Observed each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has chosen two themes to mark significant events. First, they have selected “Advancing Access and Equity” as the theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and promote inclusive policies. Second, they will use the theme “Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next” to honor the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination based on disability in employment and federal programs. The Rehabilitation Act laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and continues to be important in advancing access and equity for underserved communities.

Advancing Access and Equity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e96nbW0ZiBY&t=1s

For more information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam

Gators Give! The UF Campaign for Charities, the annual employee giving campaign, has already kicked off and once again, the CIL is participating! The General Campaign runs from September 25th to October 13th and CIL staff were able to attend the Kick-Off Event on September 28th in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. They were able to interface with UF employees and showcase all the wonderful things we do in our community, and help raise awareness of our participation in the 2023 UFCC.

All UFCC donations will be designated towards our Wheelchair Ramp Building Program, that helps provide wheelchair ramps to individuals with disabilities and their families in our rural areas. If a home is not accessible for a wheelchair user, it isn’t just difficult, but nearly impossible for this person with a significant disability to have an acceptable level of independence. As a result, the person lives day-to-day in a home with inadequate accessibility. This impacts their overall access to their community. Consequently, isolation, accidents and other medical complications are more likely to occur when appropriate levels of accessibility are not available within the home. Your donations will truly change lives and increase our consumers’ levels of independence!

Thank you so much to all of our loyal UFCC donors, who give to the CIL year after year! You are invaluable to us and truly make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in our rural communities who are in need of accessing their own home. We appreciate each and every one of you!

**Please note that the campaign also accepts gifts and donations from individuals who are not employees at UF! So, if you’d like to donate to the CIL through the UFCC, and you’re not a UF employee, the UFCC website has a link for “other donors” that anyone can use. Thank you in advance for your support and Go Gators!!

Donation Links: https://ufcc.ufl.edu/

ID: There are a two pictures. Picture #1 is Amy and Niusha, at our table and with Albert. The Gators Give banner is displayed in the center bottom of the photo. Picture #2 shows Amy and Niusha at the CILNCF table at UF. The Gators Give logo is displayed on the top left corner.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a program called “Respond with Care” aimed at enhancing the safety of individuals with special needs. They are offering free stickers for vehicles used by individuals who regularly or occasionally transport passengers with special needs. These stickers, bearing the message “special needs occupant” and “respond with care,” will help first responders understand the need for caution and specialized care in case of an accident. The program serves as a crucial communication link between special needs citizens and emergency responders, ensuring their safety and well-being.

The “Respond with Care” stickers are available for pickup at all MCSO district office locations (www.marionso.com/district-offices)

ID: Photo #1 shows a “Respond with Care” sticker displayed on the back window of a car. Photo #2 shows a stack of “Respond with Care” stickers on a counter with a hand picking up a sticker at the top of the stack.

Special thanks and a HUGE shout out to Mitzvah Makers! Mitzvah is a Hebrew word meaning “good deed”. The emphasis is on deeds, not on positive thoughts or wishes, but conscious acts of empathy and kindness. This wonderful, philanthropic group, that wishes to remain anonymous, recently donated $650 to the CIL, as well as two brand-new grab bars, which is a common request from our consumers!

The donated funds will go towards a consumer with a disability who has recently been housed after months of living in their car and staying on friend’s couches. They are in need of general household items, and through this donation, the CIL will be able to provide items such as bedding, pots, pans and dishes, so the consumer can continue to rebuild their life. One of the grab bars will go towards a consumer who is living with a vision impairment and balance issues as a result of having a brain tumor removed. This disability impacts their mobility and coordination, so having this need met will support this individual’s independence tremendously and could serve to save their life and prevent the onset of further disabilities.

The CIL is so grateful for Mitzvah Makers, a precious gift to our local community, in wanting to support our mission in serving people with disabilities. Their past donations to the CIL have also been invaluable to the individuals we have been able to gift them to. You are all truly amazing, donating in silence and making our community a better place. We value this continued partnership and thank you all so much for this true act of empathy and kindness!

Hey there, ILS community! 👋✨

We’ve got some amazing updates to share with you all! 📣 Once a month on Thursday, we’re graced with the presence of a wonderful visitor from Georgia, and we fondly call him Mr. O! Mr. O is no ordinary guest; he’s a personal trainer who joins us via Zoom and leads us through a fantastic session of stretches, deep breathing, and light/seated exercises. After these sessions, we can confidently say we feel rejuvenated and ready to conquer anything! 💪

Also, September is Deaf Awareness Month, and we’ve been diving deep into Deaf history and culture all month long. Did you know there are incredible Deaf sportsmen, inventors, musicians, actors, and more who’ve made their mark in history? We’ve been uncovering these hidden gems, and we’re also learning some basic conversational sign language, fingerspelling, and even cooking terms in our basic cooking group. So, if you’ve never joined us before, this is the perfect opportunity to hop on board!

But wait, there’s even more to look forward to in October! We’ve got a whole lot of fun planned, with interns teaching various topics, some exciting fall crafts, and interesting pumpkin facts to get you in the autumn spirit! 🍁 Get ready for some awesome ideas for fall fun!

Don’t miss out on all the goodness coming your way with ILS. Join us, be a part of this incredible community!

We are overjoyed to express our deepest gratitude to a group of remarkable individuals who have quietly made a big impact!

To our 9 anonymous donors, you know who you are, and today, we want to celebrate your incredible generosity. Collectively, you’ve contributed a total of $650 to our Give4Marion fundraiser, and your actions speak volumes about your commitment to making a difference in the lives of those with disabilities and for our community.

Your anonymous donations may go unnoticed by many, but to us, you are true heroes, quietly doing your part to uplift our community. Your actions inspire us every day to continue working tirelessly to empower those with disabilities, provide vital services, and advocate for positive change.

Thank you, once again, to our anonymous donors. You are making the world a better place, one act of generosity at a time.

Earlier this month, we had our first Bingo and Karaoke night partnered with ION and UF HEROES since our summer break. It was a lot of fun! We had a great turn out of both new faces and returning players. We’d love for you to join us next time!

The upcoming dates for Bingo and Karaoke are October 13th, November 17th, and December 8th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. It is $5 at the door to cover the cost of prizes, pizza, drinks, and dessert.

If you’d like to join us on Zoom, please RSVP by emailing IONgainesville@gmail.com or giving Trish Thoburn a call at (352) 339-6278.

In collaboration with Diglo and the FAAST Program, CIL invites you to a FREE presentation on Assistive Technology for the deaf and hard of hearing. Diglo has a variety of electronic devices that glow to replace a notification sound.

We welcome you to join via Zoom. Anyone who would like to use their video phone for interpreters, the Zoom information has a phone number which the interpreter can use to connect to the call.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 @ 10 AM (EST) / 9 AM (CST)
WHERE: via Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88147414944?pwd=ZmI3WklXRGhaVFBGNDNrL1BjMVFDZz09

Meeting ID: 881 4741 4944
Passcode: 563164

One tap mobile
+13052241968,,88147414944#,,,,*563164# US
+13092053325,,88147414944#,,,,*563164# US

For questions, contact Brandon Palermo: (352) 368-3788 ext. 1012 / bpalermo@cilncf.org

Thanks to your incredible support, we have not only met but exceeded our goal in the Give4Marion fundraiser, raising a remarkable total of $1570! 🎉

Every dollar raised will go toward making our community a more inclusive and accessible place for everyone. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who contributed, shared our cause, and believed in our mission. Your support fuels our determination to make a lasting difference.

Stay tuned as we share stories of impact and progress made possible by your donations. Together, we are creating a brighter and more inclusive future for all. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. 🙏💙

Stay updated with news from CILNCF: https://conta.cc/3PK9pf8

We’re currently at $820 of our $1000 fundraising goal, and with your help, we can absolutely get there!

🕒 At 3:00 PM TODAY, we have a A DOUBLE Matching Moment! Every donation up to $100 will be double matched (until the $15,000 runs out), meaning your $100 donation instantly becomes $300!

If you know someone who hasn’t yet donated but wants to, this is an incredible opportunity to TRIPLE their impact!

Your support can helps us to facilitate programs, such as Project Looking Ahead, where students work together on soft skills like communication and teamwork to help them secure employment, often by the time they graduate. This wonderful group of students works hard and are striving to become independent adults.

Thank you for helping us reach our goal and empower individuals in our community!

ID: Graphic displays a donation tracker in red that shows $820 donations have been met, with the goal of $1000. “Triple your impact at 3pm!” is written in red. The CIL logo is displayed in the top right corner. A cellphone is displayed on the right side of the graphic, showing students from Project Looking Ahead. Each of the 4 students talks about how the program allows them to work on soft skills like communication and teamwork to help them secure employment. This wonderful group of students works hard and are striving to become independent adults.