ACCESS QUARTERLY SPRING | 2022
IN THIS ISSUE 01 A VETERAN'S INDEPENDENCE Charlan Brock Architects build ramp for veteran
02 A SWING FOR INDEPENDENCE! 03 04 CAREER CAMP FUN! 05 A successful FUNdraising event benefitting CIL
06 TIME FOR TAXES
CIL helps countless Deaf individuals file their taxes!
07 CON-GRAD-ULATIONS!
2022 Project SEARCH graduates walk the stage
08 AN ICY EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS Milan gets his first job at Rita's Italian Ice
A VETERAN'S INDEPENDENCE
VOLUNTEERS BUILD RAMP FOR VETERAN IN JUST ONE DAY
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n March 25, eight volunteers from Charlan Brock Architects got to work early in the morning to build a ramp for Mr. Rivera- who is 93 and lives with Congestive Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For years, getting in and out of his own home was a major struggle and was a cause of great stress and worry on his daughter. In just five hours, Mr. Rivera's beautiful wraparound front porch had a new accessible ramp addition. As soon as Mr.Rivera’s ramp was complete he took it for a speedy test drive!
A SWING FORE INDEPENDENCE!
KMI INTERNATIONAL AND TURNER CONSTRUCTION HOST UNIQUE FUNDRAISER EVENT TO BENEFIT CIL
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layers teed up for a unique fundraising experience at Topgolf Lake Mary on Thursday, April 28. The event, which is took place of CIL's annual fundraising Gala, was a great opportunity for partners, supporters, and even CIL staff to have some safe fun while raising money for CIL programs and services. Event presenting sponsors, KMI International and Turner Construction, have had a longstanding partnership with CIL and have each volunteered on ramp builds. This year, they wanted to take their involvement and commitment up a notch.
CIL consumer, Cathy Garrett, spoke to event attendees about her experience as a recipient of CIL services.
From silent auction items to "Hole-in-One" contest, sponsored by iVenture Solutions, with a $10,000 prize- the event kept guests teeing up for a good time. The event raised just under $15,000 which will directly support CIL's programs and services that help Central Florida's disability community.
MORE THAN
$14,000 RAISED
CIL Board Members get together for a picture after the evening's successful event.
PRESENTING SPONSORS
PUTTING PARTNER SPONSORS
HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSOR
SILENT AUCTION DONORS All Fired Up Alligator Farm Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Celebration Restaurant Group - CFL Pizza Hut Cheesecake Factory Clean your Dirty Face- Winter Park Clearwater Marine Aquarium Crayola Experience Darryl Perry Drunken Monkey Ethos Vegan Kitchen Florida Citrus Sports Foundation Hillstone Ethos Vegan Kitchen Florida Citrus Sports Foundation
BIRDIE BUDDY SPONSOR
Hillstone Liam Fitzpatrick's Irish Pub Lake Mary Lobos Coffee Roasters Nothing Bundt Cakes Winter Park Orlando Museum of Art Orlando Repertory Theater Orlando Science Center Orlando Shakes Orlando Solar Bears PRP Wine International Rocco's Tacos Sue Marrero Sugar Dough Bakery The Florida Orchestra in St. Petersburg Florida The Robinson Room Cafe Trader Joes Wild Florida
CAREER CAMP FUN
SPRING CAREER CAMP STUDENTS GET CAREER-READY!
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ne of CIL's most integral programs for youth with disabilities is Step Ahead. This program assists young adults between the ages of 14-22, who are currently enrolled in school, with the transition from school to adult life. Many youth in this stage of life are wondering what they want to do with their lives after school, and what career options are out there for them. Career camp is a fantastic way for these young adults to not only learn about different career paths, but to also gain the skills that will make them more successful employees! This camp was offered to Polk, Orange, Seminole, and Osceola county residents. Participants visited the Winter Park Fire-Rescue and Police Departments, Wauchula State Bank
in Downtown Lakeland, Full Sail University, Explorations V Children's Museum (Lakeland), welcomed guest speakers from Turner Construction, Rita's Italian Ice, AdventHealth and more! Enrollment is currently open for Summer Career Camps taking place in June and July 2022. For more information or to register, please contact: Eli Agosto, Employment Program Manager Eagosto@CILorlando.org 407-961-5537
2022 SPRING CAREER CAMP
TIME FOR TAXES!
CIL ONCE AGAIN OFFERED UNIQUE TAX FILING SERVICE FOR DEAF INDIVIDUALS
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iling taxes is not something that many people get excited for each year. In fact, last year it was estimated that more than 21 million people waited until the last minuteor the last week- to file their taxes. One of the biggest reasons why people wait so long to complete this mandatory and dull task is that the process can be confusing. This is especially true for the Deaf and hard of hearing community, who already have major difficulties finding certified tax preparers who can communicate with them using American Sign Language. This is why CIL was proud to once again offer a unique tax filing service for Deaf individuals.
Christy and her husband Mike met with Martha to get their taxes filed. Without this service, their options for getting their taxes filed would be extremely limited.
THIS YEAR WE... FILED
97
TAX RETURNS HELPED GET FILERS
$242,223 IN REFUNDS
CON-GRAD-ULATIONS
2022 PROJECT SEARCH GRADUATES WALK THE STAGE
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n Friday, April 29 five outstanding young men and women crossed the stage and received their diplomas for successfully completing the 2021-2022 Project SEARCH program. All five graduates will go on to employment whether at Lakeland Regional Health or with another community partner. This program is possible for young adults through the committed partnership of Lakeland Regional Health, Polk County Schools, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Center for Independent Living. In addition- a huge thank you to the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation and Harper Family Charitable Foundation, Inc. for their ongoing financial support of this program!
Project SEARCH is a dedicated program focused on providing education and training to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is accomplished through an innovative workforce and career development model that benefits the individual, workplace, and community.
AN ICY EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS
CIL STEP AHEAD PROGRAM PARTICIPANT GETS HIS FIRST JOB!
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ilan completed our Winter Career Camp last year and was ready to find his first job! During career camp, Milan learned all of the important characteristics and skills that he would need to land and keep a jobincluding resume writing and interviewing. It just so happened that the owners of Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard in Lake Buena Vista were seeking employees and wanted to give Milan his very first job (you might have seen them recently on Undercover Boss!) This is Milan’s third week on the job and he is doing GREAT! He loves interacting with customers and even has a few regulars who come in to see him weekly!
AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE FOR ALL Rita's in Lake Bunea Vista is owned by Chip and his husband Andrew. As a person with a disability himself, Chip understands how difficult it is to find an employer who is committed to hiring and caring about people with disabilities. Their franchise was even featured on a 2022 episode of Undercover Boss and were praised for their approach to hiring employees with disabilities.
