BRiDGES was founded in 1987 under the name Rockland Independent Living Center (RILC). It is a community-based, peer-driven, cross-disability, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocacy and providing services on behalf of people with disabilities. BRiDGES is one of 41 Independent Living Centers (ILC) operating in New York State under the auspices of New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York State Department of Health (NYDOH). Each ILC adheres to a national philosophy of Independent Living that seeks to empower individuals with disabilities to make autonomous decisions regarding all aspects of living.