With 60 years of combined experience in working to increase independence and opportunities for individuals with disabilities, DIRECT Center for Independence (DIRECT) and Linkages announce that they have joined forces to further grow their programs. The two nonprofit organizations worked collaboratively over the years and recently decided to consolidate administrative resources to help increase community impact. Our collective goal is to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of life in our community, including the pursuit and attainment of competitive employment.

Moving forward, Linkages now operates as a program of DIRECT. The staff have already moved to location at 1001 N. Alvernon Way. Hailey Thoman serves as DIRECT’s Associate Director, working collaboratively with Executive Director Vicki Cuscino.

A Linkages/employment committee, comprised of board members, staff, and community members will help guide further workforce development and expansion of, and potential replication, the Linkages program. DIRECT is a member of the National Council on Independent Living and part of a national network of centers for independent living (CIL). CILs are private, nonprofit organizations operated by and for people with disabilities.