ACCESS QUARTERLY FALL|2022
IN THIS ISSUE 01 02 DEAFAWARENESSMONTH Upcoming FUNdraising event benefitting CIL 03 SUMMERCAREERCAMP 04 FALLPREVENTIONMONTH 06 05SWINGFOREINDEPENDENCE READING/WRITINGCLASS Designed for our Deaf community ADAANNIVERSARY Leading students to career paths
Lead Students to Career Paths CIL Career Camps
Through a partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), CIL provides its weeklong Career Camp program across its seven-county footprint to youth with disabilities enrolled in high school during times when school is out for break. The immersive program gives campers opportunities to build pre employment skills and get exposed to opportunities that will ultimately help them to transition to adulthood and careers. Camp presenters are experts in their unique fields, so they can offer real-life, hands-on expertise, advice, and answers to any questions that campers may have.
Abel has a lot to look forward to as a 15-year-old kid. Sure, another school year is right around the corner, but Abel likes to look farther into the future, thinking ahead about having a job and career one day. This summer, Abel has been able to focus on what that career might be as he’s attended a pair of Career Camps hosted by the Center of Independent Living of Central Florida (CIL). He’s gotten an up close look at a host of different jobs, and he’s learned skills he’ll need to help get hired in a few years. Abel comes home from Career Camp in mid July, he was one of 23 students at camp in Winter Park feeling encouraged and supported and excited in a way that his mother, Holly Whye-Schiffhauer, has not seen before. CIL has a team of dedicated, caring professionals who come prepared to give their best to these students daily.
“In my opinion, (Career Camp) is an unparalleled resource for youth such as my son,” said Whye-Schiffhauer. "Any chances for him to engage with other students and professionals in this way are rare and greatly appreciated. From my own interactions and what my son tells me, (CIL has) a team of dedicated, caring professionals who come prepared to give their best to these students daily.”
Creating Opportunities for Disability Inclusion
Orange, Osceola, Seminole, The results can continue to build, as many students like coming to camp so much that they come back – even when they don’t have to. As for Abel, he is getting ready for the upcoming school year, but his time at Career Camp has him thinking farther into the future. He’s also $100 richer, as each camper earns $100 when they complete a week of camp. “I’m very thankful to have this experience,” Abel said. “It has given me a lot more confidence. I cannot wait to get a job!”
Join us for a career camp! For more information, reach out to Eli at eagosto@cilorlando.org or 407-961-5537. Career camps take place during the Fall, Spring, and Summer school breaks
“We focus on work readiness,” said Career Camp Program Manager Eliezer “Eli” Agosto. “We let students know about their ADA rights, work with them on resume building and mock job interviews. In addition, they participate in different activities throughout the week that teach soft skills, problem solving, and fosters team work. ”
Elligible students must be 14-21 year old and reside in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk, Highlands, Hardee or DeSoto County. Students can earn $100 for each week of camp they complete.
But the biggest benefits of Career Camp occur outside the classroom. Students learned to use maps and traveled via public transportation. They visited several large employers in the area, ranging from hospitals and hotels to police and fire departments. They took a tour of the fire station, witnessed emergency calls come in and the firefighters on duty get ready and go. They learned how to give CPR. By giving campers a wide variety of experiences, CIL’s Step Ahead team hopes they come away from the experience realizing that there are several career paths they can take.
“We want our students to start thinking about their options,” Agosto said. “We want to give them what they need to help them get where they want to go and understand what their long-term goals are and how they can start working towards them now.”
Campers visit different agencies and businesses across several industries such as construction, hospitality, medical, marketing and human resources to learn about how to start their career, which levels of education are needed and what life on the job looks like, as well as how to manage a paycheck.
2022 SUMMER CAREER CAMP
FALLPREVENTIONMONTH FOUNDATIONSTOFREEDOMINACTION
1 in 3 older adults- about 12 million- fall every year in the U.S. Over ½ of all falls take place at home. Two thirds of those who fall will do so again within six months. The risk of falling increases with age and is greater for women than men eptember is Fall Prevention Month. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Smart Caregiver tell us: The CDC recommends certain measures be taken to prevent falls such as speaking up and talking to your doctors, staying active, utilizing assistive devices, and making your home safe by getting rid of trip hazards or making the appropriate modifications. S CIL's Foundations to Freedom program assists with fall prevention. Last year we provided 313 home modifications and 219 pieces of assistive equipment with the help of our generous supporters. One of the individuals we were able to serve was Mr. Jerry Reagan, whose disability made it harder for him to get in and out of his home. The ramp CIL installed has helped him gain some of his independence back and made it safer to come in and out of his home. In addition, the wheelchair provided in partnership with Chair the Love has given Jerry the ability to get around without fear of falling. To learn how to get involved, please contact Victoria Wells at vwells@cilorlando.org or call 407-961-5529
DEAFAWARENESSMONTH READING AND WRITING CLASSES FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY D
CIL also hosts an inclusive annual holiday event in December called Silent Night where we have a Santa who is fluent in American Sign Language, a toy drive, and holiday festivities. The photos on this page are from our recently begun ASL Reading and Writing classes. For more information on the classes, please see the next page for details The goal of these classes is to build stronger reading and writing skills for those we serve in order to lead to greater understanding of the English language and promote greater independence
eaf Awareness Month, celebrated annually in September, is to help raise awareness about the language, culture, and diversity of the deaf community in the United States. This month we come together to recognize that deaf people have their own communities, their own cultures, their own languages, sign languages, which unite us all. Deaf communities have been expanding and thriving throughout the years and giving us all strength.
Through CIL's Community Inclusion program CIL serves individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing by assisting with tax preparation, getting citizenship, obtaining drivers licenses, and independent living skills training which includes the newly launched ASL Reading and Writing classes.
CIL consumer, Cathy Garrett, spoke to event attendees about her experience as a recipient of CIL services LET'S RAISE $20,000 TOGETHER! CIL Board Members get together for a picture after last year's inaugural event Photos from the first annual Swing Fore Independence For sponsorship information, contact: Brittany Pilcher bpilcher@cilorlando.org | 407-961-5534 Spring, 2023 More Details to come wing Fore Independence is a great opportunity for partners, supporters, and the community to come together for an evening filled with golf, food and fun, all while raising much needed funds that provide life-changing CIL programs and services for individuals with disabilities in Central Florida. S Event guest enjoying the green
or the 32nd Anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Representative Anna Eskamani hosted a virtual celebration alongside community partners and disability rights advocates, including CIL's Brittany Pilcher and board member Hector Del Valle. The celebration reminisced on the accomplishments since the ADA, what advocacy groups to get plugged into, and the work being done in Florida to fight for civil rights.
In the 32 years following the ADA’s passage, we have made great progress, but still, we have further to go towards true equality for those with disabilities.
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Speakers celebrated the accomplishments of increased access to degrees, jobs, sidewalks, public transportation, resources, and more, with a reminder that the work is not over Olivia Babis, with Disability Rights Florida, reminds us that there are still more solutions needed regarding accommodations for individuals with disabilities; that the solutions should be more affordable; and that the ADA needs to be amended to keep up with changing times and updates in technology.
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The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.
CIL Orlando is proud to be part of the continuing work being done to increase independence for individuals living with disabilities and we encourage you to stay involved and stay informed with us to continue the work of the ADA F
Michelle Blake Hector Del Valle Gregory Edwards Tamara Mackroy James Moody Dr. Maxine Ruddock LaVonda Wilder OUR MISSION OUR BOARD CIL, in partnership with the community, promotes inclusion of people with disabilities by eliminating architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers by providing education, resources, and training to enhance self determination through informed choice. To preserve the dignity and respect of people with disabilities through full access and full integration in society. OUR VISION Chair Mellissa Slover-Athey Past Chair Kim Byerly Vice Chair Maxine Moul Treasurer Steve Beres Secretary Cheryl Stone
