Greetings | The Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida welcomes you! If you have any questions about the center or the services we provide, please contact us at 352-378-7474. Our number again, is 3, 5, 2, 3, 7, 8, 7, 4, 7, 4.
Through an opportunity with the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living (FACIL), we were able to submit a grant alongside Simply Healthcare and receive $10,000 toward direct services for individuals with disabilities in our community.
One wheelchair ramp has already been built in Bradford County, and the remaining funds will be used to purchase Durable Medical Equipment (DME) to support individuals who need essential assistive technology to live safely and independently.
We are incredibly thankful to Simply Healthcare for this meaningful opportunity and for helping make a tangible impact in the lives of the people we serve. 💪♿
Pictured left to right: Sada, Cammeron, Kevin, Sherie Jane (Simply Healthcare), Jacee, and Mika.
Join us for a community-wide event focused on emergency readiness for situations that may impact our area.
Local organizations, agencies, and vendors will be on site sharing resources and guidance on what to do before, during, and after an emergency, with a focus on services that support safety, accessibility, and independence for everyone.
🗓 February 21, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Columbia County Senior Service 628 SE Allison Ct, Lake City, FL 32025
🤟 ASL interpreters will be provided
This is a free, family-friendly event and all are welcome.
📩 For more information, email Kevin Towles at ktowles@cilncf.org 📞 Or call (352) 368-3788
Prepared communities are stronger communities. We hope to see you there. 💙
Dr. King’s vision reminds us that justice, equity, and dignity are not privileges. They are rights that belong to everyone.
At the CIL, we carry this message forward by advocating for access and the right for people with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in their communities.
MLK Day is not just a day of remembrance. It is a call to action. A reminder that progress happens when we show up for one another, speak up for equality, and continue the work toward a more accessible world.
And on this day, we share with you the following words of encouragement from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means keep moving forward.”
In recognition of Dr. King’s lasting impact and his commitment to equality, our offices will be closed today.
Confidence grows when students are given the chance to lead, collaborate, and try.
On January 9th, students from Citrus Transition Academy at Withlacoochee Technical College and Project Looking Ahead at Hernando High School came together for a hands-on lesson in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.
As part of our Soft Skills to Pay the Bills activities facilitated by Andrea, students were challenged to build the tallest freestanding structure possible using only dry spaghetti and marshmallows, with just 15 minutes on the clock.
What stood out most wasn’t just the creativity, it was how well students from both schools worked together, communicated clearly, and supported one another throughout the challenge. The competition was tight, too, with the winning height at Project Looking Ahead coming down to just ½ an inch.
These moments show how practicing soft skills in real time helps students build confidence for what comes next. We’re proud of the teamwork, effort, and energy these students brought to the challenge.
The Citrus winning team consisted of (top left photo L to R): Jayla, Rahmah, and Sarah
The Hernando winning team consisted of (top left photo L to R): Logan, Austin, Omar, and William
As we step into a new year, all of us at the CIL want to take a moment to thank you — our consumers, partners, supporters, and community — for walking alongside us.
The year behind us was one of growth, resilience, and connection. Together, we continued advancing independence, access, and opportunity for people with disabilities across the communities we serve. Your trust, collaboration, and belief in this work make everything we do possible.
As we look ahead, we do so with renewed hope and commitment. In the year to come, CIL remains dedicated to building stronger, more accessible communities where people with disabilities have the resources, support, and freedom to live with dignity and self-determination.
Thank you for being part of our community and for helping shape a more accessible and equitable future.
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, and hopeful New Year!
We are proud to recognize three incredible team members whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida and the consumers we serve.
👏 Ammal — 5 Years of Service (Employment Consultant)
👏 Lauren — 10 Years of Service (Employment Service Manager)
👏 Debbie — 20 Years of Service (Sign Language Interpreter)
Each of you brings compassion, expertise, and heart to your work every day. Your commitment helps advance independence, access, and opportunity for people with disabilities across our community.
Thank you for the meaningful ways you show up for our consumers, our mission, and one another. We are grateful to celebrate you and your contributions.
As we head into the Christmas and New Year holidays, we’d like to share our office schedule and a few important community notices to help you plan ahead.
📅 CIL Office Closures & Hours Closed: December 23, 24, 25 Open (Regular Hours, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM): December 29 & 30 Closed: December 31, January 1 & 2
🚍 City of Gainesville Holiday Closures & Service Impacts. City offices will be closed on: Thursday, December 25 Friday, December 26 Thursday, January 1
These closures will affect city services: 🗑️ Trash & Recycling: No residential curbside collection on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1 Pickups will be delayed by one day for the remainder of each holiday week
🚌 RTS Bus Service: Reduced service: Dec. 13–23, Dec. 26–31, and Jan. 2–11 (marked with an “R” on schedules) No service: Dec. 24, Dec. 25, or Jan. 1
Please plan accordingly, especially if you rely on transportation or city services.
We wish you and your loved ones a safe, warm, and restful holiday season. Thank you for being part of our community. 🤍
Our Wellness Team recently created a welcome pause in the middle of a busy workday, bringing staff together for a shared lunch and a chance to get creative.
Team members enjoyed time connecting with one another while crafting festive ornaments that will soon decorate holiday trees throughout our CIL offices. It was a simple reminder of the importance of slowing down, fostering connection, and making space for creativity and joy in the workplace.
Thank you to our Wellness Team for prioritizing moments that support well-being, community, and a little holiday cheer! 🎄
At the recent State High School High Tech (HSHT) Conference held at the Brownwood Hotel in The Villages, all four of our HSHT programs: Marion, Alachua, Putnam, and Levy counties, were honored with the Quality High School High Tech Program Award. This excellence award recognizes programs that go above and beyond in creating meaningful, impactful opportunities for students, and we are incredibly proud to see our collective efforts recognized at the state level.
Congratulations to Mika Vuto, Pepper Anderson, Mark Yazigi, and Miranda Dodd for their leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to student success. This achievement reflects the care, intention, and passion each of you brings to your work every day.
We are also proud to celebrate Pepper Anderson, HSHT Coordinator for Putnam County, who received the 2025 Connecting Activities Guidepost Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service. With 19 years of dedicated service, Pepper’s work has had a lasting impact on students and families throughout Putnam County, and this recognition is a well-deserved testament to her advocacy, leadership, and continued commitment to creating meaningful pathways for student success.
We are grateful for our HSHT team and proud of the work being done across all four counties to empower students, expand possibilities, and open doors to brighter futures.
As we close out the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the first in nearly a decade with no major U.S. landfalls and no direct threats to Florida, now is the perfect time to look ahead and strengthen our preparedness for 2026.
At the CIL, we believe that being informed today means being safer tomorrow. That’s why we’re excited to announce our dates for the 2026 Emergency Preparedness Expos, offering FREE resources to help people with disabilities in our community prepare for any type of emergency.
Each expo will feature vital resources, local partners, and guidance to help you feel confident and prepared for any type of emergency. ASL interpreters will be provided.
📅 Please save the date for your county’s expo below, and let’s stay ready for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
These events are FREE and open to the disability community and their families. For additional information, please contact: 📧 Kevin Towles — ktowles@cilncf.org 📞 (352) 368-3788
Let’s stay prepared, stay informed, and stay connected.
📍 2026 EXPO LOCATIONS & DATES
Columbia County Columbia County Senior Service 628 SE Allison Ct, Lake City, FL 32025 🗓 February 21st | 10am–1pm
Alachua County Senior Recreation Center 5701 NW 34th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32653 🗓 March 12th | 9am–1pm
Marion County CFCC / Ewers Century Center 3001 SW College Rd, Ocala, FL 34474 🗓 March 24th | 9am–1pm
Putnam County Putnam County Fairgrounds 118 Fairgrounds Rd, East Palatka, FL 32131 🗓 April 11th | 10am–1pm
Bradford County Carley E. Johns Conference Center 1610 N Temple Ave, Starke, FL 32091 🗓 April 25th | 10am–1pm
