According to Robert Perske," Denying the mentally retarded exposure to normal risks...tends to have deleterious effect on both their sense of human dignity and the personal development." Every person with mental retardation is entitled to be integrated into society and to participate as fully as possible in the activities of that society.

Independence Residences, Inc., was founded in 1984 and incorporated in 1988 under the law of the state of New York. IRI was founded for the purpose of serving adults who have visual impairment, mental retardation, mental illness and emotional disturbances. By authority of its charter and response to the perceived need, IRI concentrated its first efforts on providing residential services.

IRI programs are structured to provide a secure living situation that encourages the growth of the individual person. The program is centered around individualized programming, normalization, independence, and responsibility. Each individual is educated and integrated through actual experience in all levels of daily living responsibility.