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CIL Mayo was founded in March 1995, for those individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 with physical and sensory disabilities.

Promotes and encourages the attainment of full and equal citizenship.

The personal assistant service is designed to enable people with a disability to become full and equal participants in society.

About CIL

The concept of Independent Living

The background to the concept of 'Independent Living' emanated in California in the late 1960s. A key figure in its development was a disabled student called Ed Roberts, attending College. He initially had to live in the college hospital and was therefore obliged to organise his life according to the hospital's rules and routines. In order to free himself from restrictions and live as independently as possible, together with other disabled students established the first Centre of Independent Living (CIL).

In 1972, Ed Roberts was about to graduate University of California in Berkeley. He had disability from polio and used wheelchair equipped with respirator. When he was a university student, he could use on-campus services, such as, assistance, housing, wheelchair repair, or peer-counseling. However, these services would be cut off with his graduation. Hence, he established Independent Living Center (ILC) in community with support from his family and friends. This was the beginning of Independent Living Movement.

He was one of the early directors of CIL. He was the first California State Director of Rehabilitation with a disability; he was awarded a MacArthur fellowship; and he was co-founder and President of the World Institute on Disability. Whilst, doing so, they argued that "disability is a rights issue rather than a charity issue". Gradually the philosophy of 'independent living' gained support in California and within ten years, CILs became established throughout the US and had spread to several European countries.

The first CIL was opened in Ireland in 1991 In Dublin.

CIL Mayo was founded in March 1995, for those individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 with physical and sensory disabilities, it was the second such center outside Dublin and the first truly rural CIL. In its first year Mayo CIL employed 18 Personal Assistants.

The Independent Living movement therefore promotes and encourages the attainment of full and equal citizenship. In accordance with its philosophy the personal assistant service is designed to enable people with a disability to become full and equal participants in society. A personal assistant is not quite like a home help or carer, though the role may touch on aspects of these. A personal assistant is a fully trained professional who has a broad range of skills and is capable of learning new ones as required. Their functions are carried out at the discretion of the 'leader' and will be entirely specific to the needs of that individual. Each leader works with a personal assistant and the role of the leader is seen as both trainer and 'line manager' of the PA.