Welcome to Community Access Center!
Empowering People With Disabilities Since 1995!
Proudly Servicing Riverside County
We would like to thank our sponsor,
Office On Aging Riverside County
Welcome to the Community Access Center Website
Community Access Center is a non-profit organization and one of 29 similar programs throughout the state of California. CAC is a community resource, advocate, and educator for Riverside County residents with disabilities.
Since its establishment, CAC has achieved community recognition and has substantially expanded its services. As a result of our efforts, a branch office opened in 1997 in Indio, with funding from the Department of Education, to serve the Coachella Valley region of Riverside County. To better serve the Coachella Valley region, CAC relocated its offices to Palm Desert in 2006. This was in response to the needs of residents in this rural area, especially the parents of children with disabilities who do not speak English. This office has had a large impact on that under-served region of the county.
Our Mission
The mission of the Community Access Center is to empower people with disabilities to control their own lives, create an accessible community, and advocate for their complete social, economic, and political integration.
We implement this vision by providing information, supportive services, and independent living skills training.
The primary purpose of the Community Access Center is to empower consumers with disabilities by providing services and information to support them in making choices that will positively affect their independence.
CAC will accomplish this through a social-rehabilitation model. The Center serves all people with physical and mental disabilities regardless of race, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, sexual preference, gender, and/or income.
The Independent Living Program
Centers for Independent Living are community-based, cross-disability, non-profit organizations that are designed and operated by people with disabilities. CILs are unique in that they operate according to a strict philosophy of consumer control, wherein people with all types of disabilities directly govern and staff the organization.
The Centers for Independent Living provide:
- Peer Support
- Information and Referral
- Individual and Systems Advocacy
- Independent Living Skills Training
- Transition
America is home to:
- 403 Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
- 330 Branch Offices
- 56 Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs)
Community Access Center's RAMP Program
Community Access Center’s RAMP Program makes life easier, allowing individuals to live independently by providing a ramp system that allows access and mobility to their home. Our goal is to provide wheelchair users with a modular ramp at no cost. For additional information on the RAMP Program and a quick look at the installation process, please watch this short video.
Who Qualifies For The RAMP Program?
Eligibility/income requirements will apply. Contact us to speak to an advocate about eligibility. Some examples of people who qualify include:
- Anyone with a disability
- Located in Riverside County
Paying for college is a complicated process for any aspiring student. It’s a process that raises a ton of questions: What’s a Pell Grant? What’s a Perkins Loan? Do I have to pay anything back? For students with disabilities, those questions are even more complicated. The good news: a disability is not an impediment to a college education. There are plenty of resources for those who need help applying and paying for it.
This guide, designed to work with assistive technology, can help you find these resources. Aspiring students with disabilities can use our table of contents to find the best scholarships for them. At the bottom of the page, we also list some tips on how to get federal and private aid.
Milestone - 100th Ramp Installation
Community Access Center is excited to announce a significant milestone achieved in under a year. Thanks to the support of the Office on Aging and the Fall Prevention Program, CAC has helped 100 individuals overcome barriers, granting them greater independence and accessibility. This means that many now have the freedom to do things we often take for granted—like entering and exiting their homes—without needing assistance from a caregiver or family member.
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Make a Difference!
To sustain our work, CAC needs your financial support. Let’s change the lives of and empower thousands of children and adults together. We thank you for your support.
