The Independent Living Center

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of us at The Independent Living Center!

Last week, we hosted our first big event of the year with our St. Patrick’s Day party, and it was great seeing both new and familiar faces. Everyone enjoyed corned beef sandwiches and Irish punch, got creative with a festive craft, and laughed their way through some games while showing off their silliest faces.

Thank you to everyone who joined the fun and made it such a memorable celebration. Here’s to more smiles and memories throughout the year.

03/17/2026

Join us for this month’s Veteran’s Group at The Independent Living Center - March 26th at 10 AM

We have a great event planned and are pleased to welcome guest speaker Wendie Colvin, who will be sharing information about the Gateway Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. This is a meaningful opportunity to learn about available resources, connect with others, and be part of a supportive community.

We look forward to seeing you there.

03/16/2026

We are so grateful to On My Own, Incorporated in Nevada for their generous donation of adult briefs and incontinence supplies during our Adult Brief Drive!

These donations will make a meaningful difference for the individuals we serve, helping them maintain daily comfort, independence, and dignity. Acts of kindness like this remind us how strong our community is when we come together to support one another.

From everyone at The Independent Living Center, thank you for showing such care for the people we serve. Your generosity truly makes a lasting impact!

Our Adult Brief Drive continues until this Friday, March 20th. You can donate supplies at our office or make a monetary donation using the link below. Thank you for helping us support our community!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-our-adult-brief-drive

03/06/2026

NOW HIRING: IN-HOME ATTENDANTS

The Independent Living Center is looking for compassionate, reliable people to join our team as ADS (Agency Directed Services) Care Attendants. In this role, you’ll help individuals with disabilities live independently by providing personal care and assisting with household tasks.

Every day, you’ll have the chance to make a real difference in someone’s life by helping them remain in the comfort of their own homes.

You can apply using either link below or come into our office at 2639 E. 34th Street in Joplin to apply in person.

https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=53c73ebd549d49b2&from=shareddesktop_copy

https://ilcenter.bamboohr.com/careers/43

03/04/2026

Today, we remember and honor Judy Heumann on the anniversary of her passing. Judy was a true trailblazer in the Disability Rights movement. Her courage, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to equality paved the way for countless individuals with disabilities to live with dignity, independence, and opportunity.

We are deeply grateful for her legacy, which continues to inspire our work every day. Thank you, Judy, for fighting for a world where everyone belongs.

Today marks 3 years since Judy’s passing 💜 Every March 4th serves as a reminder to “march forth” in her honor!

Artwork by Avital Dayanim, photo by Shuran Huang
Image Description: Judy Heumann in her wheelchair smiling. Around the photo is a yellow and pink collage with flowers and leaves.

02/26/2026

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT: JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST CONSUMER PARTY OF 2026

We’re excited to bring everyone back together for our first Consumer Party of the year—our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy some festive fun, reconnect with old friends, and make some new ones!

If you need transportation, be sure to RSVP by Friday, March 6th to reserve your spot.

Wear your green and come celebrate with us—we can’t wait to see everyone there.

02/24/2026

Stay connected with our new digital newsletter - delivered monthly!

We’re excited to launch our new monthly e-newsletter to help the community stay even more up to date with everything happening at The Independent Living Center. We will continue sending printed newsletters each quarter to our consumers and community members, but we are now adding a monthly version that will be delivered directly to your inbox.

This new format will allow us to share timely information about upcoming events, program updates, and important announcements. We encourage you to sign up today and please share with anyone who may want to stay current with programs and activities at The Independent Living Center. We’re looking forward to staying connected with you throughout the year.

You can sign up here:

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

02/20/2026

NOW HIRING: FULL-TIME VAN DRIVER

The Independent Living Center in Joplin is hiring a full-time van driver to safely transport individuals with disabilities.

This position helps ensure the people we serve can stay active, engaged, and connected in our community. We are looking for someone who understands that safety, reliability, and kindness are essential in this work.

Candidates should:
• Have a clean driving record.
• Be dependable and professional
• Have a friendly, respectful demeanor
• Always makes safety the top priority

This is primarily a customer service position. The right person will be patient, courteous, and committed to treating every passenger with dignity and respect.

If you’re looking for meaningful, full-time work where you can make a positive impact each day, we’d love to hear from you.

02/17/2026

Now Hiring: In-Home Care Attendant (CDS Program) – McDonald County

We are currently hiring compassionate and dependable individuals in McDonald County to serve as In-Home Care Attendants through our Consumer Directed Services (CDS) Program.

This is meaningful work that makes a real impact. As an attendant, you’ll assist individuals with disabilities so they can remain independent and comfortable in their own homes — where they belong.

If you’re reliable, caring, and looking for a position with purpose, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call for more information.

Please share this post to help us spread the word in McDonald County!

02/16/2026

Happy Monday from all of us at The Independent Living Center!

We had a great time at our Healthy Living Class today. This class meets on the third Monday of each month and is a wonderful opportunity to focus on wellness, connect with others, and build healthy habits together.

We have two more opportunities for peer support and connection this week:

Wednesday at 1 PM – High Score Seekers Video Game Club
Thursday at 1 PM – Blind and Low Vision Support Group

If you or a loved one could benefit from any of our support groups, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (417) 659-8086 to learn more or get involved.

You can also sign up for our e-newsletter at the link below to stay informed about upcoming events, activities and support groups at The Independent Living Center.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/sign-up-for-our-newsletter-2225

02/12/2026

ATTENTION:

Due to construction and a power outage at our building, we will have limited hours tomorrow, February 13th. Our office and food pantry will be open 12 PM - 4 PM. We will resume our normal hours of 8 AM - 4 PM on Monday.

Have a great Valentine's Day!

02/09/2026

Did you know that The Independent Living Center hosts a variety of support groups for individuals with disabilities?

Peer support is a big part of the Independent Living philosophy—learning from each other, encouraging each other, and celebrating each other’s wins. This video is a great example of that in action.

Last month, our Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group was treated to a Pour Painting class led by one of our very own participants in the group. This was her first time teaching since her recovery, and it was a special and creative day for everyone involved.

Check it out here and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more stories like this from our TILC community and follow us to stay up to date on our support groups and activities.

On January 13th, 2026, our TBI Support Group welcomed regular participant Rhonda Kendrick-Wilson as she led a Pour Painting class for the group. This special...