Achieving Independence & Mobility CIL

What Achieving Independence & Mobility CIL does

Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living (AIM-CIL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Independent Living founded in 1991 as DuPage Center for Independent Living and renamed in 2012 when it expanded into Kane and Kendall Counties in Illinois. Headquartered at 3130 Finley Rd., Ste. 500 in Downers Grove, the organization delivers core disability services — advocacy, independent living skills training, peer counseling, transition support, and information and referral — alongside supplemental offerings including the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), a Personal Assistant program, hearing and visual impairment services, and Youth Services for ages 0-25. It also administers two small direct-aid programs: an Educational Scholarship of up to $500 per student and an Assistive Technology grant of up to $500 per consumer.

AIM-CIL operates within the federally-mandated Centers for Independent Living framework under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and more than 51% of its staff and board are individuals with disabilities, giving the organization its consumer-controlled character. Revenue is sourced primarily from Illinois state agencies — the Department of Human Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services, and Home Services Program — supplemented by donations and program-specific grants. All services are provided free of charge to consumers through in-person delivery at the Downers Grove office, community outreach at nursing facilities and schools, and phone/Video Relay consultation. The organization has approximately 10 staff, is led by Executive Director Leigh Ann Stephens (since 2004), and is governed by a disability-majority board. The technology footprint is limited to assistive device distribution (notably as an ITAC Amplified Phone Selection Center) and a content-marketing website; no software products, APIs, or AI capabilities are offered.

Name

Achieving Independence & Mobility CIL

Legal name

Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living

Website

https://aim-cil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AIM-CIL is a 501(c)(3) Center for Independent Living in Downers Grove, Illinois, providing advocacy, independent living skills training, peer counseling, transition support, and information/referral services to persons with disabilities across DuPage, Kane, and Kendall Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ), Assistive Technology & AAC for Young Children (EDACAFAL)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Independent living support
• Peer counseling programs
• Assistive technology funding
• Transition support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Downers Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Services funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services, and Home Services Program. Personal assistant services are funded through these government programs.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through PayPal and mail to support their mission and services.
3. Grant Programs: Programs such as the Educational Scholarship Program (up to $500 per student) and Assistive Technology Program (up to $500 per consumer) are funded through grants.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AIM-CIL is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living that delivers direct disability services to individuals across DuPage, Kane, and Kendall Counties in Illinois. Its offerings include core services (advocacy, independent living skills training, peer counseling, transition support, and information/referral) plus specialized programs such as SHIP Medicare counseling, personal assistant referral, hearing/visual impairment services, youth services, and financial assistance programs for assistive technology and educational scholarships.

Product overview

Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living (AIM-CIL) is a non-profit service organization, not a technology product company. It offers a suite of disability services organized as core services (Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Counseling, Transition Support, and Information/Referral Services) plus supplemental programs (Senior Health Insurance Program, Personal Assistant Program, Hearing/Visual Impairment Services, and Youth Services). The organization also administers two financial assistance programs: the Educational Scholarship Program (up to $500 for post-secondary education) and the Assistive Technology Program (up to $500 for devices). All services are delivered through direct staff support, community partnerships, and in-person assistance—no software products or APIs are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Services
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Peer Counseling
• Transition Support
• Information and Referral Services
• Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
• Personal Assistant Program
• Hearing Loss Services
• Visual Impairment Services
• Youth Services
• Educational Scholarship Program
• Assistive Technology Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 256 consumers received assistance with amplified phones through ITAC Program in past year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association of Centers for Independent Living in Illinois. INCIL provides networking, advocacy support, and resources to member CILs across Illinois.
• Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois (SILC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState council responsible for developing the State Plan for Independent Living and monitoring its implementation across Illinois.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities, advocating for disability rights and independent living philosophy.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreOthersState agency that funds personal assistant services and other programs through its Office of Rehabilitation Services and Home Services Program.
• Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial recreation association providing recreational programs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in DuPage County.
• Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial recreation association providing recreational programs open to anyone in DuPage County who is blind or visually impaired.
• Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIM-CIL is an ITAC Amplified Phone Selection Center, providing free amplified telephones to Illinois residents certified with hearing loss.
• PACE ADA Suburban Advisory CommitteeminorOthersTransportation advocacy committee where AIM-CIL's Transportation Advocate serves as chairperson.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois (SILC): State council responsible for the State Plan for Independent Living. Functions as a funder, partner, and policy convener for AIM-CIL rather than a direct service competitor.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National grassroots disability rights organization that advocates for the independent living movement and provides policy/advocacy resources. Partner organization to AIM-CIL rather than a peer operator.
• Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL): Statewide association of Illinois CILs. Not a direct competitor but a network partner that funnels referrals, advocacy resources, and federal pass-through funding to member CILs including AIM-CIL.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization focused primarily on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Overlaps with AIM-CIL's advocacy, transition, and family-support functions but operates as a federation of state/local chapters.
• Easterseals: Large national disability services nonprofit offering a much broader portfolio (medical rehabilitation, autism services, workforce, senior care). Overlaps with AIM-CIL on disability services and transition support but at far greater scale and geographic breadth.

Direct peers

• Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living providing the same five federally-required core services (advocacy, IL skills training, peer counseling, transition, I&R) to people with disabilities. Closest comparable CIL by service model, with a larger metro service area.
• Center for Disability Rights: Rochester, NY-based CIL with a strong consumer-controlled governance model and advocacy focus. Comparable in service mix and rights-based orientation, though larger in scale.
• Progress Center for Independent Living: Illinois CIL headquartered in Bloomingdale serving the western Chicago suburbs. Operates the same core CIL service portfolio to a neighboring geography, making it the most directly comparable CIL in Illinois outside AIM-CIL's footprint.
• LIFE Center for Independent Living: Indiana-based Center for Independent Living offering the federal core services plus youth transition and benefits counseling. Comparable in operating model, staff scale, and community-led GTM motion.
• The Independence Center: Colorado Springs CIL providing independent living services, advocacy, and transition support for people with disabilities. Operates a similar community-led, consumer-controlled model with comparable service breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aim_cil
• Facebookfacebook.com/AIMCenterforIndependentLiving
• Instagraminstagram.com/aim.cil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Achieving Independence & Mobility CIL