Southwest Center for Independent Living

What Southwest Center for Independent Living does

Southwest Center for Independent Living, operating under the brand "empower: abilities," is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living founded in 1985 and headquartered at 1450 W Cambridge St in Springfield, Missouri. The organization serves people with disabilities across eight southwest Missouri counties — Christian, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster — regardless of gender, age, race, sexual orientation, or disability type (physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, or sensory; temporary or permanent). As a federally-designated CIL, it delivers the five mandated core services: advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, and transition services.

The organization's service portfolio spans consumer services, group programs, accessibility evaluations, Home and Community-Based Services (Medicaid-funded), an Assistive Technology Demonstration program, Consumer Directed Services (CDS) for self-directed caregiver arrangements, and professional caregiver and nursing services. Services are delivered through in-person case management, home accessibility evaluations, peer support groups, and direct caregiver networks across the eight-county region. The underlying technology stack is minimal: a Webflow-hosted website, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and an email newsletter — with no proprietary software products, mobile applications, or API integrations.

The revenue model is government-funded managed services, primarily through Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waivers, supplemented by donations via PayPal. No commercial pricing is disclosed because services are accessed through public funding programs. The go-to-market is community-led and direct: staff and peer mentors engage beneficiaries in person across the rural service area, with digital channels used for top-of-funnel awareness and stakeholder communications. There is no headcount, revenue, or financial benchmarking disclosed in the source data.

Name

Southwest Center for Independent Living

Legal name

Southwest Center for Independent Living

Website

https://swcil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Southwest Center for Independent Living, operating as "empower: abilities," is a 1985-founded nonprofit Center for Independent Living that delivers independent living, accessibility, assistive technology, and in-home support services to people with disabilities across eight southwest Missouri counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Skilled Home Health Aide Services (HHA/CNA under Skilled Plan of Care) (HLADAFAF)

Keywords

• Independent living services
• Disability support services
• Assistive technology assistance
• Home accessibility modifications
• Peer support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Home and Community-Based Services: Medicaid-funded programs providing home and community-based services to help individuals with disabilities live safely and stay healthy at home

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Southwest Center for Independent Living (DBA empower: abilities) is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living that provides direct, community-based disability services across eight southwest Missouri counties. Core offerings include advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, and transition services (the federally mandated five CIL core services), complemented by accessibility and home safety evaluations, an Assistive Technology Demonstration Program, Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), Consumer Directed Services (CDS), and caregiver and nursing services.

Product overview

empower: abilities offers a comprehensive portfolio of independent living services for people with disabilities in southwest Missouri. The organization provides core services aligned with Centers for Independent Living standards, including Consumer Services, Core Services, Group Programs, Accessibility Services, and Access/Assistive Technology Services. These are complemented by Home and Community-Based Services, Consumer Directed Services, Independent Living Services and Programs, and Caregiver and Nursing Services. Together, these programs work to remove barriers and empower independent living by helping individuals live with dignity in their own homes, fully participate in their communities, and make their own life-changing decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consumer Services Direct guidance and support services that help individuals with disabilities navigate their disability journey, including information, advocacy referrals, and one-on-one assistance. Targeted at persons with disabilities in southwest Missouri.
• Five Core Services (CIL) The five federally mandated services every Center for Independent Living must provide: advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, and transition services. For persons with disabilities in southwest Missouri.
• Group Programs Peer support programs delivered through group formats where individuals with disabilities gather for social events, informational sessions, and mutual support. Designed to reduce isolation and build community connection for persons with disabilities.
• Accessibility Services Home safety and accessibility barrier evaluations conducted by trained staff to help individuals stay safe, independent, and able to remain in their own homes. For persons with disabilities in southwest Missouri.
• Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Caregiver and Nursing Services Medicaid-funded programs combining Home and Community-Based Services with professional in-home caregiver and nursing support to help individuals with disabilities live safely and stay healthy at home. For Medicaid-eligible persons with disabilities in southwest Missouri.
• Assistive Technology Demonstration Program / Access Services One-on-one support program (also called Access Services) that helps individuals with disabilities identify and obtain the right assistive technology devices to increase independence in daily living. For persons with disabilities seeking AT guidance.
• Consumer Directed Services (CDS) Self-directed care program that allows individuals with disabilities to have control over their support services and caregivers, including the ability to hire and direct their own attendants. For Medicaid-eligible persons seeking consumer-directed support.
• Independent Living Services and Programs One-on-one case management services that help individuals with disabilities learn new skills or achieve their personal independent living goals. For persons with disabilities seeking skill-building and goal-driven support.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Community PartnerssupportingOthersThe organization maintains relationships with community partners to expand impact and provide comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities. Specific partner names are not publicly listed on the website.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National advocacy and member-association body for Centers for Independent Living. Not a direct service competitor but provides federal policy influence, training, and best-practice dissemination that shapes the operating environment for CILs like Southwest Center for Independent Living.

Direct peers

• Three Rivers Center for Independent Living: Pittsburgh-area CIL providing independent living services, advocacy, peer support, and accessibility programs. Direct peer operating under the same federal CIL framework with comparable service structure and disability-population focus.
• Center for Independent Living of Broward: Florida-based CIL providing the 5 Core Services, HCBS, transition services, and independent living programming. Comparable as a regional CIL delivering the same federally-required service mix to persons with disabilities.
• IndependenceFirst: Milwaukee-based Center for Independent Living providing peer support, independent living skills training, advocacy, and home accessibility services. Direct peer operating under the same federally-mandated CIL framework with overlapping program categories.
• Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living providing the federally-mandated 5 Core Services, HCBS programs, and independent living advocacy. Highly comparable as a peer CIL serving a similar mission and client population with the same service categories.
• Ability360: Arizona-based Center for Independent Living delivering the 5 Core Services, home accessibility programs, AT demonstration, and HCBS-style independent living services. Direct peer with overlapping service portfolio and federal CIL designation.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National federation serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, case management, and community-based services. Operates a chapter network that overlaps with CIL service lines (transition, independent living, HCBS), competing for similar federal and state disability funding pools.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit affiliate network providing residential, community-living, and HCBS supports to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Larger incumbent offering overlapping HCBS and home accessibility services and competing for the same state disability funding.
• Easterseals: Nationwide nonprofit network providing disability and community-based services across all 50 states, including independent living support, home-based services, and assistive technology. A much larger incumbent that competes with CILs for state contracts, Medicaid HCBS funding, and donor dollars across Missouri.

Regional players

• Paraquad (now AbilitySTL): St. Louis-based disability services and independent living nonprofit serving a different Missouri region. Directly comparable as a state-level CIL competitor offering overlapping accessibility, advocacy, and independent living programs to the same payer base (Missouri Medicaid HCBS).

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDE1b_v6mR5R7KzJbZ7CmLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/empowerabilities
• Instagraminstagram.com/empower.abilities

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Southwest Center for Independent Living