Who are we?

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What do we do?

The mission of the Center for Independence is to help children and young adults with physical disabilities achieve their highest level of independence in the home, school, community and workforce. We provide therapy programs that develop life skills and motor function in a manner that promotes positive self-reliance, self-esteem and an “I Can!” attitude.

The Center began in 1998 in Countryside, Illinois serving 6 children with physical disabilities in the basement of a local church. Since then, the Center has served over 900 children and young adults with physical disabilities, primarily Cerebral Palsy, and provided over $14,000,000 in charitable services to ensure full participation.

The Center accepts Medicaid and most health insurances to ensure all children have access to affordable, quality therapy services. The Center has NEVER turned a child away due to inability to pay. The Center caps the program at $10 per hour for families, further reduced based on financial need to ensure all children with physical disabilities have the opportunity to grow up happy and healthy.

The Center provides intensive motor training programs to over 300 children and young adults with physical disabilities each year at three different locations in the Chicagoland area: 100 W. Plainfield Rd., Countryside, IL 60525 (main site); 23153 W Miller Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (The Hope Collective); and 2701 W. 36th Pl, Chicago, IL 60632 (Brighton Park Neighborhood). The Center serves children ranging from 0 – 18 years old.

The Center’s Lake Zurich location opened to serve children with physical disabilities in the northwest suburbs in 2009. This year, the Center moved into our new home at The Hope Collective. The Center children love the accessible playground and fishing in the nearby pond.

What is Conductive Education?

Conductive Education is an intensive method of teaching people with motor disabilities to be more functionally independent. It is founded on the premise of neural plasticity – with intensive focused practice, the brain is capable of creating new pathways despite significant damage. The Center’s transdisciplinary team of Conductive Education Teachers, Physical and Occupational Therapists work together to provide a comprehensive therapeutic program to promote confidence and motivation in every child, so that life skills are achieved to the best of their ability. The group setting is a strong motivator, encouraging children to take responsibility for their learning with an “I Can!” attitude.

Where can you learn more?
https://www.cfimove.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CenterforIndependence

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