Norma Jean Vescovo, who had been working for ten years prior to improve the school systems, parent organizations, and special education schools for persons with disabilities, helped found the Independent Living Center of Southern California, Inc. (ILCSC). As Chief Executive Officer of the ILCSC, Norma emphasized that the main focus of the newly established Center was on self-help, with the concept of persons with disabilities helping other persons with disabilities in a mainstream setting.

During the first year of operation, the ILCSC served approximately 500 clients, and has now, over 30 years later grown to approximately 6,000 clients per year...working towards independence.

The success of the Center has been due to not only working with the person with a disability, but in educating the community as well. For example, persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are sometimes misunderstood, as they have no outward appearance of being disabled. Therefore, the community and its services must be made aware of the nuances of disabilities, in order to better serve them.

Norma has once again led the way in the field of disabilities, by beginning a successful Toastmasters club, the Valley Vocalizers. This club offers the opportunity for persons with disabilities to learn how to express their needs to the community through public speaking. The club has grown to include community members and is now in its eighth year. The club has received the honor of President's Distinguished, the highest honor a club may receive from Toastmasters International.

Looking toward the next 30 years...the ILCSC will be focusing on bridging the gap between persons with disabilities, seniors and technology. Equal access must be extended to persons with disabilities and seniors, not only to protect their civil rights, but to ensure their participation in the marketplace.