🌞🌼 Summertime has been so good to our Community Wellness Wednesday group! We have enjoyed many creative, fun, and educational activities over the past few weeks including making music, learning about nutritious foods, creating colorful beaded wind chimes, playing board games, and spending some time outside in the sun! Here are a few pictures capturing our activities over the last few group meetings! 🎶🥗🌈🕹️🌞

Community Wellness Wednesday is open to any adults with disabilities who would like to:

🎨 Create art with peers
🩺 Learn from health experts
🧩 Play educational trivia and other interactive games
🧘‍♂️ Take part in self-care practices that promote relaxation

For more information on Community Wellness Wednesday group meetings, contact Ashlyn by phone at (352) 378-7474 ext. 2056 or email at amichael@cilncf.org!

ID: This post consists of three graphics, all with a pale yellow background. The first graphic consists of an abstract collage of 4 photos taken during different Community Wellness Wednesday meetings with the CIL logo located in the middle of the collage. In these photos, participants are either participating in music or board games! In the second graphic, there is a collage of 3 photos. Two photos contain Community Wellness Wednesday group participants making music and one contains a participant holding up their hand-made wind chime! The last graphic is made up of 2 photos, the top one being a picture of participants playing with a ball outside, and the bottom showing Community Wellness Wednesday group participants engaging in board games.

Our Project SEARCH interns were recognized at a graduation celebration at Shands Hospital in May for all of the accomplishments they achieved during the past year. Our interns made remarkable contributions across multiple departments, including Kitchen, Transportation, Environmental Services (EVS), Pharmacy, and Respiratory. In the Kitchen, they improved meal prep efficiency and nutrition tracking.

In Transportation, they optimized patient and equipment transport logistics. In EVS, they enhanced cleanliness protocols, ensuring a safer environment. In the Pharmacy, they assisted with medication management and inventory control. In the Respiratory department, they supported patient respiratory care and equipment maintenance. Their hard work and dedication have not only prepared them for future careers but also advanced the hospital’s operational excellence.

As a result, five of our interns secured employed at Shands in three departments! The remaining students will continue with the employment service as they work towards their futures.  

We are excited to announce that the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida (CILNCF) will be participating in Give4Marion for our 5th year, on September 17-18! Your support is crucial in helping us continue our mission of empowering people with disabilities to achieve their goals for independence.

👉 Date: September 17-18
👉 Where to Donate: www.give4marion.org

For 42 years, CILNCF has been a vital community resource, improving the lives of nearly 2,800 consumers annually through our comprehensive programs and services. From our Five Core Services—Advocacy, Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Education, Peer Support, and Transition—to specialized programs like ADA Paratransit, Employment Services, Deaf Services, and High School High Tech, we strive to enhance the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities in Marion County. But we can’t do it alone – we need your support!

How You Can Help:
Your generous donations will directly benefit our consumers and programs. Any amount, big or small, can make a huge difference in ensuring continued independence and access to essential resources and services for individuals with disabilities.

Please consider marking your calendar and making a donation through the Give4Marion platform. Your support will help us continue to advocate for community inclusion, access to services, civil rights, and equality.

Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of people with disabilities in our community. Thank you for your continued support!

💙

Discover how the Thera-Mate Pro can help those with limited mobility become more independent. This innovative, assistive care product is designed for total skin care and body inspection. The Thera-Mate Pro features accessories that clean, moisturize, exfoliate, medicate, and hydrate the entire body, making it the perfect All-in-One tool for maintaining health and hygiene.

If you or your loved one rely on assistance from others for bathing, don’t miss this opportunity to learn about a tool that can enhance independence and improve quality of life.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, July 24th
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: CIL Ocala office
2760 SE 17th Street, Suite 300, Ocala, FL 34471

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84077373020?pwd=wNyb6yUsS9QPrABF49RLra3gtxIxfj.1

Meeting ID: 840 7737 3020
Passcode: 646416

One tap mobile
+13052241968,,84077373020#,,,,*646416# US
+13017158592,,84077373020#,,,,*646416# US (Washington DC)

We look forward to seeing you there! For more information, please contact Brandon Palermo: (352) 368-3788 ext. 1012 ; bpalermo@cilncf.org

May was Stroke Awareness Month, and we had an incredible visit from the MSTU (Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit) towards the end of the month! We toured the truck and gained valuable insights into its life-saving operations.

Our consumers found the MSTU visit fascinating, learning about the unit’s crucial role in stroke care. Here are two interesting facts we discovered:

1️⃣ The MSTU has only been in operation for a few months but has already responded to over 700 calls! More than 300 of these calls required hospital transport. That’s a tremendous impact in a short time!

2️⃣ While the MSTU can operate within a 30-mile radius of Alachua County, they collaborate with neighboring counties. Patients from these areas can be brought to the border, where the MSTU can take over, starting life-saving procedures on the spot. This often involves meeting at convenient locations like gas stations, grocery stores, or fast-food parking lots!

We are incredibly grateful for the MSTU’s dedication and the vital service they provide to our community.

ID: There are two photos. Photo 1 is a group picture of ILS consumers in front of the MSTU truck. On the bottom of the photo is a purple gradient in wave shape with “Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit” written in white. Photo 2 is Terri Poucher, CIL ILS Coordinator, standing on the step of the open door to the MSTU truck, posing for pictures. On the bottom of the photo is a purple gradient in wave shape with “Stroke Awareness” written in white. Both photos have the CILNCF logo displayed at the bottom right corner.

With hurricane season upon us, The Center for Independent Living is in desperate need of wheelchairs (all sizes) and rollators with seats. 🌧️🌀

These items are crucial for helping our community during emergencies, and we currently can’t keep them in stock. We kindly ask that all donations be in good, like-new, or new condition.

It’s disheartening when individuals with disabilities request these essential items, and we have to say no due to lack of availability. 💔

If you have these items to donate, please contact us to arrange a pickup or drop them off at our center. Your support can make a significant difference in someone’s life this hurricane season.

Thank you for your generosity and support! 🙏❤️

📍 Drop-off Location: The Center For Independent Living
222 SW 36th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32607

Please reach out to:
Kevin Towles at ktowles@cilncf.org or 352-368-3788 ext. 1017
Claudia Avendano at cavendano@cilncf.org or 352-378-7474 Ext. 2100

Join us for an informative session featuring CaptionCall, a service designed to assist individuals who have difficulty hearing phone calls. CaptionCall provides specialized phones that display real-time captions of what the other person is saying, ensuring you never miss a word. Additionally, calls are saved, allowing you to review the conversation at your convenience. Discover how CaptionCall can enhance your communication experience and provide peace of mind.

This presentation will be especially useful for anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing, or those who know someone who could benefit from enhanced phone communication.

Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: The Center for Independent Living
2760 SE 17th Street, Suite 300 Ocala, FL 34471

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89174062765?pwd=uCFaFCzrx4QL589pfSxu3qeg6Xjzej.1

Meeting ID: 891 7406 2765
Passcode: 610039

One tap mobile
+13052241968,,86184197216#,,,,*031553# US
+16469313860,,86184197216#,,,,*031553# US

For questions, contact Brandon Palermo at (352) 368-3788 ext. 1012, or via e-mail bpalermo@cilncf.org.

In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, the Alachua County Citizens Disability Advisory Committee, in partnership with the city of Gainesville, is excited to host a FREE ADA EXPO! 🎉

📅 Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2024
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center, 1028 NE 14th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601

This event is open to the public and will feature various organizations showcasing their products, services, and resources that support people with disabilities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about disability awareness and inclusion, connect with the community, and discover valuable resources.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with local organizations and learn how we can all contribute to a more inclusive community. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the Expo please contact the Alachua County Equal Opportunity office by 7/22/24.

Call 352-374-5275 TDD/TTY Users: please call 711 (Florida Relay Service)

*Free A1C Testing and Giveaways Sponsored by Alachua County Health Dept.

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 Today, we celebrate the spirit of independence and freedom that our nation was built upon. At our center, we believe that everyone deserves the ability to live an independent life, regardless of their abilities.

Independence means something unique to each of us. For some, it’s the ability to move freely and confidently in their community; for others, it’s about having access to resources and opportunities to thrive. This Independence Day, let’s remember the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and support for all individuals.

Join us in celebrating the spirit of independence and the power of community. Together, we can create a world where everyone has the ability to live their best life.

July is Disability Pride Month, celebrating the history, achievements, and experiences of the disability community, and marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed on July 26, 1990. This month symbolizes progress toward inclusivity, beginning with Boston’s first Disability Pride Day in 1990 and Chicago’s first parade in 2004.

Although Disability Pride Month is an annual event, its message should resonate year-round. Here’s how you can take action:

📓 Educate Yourself About Ableism
Ableism assumes people with disabilities need fixing, leading to discrimination. Use “people with disabilities” to prioritize their humanity and read books to deepen your understanding of disability pride.

🙋 Participate in Disability Pride Month
Join parades and celebrations, whether you have a disability or not. Your participation helps create a more inclusive world.

🤗 Embrace Disability Pride Every Day
Promote inclusivity, awareness, and empathy daily. Support physical and digital accessibility for all abilities. Let’s build a world where everyone can thrive.