ACCESS QUARTERLY SPRING 2019
Upcoming Events
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RAMPAGE Spring 2019 Stroll ‘n’ Roll Catch up on the excitement from CIL’s Stroll ‘n’ Roll at Crane’s Roost Park!
Alex and Ani Shop to give back March 28, 2019 Celebrating Independence Gala June 21, 2019
Alex and Ani Shop to Give Back
Gala
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“I’m so grateful CIL is available to people who need a little help like myself. Without you I wouldn’t have a new scooter and batteries to get around and do what I love.” -Linus
Board of Directors
Tamara Mackroy Comprehensive Health Services
Chair Mellissa Slover-Athey CenterState Bank
Vice Chair Maxine Moul Orlando Health
Past Chair Kim Byerly Darden Restaurants
Secretary Cheryl Stone Retired Microbiologis
Members Hector Del Valle, MSW AIP Southern Regional Coordinator
Christopher Nelson Rollins MBA
Dr. Maxine Ruddock Comprehensive Psychological & Assessment Services Steve Beres Regions Bank Ha Tran Rollins MBA
James "Jim" Moody Crummer Graduate School of Business Rollins College
MISSION “CIL, in partnership with the community, promotes inclusion of people with disabilities by eliminating architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers. CIL provides education, resources, and training to enhance self-determination through informed choice.”
Ronika Carter
Call for Super Supporters Cil's most powerful advocates 2019
Did you know that CIL had 183 volunteers, volunteer over 2,731 hours last year? Whether it is helping us around the office on mailings or data entry, mentoring youth with disabilities during our annual Summer Leadership Camp, or dedicating a Saturday to build a ramp, the Center for Independent Living could not provide the programs and services we do without the support of our incredible volunteers. This year we are excited to launching our “Super Supporter” Program, a way you can increase your support in CIL’s mission of breaking down barriers.
What is a Super Supporter?
What do you get?
Super supporters are CIL’s most powerful advocates. They are involved in multiple capacities, supporting CIL by volunteering their time, making monetary contributions, and spreading our mission of creating opportunities for inclusion and breaking down barriers to independence. How can you become a Super Supporter? Joining CIL’s team of Super Supporters is easy! Follow the rule of 10. Volunteer at least 10 hours Donate at least $10.00 Interact with our social media accounts at least 10 times (like, comment, or share a post!)
Once you achieve Super Supporter status for 2019: You will receive an official CIL name tag with your name and Super Supporter status to wear while supporting CIL! Your name will be posted on our Super Supporter boards in the office and on our website! If you lock in your Super Supporter status by April 12, 2019 You will be recognized at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, April 19, 2019 AND Be entered to win 2 – One Day Disney Park Hopper Tickets! For more information on how YOU can be a Super Supporter contact Stevey Panton, Volunteer Coordinator spanton@cilorlando.org or 407-623-1070
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2019 On Saturday, March 9th over 200 supporters, volunteers, donors and CIL consumers gathered in Cranes Roost Park for CIL’s 8th annual Stroll ‘n’ Roll walk. As part of the event participants enjoyed food provided by Einstein’s Bagels, Fresh Market and Bimbo Bread Factory and KIND bars as well as coffee provided by Starbucks and water provided by WaWa. A special thank you to this year’s event Sponsors: Orlando Health, Staywell, iVenture Solutions, Advent Health Sports Med & Rehab and Center State Bank.
Before the walk took place, participants went around to over 20 vendor and sponsor booths to get their custom “PASSPORT” stamped and learned more about the wonderful companies who support CIL’s mission of breaking down barriers. That morning there was music, food, and fun as well as a touching story of a young boy named Tristan Trautman who CIL (with the help of sponsors and volunteers) recently built a ramp for. Over $13,000 was raised at this year’s event, directly going back to the programs and services CIL provides to those with disabilities throughout 7 counties in Central Florida. We want to thank everyone who participated and “strolled or rolled” to help Central Floridan’s with disabilities live independently. ACCESS QUARTERLY | SPRING EDITION
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Bobbie Smith RAMPAGE Candidate Bobbie Smith is always on the go.After spending 10 years as a mechanic in the United States Army and another 20 working for the United States Postal Service, Bobbie was forced to retire due to developing prostate cancer. Bobbie’s life was saved through radiation therapy, but the toll on his body was extensive. His back required a spinal fusion and due to bad circulation from his diabetes he lost a portion of his foot. Today, Bobbie uses a motorized chair to get around his home and outside. However, the stairs to his home presented an enormous obstacle to getting in and out.“I’m not really a home body. I want to explore, stay busy, participate in activities, and give back to the community,” Bobbie says.“But because I need a chair to get around I can’t get out of my house without help.” Bobbie’s neighbors, family, and roommates all pitch in to help him in and out of his home, however they aren’t always available to help.“My daughter has to take off work to help me in and out to go to the doctor,” Bobbie says. “If she’s not working, then she’s not making money so it’s twice as bad.” Bobbie says he wants to keep as much independence as he can.“I say keep because once you lose it it’s so hard to get it back. A ramp would help me so much to not lose that.” With the help of ABC Prosthetics & Orthodontics and their volunteer group “Limb-It-Less,” Bobbie got his ramp on February 9, 2019. Made from aluminum, this ramp will last even longer and be better able to withstand the wet Florida climate. Now it is so much easier for Bobbie to maneuver in and out of his home! “It’s going great… the ramp is tremendous!” Bobbie said. “I have so much freedom of movement and feel much more independent.”
Living in the twenty-first century, accessing the web has become a daily activity for most people with a computer. Whether it be to purchase a product, establish a business, or even just to browse social media, the Internet has become a constant in most people’s lives. But what do you do if you are someone living with a disability? How does this change the way you access the web, if at all? iTech Momentum has launched a new platform for companies looking to help people with disabilities do just that. iTech Momentum is a technology software company dedicated to creating empowering digital solutions for people in need. The company is proud to announce that it has developed the first-ever Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform that allows websites to become accessible to all people with physical disabilities. The platform, appropriately named http://www.abilitybrowser.com/, allows visitors to access and navigate websites by only using their head movements. To connect to accessible sites in the CSR browser, people affected by disabilities simply need to visit their website and download the browser for free. All users need in order to navigate the site through the “AbilityBrowser” platform, is a computer with a built-in camera or an external camera. No additional hardware is required, and the software is free. By marketing this as a platform for companies to become more accessible, iTech Momentum is encouraging the corporate world to be more inclusive of people living with disabilities. Simply visiting their website and subscribing to the services at a minimal monthly fee is all it takes for companies to adopt this software into their business. Companies such as Facebook, Pandora, eBay, Hulu, Target and Walgreens have already adopted this service into their websites. “We know that companies want to help, but often do not know where to start. What we have done is developed a unique technology and methodology that makes it possible for any organization, of any size, to positively impact society at the click of a button,” said President and Founder of iTech Momentum, Guillaume Viallaneix. “With the AbilityBrowser, every company today can give the gift of accessibility, information, and education to people in need.” If you would like more information on the AbilityBrowser visit itechmomentum.com
www.cilorlando.org | ACCESS QUARTERLY
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celebrate.cilorlando.org Celebrating Independence is an evening of inclusion and fun for persons of all abilities. Each year CIL presents the Beverly Chapman Legacy Award to an individual who has worked hard to break barriers and create new opportunities for disability inclusion in Central Florida. If you would like to become a Celebrating Independence Sponsor, purchase tickets or would like more information, please contact :
Brittany Pilcher Development Director 407-623-1070 bpilcher@cilorlando.org 9
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VISIT www.cilorlando.org to learn more
WINTER PARK OFFICE 720 N DENNING DRIVE WINTER PARK, FL 32789 PHONE: 407-623-1070
LAKELAND OFFICE 5125 S. LAKELAND DRIVE, SUITE 4 LAKELAND, FL 33814 PHONE: 863-413-2722
INFO@CILORLANDO.ORG