About Bootheel Area Independent Living Services (BAILS)

During the 1960's, a group of people with disabilities were placed in nursing homes and restrictive environments, just because they were disabled. However, they refused to give up their right to independence.
In working together, they formed the Berkley Center for Independent Living Movement in California. They left the nursing homes and became successful at managing their own lives, the first momentous step to starting today's Independent Living Movement.
 

BAILS is one of nearly 500 Independent Living Centers nationwide, and one of  22 in the State of Missouri, all managed and staffed BY people with disabilities FOR people with disabilities.

All Centers for Independent Living must have a minimum of 51% of people with disabilities on the board and staff. 
 

The philosophy behind this is:
"All persons, regardless of disability, are entitled to and should have equal access to the rights and responsibilities that other citizens are provided; to be as active and productive a member of society as they choose."
 

Thus comes the Independent Living Motto:
“CONTROL over one's own life by making CHOICES that, in turn, bring about CHANGE."