Eligibility

A person must have a physical or mental disability which impairs activities of daily living and a reasonable expectation must exist that UILC’s services will increase independence.

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  1. Personal control over one’s life
  2. Self–direction
  3. Freedom of choice
  4. Risk–taking
  5. Equal access
  6. Significant participation in society

Independent living is having control over one’s life based on the choice of acceptable option that minimize reliance on others in making decisions and in performing everyday activites. Disability issues are viewed in terms of civil rights rather than special services.

Independent Living is a rapidly growing consumer movement. Its rapid growth is a function of the great need that exists for services to persons who have a significant disability. A personal definition of independent living encompasses a person with a disability having the right to choose and have personal control over one’s life including the services they receive. The Independent Living movement has historical roots in the Civil Rights movement as well as the deinstitutional and other social justice and self–help trends prevalent in the early 1960s.

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The Utah Independent Living Center (UILC) is a private, non–profit, non–residential agency that teaches independent living skills to people with disabilities.

The UILC was the first independent living center in Utah and has been serving this community since April of 1982.

Life skill services that are available compliment rather than duplicate services already existing in the community. Staff members with disabilities play an important role in the delivery of independent living services.

Services available assist people with disabilities living in Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties achieve increased independence and community integration.

The Center is consumer controlled with a majority of staff and board members being people with disabilities.

Controlling one’s life and minimizing dependence on others are central themes in the independent living movement. Thus, consumers have a say in the services they receive from the UILC. Eliminating barriers in the community enables people with disabilities to be active participants.

Community advocacy is an essential component of our independent living program.

The UILC is committed to providing services needed by people with disabilities to function more independently in their families and communities.

The UILC is a 501(c)3 private, non–profit agency.
Financial donations are gladly accepted.
Most donations are tax deductible.

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Meets monthly and provides governance and direction for the Utah Independent Living Center.

Membership must be at least 51% people with disabilities.


  • Mark Christiansen – Chairperson

  • Richard Fox – Vice–Chairperson

  • Greg Killpack – Secretary/Treasurer

  • Dawn Abbruzzese

  • Bryan Carroll

  • Barbara Fox

  • Karen Gardner

  • Olga Nadeau

  • Kim Price

  • Karrie Thorne


We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

If you or if you know anyone that would be interested in being a board member of the UILC, please contact Debra at 801–466–5565

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Debra MairExecutive Director
Expertise in all aspects of independent living. Responsible for overseeing the day–to–day operation of the Utah Independent Living Center (UILC), fundraising and seeing that overall UILC mission and goals are accomplished.

Email: dmair@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x203

Patty TrentFiscal Manager
Expertise in fiscal management & human resources. Responsibilities are bookkeeping, accounting, assisting with insurance and personnel issues.

Email: ptrent@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x204

Debbie LambroseSecretary/Receptionist
Expertise in providing clerical support. Responsibilities include being familiar with community services, greeting and assisting consumers, and answering incoming calls.

Email: dlambrose@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x201

Jess BushmanStaff Support/Loan Bank Specialist
Expertise in assisting people acquire assistive equipment on a temporary basis. Responsibilities include working with people who need to borrow assistive equipment, building maintenance, and assisting other staff members.

Phone Extension: x202

Ruth BurnsideDriver
Expertise in transporting people. Responsibilities include driving lift–equipped van to transport consumers who are unable to use public transit.

Email: rburnside@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x214

Kim Meichle Assistant Director
Expertise in computers, knowledge of independent living philosophy, and State and Federal access laws. Responsibilities including providing direction, guidance, and supervision of independent living programs.

Email: kmeichle@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x207

Shauna Brock Independent Living Specialist
Expertise in classroom instruction to develop daily living skills and facilitating support groups. Responsibilities include identifying consumer’s needs and implementing classes and services to meet identified needs.

Email: sbrock@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x205

Julie BecksteadProgram Coordinator
Expertise in transition needs of youth with disabilities, parenting and mentoring individuals striving to be more independent. Responsibilities include working with adults and youth on independent living needs.

Email: jpbeckstead@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x206

Education Enhancement Program

Mary PhillipsLife Skills Trainer
Expertise in working with youth, effectively handling large classes and coordinating with educators throughout the valley to improve transition services. Responsibilities include working with students 13 to 22 years of age in local schools to meet independent living goals they have set.

Email: mphillips@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x213

Kathy SelfLife Skills Trainer
Expertise in working with youth assisting them to transition from school to community living. Responsibilities include teaching skills for every day living.

Email: kself@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x219

Assistive Technology Program

Janice McCulloughAssistive Technology Service Coordinator
Expertise in Assistive Technology (AT) service coordination. Responsibilities are coordinating services needed to assist consumers in acquiring assistive technology needed for daily living.

Email: jmccull@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x208

Suzanne TraylorAssistive Technology Assistant
Expertise in Assistive Technology (AT) service coordination. Responsibilities are assisting younger consumers with their assistive technology needs and conducting annual satisfaction reviews for all AT consumers.

Email: straylor@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x215

Community Integration Program

Michael LefevorCommunity Integration Coordinator
Expertise in coordinating community activities. Responsibilities are assisting consumers to develop independent living skills through community participation and assisting community facilities to become more accessible.

Email: mlefevor@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x209

Peer Support and Outreach Program

Jan BigelowPeer Support and Outreach Specialist
Expertise in goal setting and knowing personal attendant resources to support and maintain community living arrangements. Responsibilities include service coordination for participants of the Physical Disability Waiver and skill development for other consumers.

Email: jbigelow@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x211

Deaf Independent Living Expansion Program

Carole PeckPeer Support Specialist
Expertise in providing peer support to people who are deaf. Responsibilities include working with consumers who are deaf and need to learn daily living skills.

Email: carolpeck@utah.gov
Phone: Video Phone: 385-232-2173 or leave message with receptionist.

Nursing Home Transition Program

Tiffany Montoya Coordinator
Expertise in identifying people with disabilities living in nursing homes who want to move to another community living arrangement. Responsibilities include building a network of community resources and providing individual services enabling people to live outside of a care facility.

Email: tmontoya@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x220

Outreach Program

Deserae (Desi) Clark Outreach and IL Skills Trainer
Expertise in coordinating daily living skill development services in outlying areas including Summit County, Magna, Herriman, and Tooele. Responsibilities include identifying people needing services, and implementing services and activities. Expertise in classroom instruction to develop daily living skills. Responsibilities include identifying consumer’s needs and implementing classes and services to meet identified needs.

Email: dclark@uilc.org
Phone Extension: x216

Tooele Branch Office

Angie Slater Outreach Specialist
Expertise in coordinating daily living skill development services in Tooele County. Responsibilities include identifying people needing services, and implementing services and activities.

Email: angies@uilc.org
Phone: (435) 843-7353

Cheri Gunderson Life Skills Trainer
Expertise in extending Education Enhancement services to Tooele County, assisting students 13 to 22 years of age transition from school to community living. Responsibilities include teaching skills for every day living in local schools to meet independent living goals they have set.

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