The Independent Living Center

12/31/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we are taking time to reflect on what has truly been a significant year at The Independent Living Center.

- We took a major step forward by adding a new wheelchair-accessible van to our fleet, making it possible for more consumers to participate in our events, activities, and community outings. Transportation means access, and access means independence.

- We introduced High-Score Seekers, our Video Game Club for people with disabilities, which opened new doors for social connection and engagement. Participants have found confidence, connected with peers and formed new friendships in a place where everyone is included.

- We were proud to host our very first Eye Care Health Fair in partnership with Southwest Missouri Vision Connections, helping consumers access vital vision care and resources close to home.

- This year also marked the launch of our first Smokin’ For Support BBQ fundraiser. The strong community response made it clear that this event has the potential to become a meaningful annual tradition—one we look forward to growing in the years ahead.

None of this would have been possible without our consumers, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Your trust, support, and belief in independent living are what drive everything we do.

We invite you to watch our 2025 recap video to see a few of the moments, activities, and connections that defined this year. We look forward to continuing this work and building an even stronger, more inclusive community in 2026.

Happy New Year from all of us at The Independent Living Center!

This video highlights many of the activities, events, and programs we shared throughout the year—from community outings and educational events to advocacy ef...

12/29/2025

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas filled with good food and good company!

As we welcome the New Year, please note that our office will be closed on January 1st and 2nd so our staff can spend time with their families. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you when we return.

We also wanted to remind everyone that you can sign up for our new digital newsletter, delivered straight to your email inbox. Be sure to sign up before the first newsletter of the year is sent out to stay up to date on events, activities and programs here at TILC.

Thank you for being part of our community, and we wish you a Happy New Year!

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12/29/2025

We at The Independent Living Center are saddened by the passing of Bob Kafka, a nationally recognized disability rights advocate, who died over the weekend.

Mr. Kafka was a trailblazer in the disability rights movement and a strong champion of the Independent Living philosophy. His advocacy advanced the rights, dignity, and self-determination of people with disabilities nationwide.

We honor Mr. Kafka’s lasting contributions and extend our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and the disability community.

The National Council on Independent Living mourns the passing of Bob Kafka, a powerful advocate and movement...

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from all of us at The Independent Living Center!

We wish our community a joyful, peaceful holiday filled with warmth and happiness.

Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful Christmas!

12/23/2025

We want to thank the thoughtful staff at Liberty Utilities for their continued generosity and kindness! For many years, they have provided Christmas gifts for several of our consumers, helping ensure they feel remembered and celebrated during the holiday season.

Last week, the tree in our lobby was surrounded by gifts—a beautiful reminder of the impact a caring community partner can make.

Thank you, Liberty Utilities, for helping make Christmas brighter and more meaningful for those we serve.

12/23/2025

Our office will be closed December 24th - 26th and again on January 1st and 2nd so our staff can spend Christmas and New Year's Day with their families.

Thank you for understanding and we look forward to a very exciting 2026 with our consumers.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

12/19/2025

Thank you to everyone who voted in our Christmas Door Decorating Contest! The positive response and community participation made this event especially enjoyable.

We are excited to announce that CDS Coordinator Michelle with Door #3 is the winner of this year’s contest!

Congratulations and a sincere thanks to the staff who shared their creativity, teamwork, and holiday spirit.

12/17/2025

We are beyond grateful to Don’s Auction Service in Neosho for their incredible generosity!

Each Christmas season, they select a local nonprofit to support, and this year they chose The Independent Living Center. Over the past couple of months, Don’s raised an amazing $3,310 to further our mission—and we cannot thank them enough.

Their kindness and dedication to giving back will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve.

We encourage everyone to go support the great people over at Don’s Auction Service and thank them for their commitment to making our community stronger!

12/17/2025

We wanted to remind everyone that our office will close at 11 AM tomorrow, December 18th, for our Christmas staff party. We will resume our normal hours (8 AM - 4 PM) on December 19th.

Thank you and please share!

12/16/2025

It’s time to vote in our annual Door Decorating Contest!

Our staff has put a lot of work into their doors, and now we need your help picking a favorite.

How to vote:
Check out the door photos below

- COMMENT the NUMBER of the door you like best - likes do not count as votes.

- Be sure to comment on the ORIGINAL post - votes on shared posts won’t be counted.

- Some doors have more than one photo, so make sure you look through them all before choosing.

Voting is open until 10:00 AM on Thursday, December 18th.

Thanks for joining in and helping us have a little fun at The Independent Living Center!

12/15/2025

Gnome for the Holidays was a great success!

We had a wonderful time last week at our annual Consumer Christmas Party here at The Independent Living Center. We were excited to welcome our best turnout in quite some time, and it was great to see both new and familiar faces gathered together to celebrate the season.

Everyone enjoyed a traditional holiday meal with turkey and ham, several fun rounds of Music Bingo, and live music from local musician Chris Bassett, which added even more energy and enjoyment to the party. The room was full of smiles, conversation, and holiday cheer from start to finish.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a success. Events like this remind us how special our community is, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate with the consumers we serve.

12/09/2025

We are proud to participate in this year’s Mercy Park Tree Trail right here in Joplin. Our tree will remain on display through the end of December, and we invite you and your family to visit the trail and experience the creativity and community spirit showcased there.

This year, our team selected a Gingerbread House theme because it reflects the heart of our mission: ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to the resources and support they need to remain independent in the stability of their own homes. Gingerbread houses symbolize warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging - what we always strive to provide for our consumers.

We encourage everyone to take a stroll through Mercy Park, enjoy the beautifully decorated trees, and take a moment to find ours along the trail. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore the park, appreciate the hard work of many local businesses, and celebrate the season together as a community.