The State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) is the document required for ongoing funding of the independent living program within a state. Additionally, it is the legal blueprint for statewide funding decisions made throughout the cycle of the SPIL. This guide has been created to support SPIL development in the following ways:
This online guide has been developed by the SILC-NET, a program of the IL NET national training and technical assistance project for centers for independent living (CIL-NET) and statewide independent living councils (SILC-NET). The guide is designed to provide important information and guidance for SILCs in developing their State Plans for Independent Living. It does not include Part I: Assurances, or statements of compliance, since completion of that section is rather straightforward. The Guide starts with Part II: Narratives. For each SPIL section, this guide includes regulatory references, requirements, suggestions for completing the section, and examples. Where suggestions and examples are offered, they are only recommendations for content or approaches: they provide what the authors themselves consider useful recommendations. They are meant to make the process easier and to provide SILCs with examples and ideas for managing the SPIL development process and for responding to specific questions in the SPIL. Not all suggestions or examples will fit your state's particular circumstances. There is wide variation among states and we urge SILCs to follow suggestions and examples thoughtfully.
Once you've reviewed the entire Guide, be sure to regularly check out the What's New? page in the Guide to see the latest changes and updated information.
The majority of the Guide consists of sections associated with each of the RSA-requirement elements of a SPIL. Each of these sections includes:
To use the Guide for planning, we suggest that you start with Why a Focus on Outcomes? and Three Steps to an Outcomes-Focused SPIL to understand a potential planning approach you can use to develop your Plan. Then review each of the sections to see how you might incorporate the planning process and use it to respond to the RSA requirements for your plan.
If you are looking for guidance on how to respond to a particular question, then follow the links below to the associated element to review examples and get suggestions on potential ways to respond.
We are developing an ongoing resource library to support the SILCs. Visit the library for supporting materials and resources.
What's New?--This page lists the latest changes in the guide. Check here often.
Three Steps to an Outcomes Focused SPIL
Section 1.2A Objectives to be Achieved and Time Frame for Achieving Them
Section 1.2B Outreach to Unserved and Underserved Populations
Section 1.3A Financial Plan Tables
Section 1.3B(1) How Funding Furthers the SPIL Objectives
Section 1.3B(2) Coordination of Federal and State Funding
Section 1.3B(3) In-kind Resources
Section 1.3B(4) Additional Information About the Financial Plan
Section 1.4A Consistency of SPIL Objectives with the Act
Section 1.4B Consideration and Incorporation of Priorities and Objectives Established by CILs
Section 1.5 Cooperation, Coordination, and Working Relationships Among Various Entities
Section 1.6 Coordination of Services
Section 1.7 Independent Living Services for Individuals who are Older Blind
Section 2.1A SPIL Instrument Table: Types of IL Services to Be Provided
Section 2.1B Service Provision Priorities
Section 2.1C Service Fees and Financial Need Test
Section 2.2A DSU Contracted Services
Section 2.2B Eligibility for Services Delegated to Centers
Section 3.2 Expansion of Network
Section 4.1A Administrative Support Services
Section 4.1B Other DSU Administration Arrangements
Section 5.1A Resource Plan Description
Section 5.1B Addressing Resource Plan Requirements
Section 5.2 Establishment and Placement
Section 5.3 Appointment and Composition
Section 6 Service Provider Requirements
Section 8 State Imposed Requirements
The SILC-NET is operated by Independent Living Research Utilization - ILRU at TIRR Memorial Hermann in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living (APRIL). The SILC-NET is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration under grant number H132B070003. No official endorsement by the Department of Education of this guide should be inferred. Permission is granted for duplication of any portion of this guide, providing that the following credit is given to the project: "Developed as part of the SILC-NET, a program of the IL NET, an ILRU/NCIL/APRIL National Training and Technical Assistance Project."