Disability Empowerment Center

The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) is the Center for Independent Living (CIL) for people with disabilities (PwD) in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties.  

Individually and collectively, we work to:

1. Eliminate Barriers 
2. Prioritize Self-Determination and Consumer Control Allowing for Personal Choices 
3. Ensure Equitable Access  Advocate for Reasonable Accommodations  
4. Ensure the Rights of Children through Educational Advocacy (IEP) 
5. Protect Rights of Individuals of Every Color, Creed & Disability
6. Impact Positive Social Change through Community Advocacy 

DEC provides free and confidential services. 

Who We Are

The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) is the Center for Independent Living (CIL) for people with diverse disabilities in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties.

Established in 2002, DEC is a private, nonprofit, nonresidential organization run by and for people with disabilities. We dedicate our efforts to attaining equal opportunity and full participation of people with diverse disabilities in all aspects of life in our community. Our 5 core services are Independent Living, Peer Mentor, Transition, Advocacy, and Information and referral. We also provide Deaf case management as well as Service Coordination.

Through all of our individual and collective efforts, we work to eliminate barriers, ensure access, protect civil rights, and affect positive social change.

DEC provides free and confidential services that prioritize self-determination, consumer control and personal choice to individuals of all ages, and with all types of disabilities.

The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) is a registered not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) Independent Living council organization, funded under federal contract with the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the United States Department of Education under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
nt Center