Mandated by the Rehab Act, we are one of the State’s five Independent Living Centers, and cover New London, Windham, and parts of Tolland County. 

An Independent Living Center is an agency offering many services designed to empower persons with disabilities (consumers) to maintain an independent life, no matter what their living situation or disability.

The guiding principle is integration of the consumer to the fullest degree possible into the community of choice.

This agency offers assistance to a wide population base, covering most of the state east of the Connecticut river.  We network with a broad range of social service facilities, cooperating to provide the fullest range of help possible.

For information on our staff and who we are, click here, and for a listing and description of services we offer, click here.

DNEC is a member of The Connecticut Association of Centers for Independent Living and the Connecticut Association of Non-Profits. We are a Consumer Controlled Organization.  The Rehabilitation Act requires that 51% of our Board of Directors and our staff are individuals with disabilities.  This is integral to our functioning because it allows us to truly understand the concept of "Choice".