Rolling Start Inc.

The Mission of Rolling Start is to empower and educate people with disabilities to achieve the independent life of their choice. Our core services include: Independent Living Skills Training, Information and Referral, Systems and Individual Advocacy, Peer Support, and provides Transition Services. I

Rolling Start Center for Independent Living was incorporated in October of 1977. The two individuals that founded the organization were both individuals with spinal cord disabilities ( Nick Hambrick and David Ritter). The center was established as a grassroots organization manned mostly by volunteers who were also persons with disabilities. Early on Rolling Start acquired a home in San Bernardino and turned it into a transitional living center. Staff assessed appropriate person’s with disabilities and brought them out of skilled nursing facilities into a home like setting. These participants were taught how to manage a home and a personal assistant after a disability onset.At present we cover 33,000 square miles, which covers San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono Counties. We serve approximately 1,500 consumers with disabilities per year with various core services needs.

The driving force of the center is teaching people with disabilities to advocate for what they need to be productive members within the communities in which they live.