The 2000 United States Census reported there are approximately 32.8 million Latinos living in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. Of the Latinos in the United States, it is estimated that nearly 21% have a disability.

It also was reported in the 2000 Census that the Latino community is growing faster than any other segment of the U.S. Latinos accounted for a 40% increase of the nation's total population from 1990-2000 and the population is projected to increase to nearly 67 million by 2050. This means Latinos will bear much of the responsibility for filling the employment void left in the labor force by retiring baby-boomers.

Some of the reasons Latinos become disabled include poverty, workplace injury, delay of treatment for illness because of lack of healthcare, disability stigma and cultural issues. All of these contribute to higher disability rates among Latinos. The rate of heart disease, diabetes, AIDS, learning disability and disability due to violence are on the rise in the Latino population.

Centers for Independent Living (CIL) are the wellspring of the independent living movement. The first independent living center was formed in Berkeley, California in 1972. There are now approximately 500 centers nationwide. Most CILs provide services in the areas of employment, finance, counseling, housing, legal issues, independent living skills, peer support and youth services.

I visited three CILs in the New York area - Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn - to acquire information on the services provided to Latinos with disabilities. I wanted to find out how many people with disabilities were patronizing the centers and, further, if consumers were making use of the centers' employment services.

The centers' mission is to empower people with disabilities to make their own decisions and integrate people with disabilities in the community. CILs assist the disabled community by providing services that support the independent living philosophy that promotes access to choices and equal opportunity.

The Bronx CIL is located in a Latino area where the majority of the residents are low-income families. The facility is small with seven full-time Spanish-speaking staff members, most of whom have disabilities. Consumers find out about the Bronx CIL through outreach programs, by referral and via word of mouth. Currently they serve 548 consumers, 23 of whom requested assistance in the area of employment. Consumers most often request assistance with housing issues.

The Queens CIL also is located in a predominantly Latino area. They have six Spanish-speaking disabled staffs. Consumers find out about their services through bilingual newsletters, outreach programs, brochures, and through an ongoing show in an art gallery where people view art by disabled artists. There are more than 800 consumers at the Queens CIL. Of those, 150 currently receive employment assistance. As in the Bronx, housing and benefits questions are most common.

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