A Legacy of Advocacy.
A Future of Independence.
The Coalition for Barrier Free Living (CBFL) was founded in 1975 by people with disabilities who believed that everyone deserves the opportunity to live independently and participate fully in their community. At a time when accessibility was limited and disability rights were often overlooked, these pioneers came together to advocate for equal opportunity, self-determination, and inclusion.
Their efforts helped shape lasting change, including improvements to curb cuts, accessible transportation, and community accessibility throughout the Greater Houston area.
In 1978, CBFL opened the Houston Center for Independent Living (HCIL) Texas’ first consumer-controlled Center for Independent Living. This milestone established a new model of empowering people with disabilities to make their own choices and direct their own lives.
As the need for independent living services grew, so did CBFL. In 1998, the organization expanded into Brazoria County with the opening of the Brazoria County Center for Independent Living (BCCIL). In 2004, CBFL continued its growth by opening the Fort Bend Center for Independent Living (FBCIL), bringing vital services to one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas.
Today, CBFL proudly serves 17 counties across Southeast Texas, making it one of the largest Centers for Independent Living in the state. Through advocacy, peer support, independent living skills training, youth transition services, employment supports, housing assistance, assistive technology, and community partnerships, CBFL continues to empower thousands of individuals with disabilities to live, work, and thrive independently.
For more than 50 years, our mission has remained unchanged: to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and make independence possible for every person we serve.
"Nothing About Us Without Us."
The Independent Living Movement
(IL) Movement emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when people with disabilities began advocating for the same rights, opportunities, and freedoms as everyone else. Rather than being viewed through a medical lens, disability advocates championed the belief that people with disabilities should have the right to make their own choices, live in their communities, and participate fully in society.
The movement emphasized independence, self-determination, equal access, and the removal of physical and societal barriers. The movement transformed advocacy into action through the creation of Centers for Independent Living (CILs). Established under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, CILs are community-based, consumer-controlled organizations led by and for people with disabilities.
A driving force behind the movement was Ed Roberts, widely recognized as the Father of the Independent Living Movement. Roberts believed that people with disabilities should lead their own lives and be active participants in shaping the policies and services that affect them. His vision helped establish the first Center for Independent Living and inspired a nationwide movement built on the principles of consumer control, self-determination, and equal opportunity.
Today, the Coalition for Barrier Free Living (CBFL) proudly carries forward the vision of Ed Roberts and the Independent Living Movement. Serving 17 counties across Southeast Texas, CBFL empowers individuals with disabilities through advocacy, education, peer support, transition services, employment resources, assistive technology, and community partnerships. Guided by the movement's enduring belief in consumer control, self-determination, and equal access, CBFL continues to make independence possible for thousands of Texans every year.
