Disability Network asks legislature to sustain $19.7 million and add $6 million for Centers for Independent Living

Terry Langley, executive director of Disability Network Michigan, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity that Centers for Independent Living (CILs) provide five federally required, community‑based services and requested continued and additional state funding for FY26.

"Centers for Independent Living are non residential, consumer driven, community based disability organizations, and they promote independence and self determination for people with disabilities," Langley said. She noted CILs are required by federal law to have people with disabilities in decision‑making roles and that the network operates 15 centers covering all 83 Michigan counties.

Langley outlined services CILs provide, including peer support and mentoring, information and referral, individual and systems advocacy, independent living skills training, and transition to community‑based living. She said centers handled more than 76,000 information contacts last year and provided services to about 12,000 consumers; the network employs roughly 300 staff across the state.

Funding for the centers comes from federal grants, state general funds and local donations or fee revenue, Langley said. She described Governor's Office line‑item funding of $19,700,000 proposed for the CIL network (the same amount she said the governor recommended for FY25) and asked the legislature to add $6,000,000 in new state funds. Langley said the distribution formula the centers use is split 50 percent equity and 50 percent equality (the equality portion is divided 60 percent by population and 40 percent by geography), and that, under the proposed distribution, each center would receive $200,000 equally with the remaining funds distributed under the equality calculation.

Langley referenced a 2019 return‑on‑investment analysis she said found the centers saved the state about $7 for every $1 invested, largely by helping people remain in home settings instead of higher‑cost institutional care and by supporting employment. She said the network is working on an updated ROI calculation.

Langley described partnerships with state agencies including the Department of Natural Resources, the secretary of state (Bureau of Elections) for voting accessibility, the Michigan State Police (Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security) for emergency planning, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority on housing accessibility and adaptations.

Langley also described local examples of CIL work, including loan closets for mobility equipment, adapted cooking classes and assistance helping residents displaced by unsafe housing find accessible alternatives.

The presentation was informational; no appropriation action was taken at the subcommittee meeting.