We are so excited to share the incredible story of Frank and Vivian, a local couple who reached out to the Center for Independent Living when they needed help the most.

After undergoing numerous surgeries, Frank now relies on a wheelchair for mobility and was facing significant challenges accessing his home safely. The Alexanders were left with no options and turned to us in the hopes of making their home more accessible. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our team, we were able to build a custom wheelchair ramp for Frank, empowering him to regain his independence and safely enter and exit his home with ease.

Frank and Vivian are forever grateful for this life-changing improvement, and we are just as grateful to have been part of their journey. 💙

It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do—making sure that no one has to face mobility barriers alone. Together, we can continue to build a community where independence is achievable for all!

Video Description: Vivian is standing on their newly built wheelchair ramp that leads to their home. Tall trees can be seen behind the home and green grass surround the home and ramp. Vivian shares this message, “Gainesville, the city of Gainesville, Florida, and the Center for Independent Living. The Alexander family, thank you to the utmost. We thank you for what you have done for us! You have given us more light and this light. Thank you a million times over. You’re the bomb. Woohoo!” There is a solid blue background behind the video and a purple border. The CILNCF logo is displayed in white on the bottom center. The video caption is displayed between the video and and the CIL logo.

Our office will be closed today from 12pm through Thursday, to ensure the safety of our staff and community. Your well-being is our top priority. Please stay safe and take necessary precautions during the storm.

Disability & Disaster Hotline: +1 (800) 626 – 4959
After storm FEMA assistance: (800) 621 – 3362

The CIL is expected to reopen on Friday. Please call 352-378-7474 if you need to contact the CILNCF for any reason.

Disability & Disaster Hotline: +1 (800) 626-4959 Email: hotline@disasterstrategies.org

After the storm for FEMA assistance, please call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov

Shelter status with FL Department of Emergency Management: https://www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status/

State and county contact information: https://www.cilncf.org/emergency-preparedness/

At The CIL, we are grateful to have incredible partners and volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to improving the lives of others. Ben, one of our longtime volunteer contractors, is one of those people who has always gone above and beyond for our consumers. He has been a huge asset to both CIL and the wider community, providing not only wheelchair ramp repairs and installations but also offering his help with many other home modification services to those in need. Ben has always provided more than just his skills—he’s brought compassion, kindness, and unwavering support to our community.

Now, it’s our turn to give back to Ben.

During Hurricane Helene, Ben and his family sought shelter with loved ones after losing power. Tragically, when they returned, they discovered that a fire had destroyed their home, taking everything from them—including their beloved pets.

This loss is unimaginable. Ben has been there for us and countless others in our community—let’s show him the same generosity he’s shown us. Please consider donating to the GoFundMe created to help Ben and his family rebuild their lives after this devastating event.

GoFundMe Link: https://gofund.me/25e74744

Your support means the world to Ben and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Whether you donate or share this post, any help you can offer will make a huge difference. Let’s come together as a community and lift Ben up, just as he’s done for so many of us. ##CommunityStrong #CILFamily #HurricaneHelene

Thank you, from all of us at The CIL. 🙏

As we remain in the peak of hurricane season, it’s important to stay prepared—especially for our community of people with disabilities and older adults. If you’ve been impacted by Hurricane Helene and need assistance, please reach out to the Disability & Disaster Hotline at 800-626-4959 or email hotline@disasterstrategies.org. Our Emergency Preparedness Program is here to help you with accessibility, mobility devices, and other essential resources often left out of traditional disaster planning.

Stay safe, and reach out for resources today!

We had an amazing time at the UF Campaign for Charities event, connecting with UF staff and sharing more about the vital services we provide to the community. Here are Brent and Sada, representing the CIL with pride! This was Brent’s first outreach event, and he did a fantastic job spreading the word about our programs, especially those with the greatest need, like our ramp-building initiative.

We were also excited to be placed next to the wonderful team from Central Florida Community Action Agency (CFCAA). Pictured next to Brent is Lori, who has been instrumental in helping us with Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) referrals. It was so great to finally meet her in person after working together to help several of our consumers with their utility needs!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and showed their support. Together, we can continue making a difference!

In honor of Deaf Awareness Month, we want to celebrate one of our incredible consumers, Geovanny! Geovanny recently moved to our community from Ecuador, South America. As a Deaf individual, his goal was to obtain his driver’s license, a key step towards independence. For two months, our dedicated Consumer Specialist, Colleen, worked closely with Geovanny, teaching him driving skills and helping him prepare for the written test.

We are thrilled to announce that on September 9th, Geovanny passed his driving written test! 🎉 Congratulations, Geovanny, on this amazing accomplishment! We’re so proud of your hard work and determination. 👏

Did you know? American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language with its own unique grammar, distinct from English. Expressed through movements of the hands and face, ASL is the primary language for many Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in North America and is also used by some hearing people.

Our office will be closed today from 3pm through Thursday, to ensure the safety of our staff and community. Your well-being is our top priority. Please stay safe and take necessary precautions during the storm.

Disability & Disaster Hotline: +1 (800) 626 – 4959
After storm FEMA assistance: (800) 621 – 3362

The CIL is expected to reopen on Friday. Please call 352-378-7474 if you need to contact the CILNCF for any reason.

Disability & Disaster Hotline: +1 (800) 626-4959 Email: hotline@disasterstrategies.org

After the storm for FEMA assistance, please call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov

Shelter status with FL Department of Emergency Management: https://www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status/

State and county contact information: https://www.cilncf.org/emergency-preparedness/

The steps you take to stay prepared are crucial, and we want to make sure our community is safe and ready. Here are some important steps to take:

✅ Refill and pack up necessary medications – Contact your pharmacy for early refills so you don’t run out.
✅ Gather all important paperwork – Keep your birth certificates, IDs, and other critical documents in a safe, accessible place.
✅ Fill or top off your gas tank – Don’t wait until the last minute to fuel up.
✅ Stock up on water and nonperishable foods – Ensure you have enough supplies to last 7 days.

Being prepared will help keep you and your loved ones safe. Stay tuned for updates, and remember that we are here to support you through the storm! 💙

UPDATE: Due to closures for Hurricane Helene, this event is now rescheduled for October 5th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. See you there!

We are excited to share that we will be serving as one of the Latina Women’s league’s venues for the 20th Annual Gainesville Latino Film Festival!

Join us at the CIL for a free viewing of the 2022 Venezuelan film, “The Shadow of the Sun”. The film (selected as the Venezuelan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards) is centered around two brothers, one of whom is deaf. They sign up for a musical contest where the deaf brother will be able to fulfill his dream through his brother’s voice. The film will be in Spanish, with English subtitles provided. Following the viewing, there will be a discussion with the director Miguel Ferrer.

All ages are welcome, but we especially encourage our teens and young adults to join us for this moving film! Feel free to invite friends, family, and anyone else who would like to participate.

ID: The flyer for the event has cream colored strip at the very top with the Latina Women’s League logo in the top left and the word, “presents” underneath. To the right, in aqua blue lettering, “The 20th GAINESVILLE LATINO FILM FESTIVAL 2024” is printed. Beneath this, a somewhat transparent aqua blue banner has white letters placed in the center that says, “FREE ADMISSION”. The large middle portion of the flyer has information about the film, venue, time, and date. On the left side in cream colored lettering the film’s title, “THE SHADOW OF THE SUN” is printed. Below this in cursive white lettering, the words “Teen and Young Adult Night” is placed. Below, there is a calendar icon with “September 26th” placed next to it. Below this, a clock icon with the time of 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. is written out, and below this a location pin icon is placed to the left of the words Center for Independent Living.

Below this, in white letters the words Guest Artist: Miguel Ferrer, Venezuelan Director is written, followed by a synopsis of the film. The synopsis states, “The story follows two brothers, one of whom is deaf, who enter a music competition where the deaf brother can fulfill his dream through this brother’s voice. It was selected as the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.” On the right side of the flyer, the words, “MOVIE IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES” is written out, with the film’s poster placed below it.

At the bottom of the flyer, there is a cream colored strip with the name “PRAGDA” written out, with the Spanish Film Club’s logo to the right of it.

We are beyond thrilled to announce that we not only reached our $1,500 goal, but we exceeded it, raising an incredible $1,600 for our programs and consumers with disabilities in Marion County during Give4Marion!

A huge thank you to everyone who donated, supported, and cheered us on throughout this 33-hour giving day. Your generosity will make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

A special shoutout to our amazing Ocala team for all your hard work and dedication in helping us reach this milestone. You all made it happen! 🙌

Together, we’re making a difference. Thank you for standing by us and supporting the CIL! 💙

ID: There are a total of 3 pictures taken from the Give4Marion Celebration Party. Picture 1 shows 3 staff members sitting in the smiling for a selfie, as they’re sitting in the auditorium seats during the celebration. Picture 2 shows a Color Guard ceremony taking place during the celebration. Picture 3 shows the crowd of attendees during the celebration.