SPRING
As we venture further into 2023, we wanted to take a moment to let you know the impact your end of year donation has made.
We are immensely grateful for your contribution to 2022's End of Year appeal. We raised more than ever this year, raising over $20,000! Your support is n many important and necessary causes that you could have c means a lot to us and the people we serve.
We have been busy these past four months. We are paving t programs supporting accessibility and disability inclusion. T Freedom program, We have installed 28 grab bars, increas and door widenings, loaned 84 pieces of assistive equipme
We hosted 26 students at our Spring Career Camp in both W Lakeland, where they explored potential career options, lea ready for work, and got some job-shadowing experience. O SEARCH program had 11 graduates who all completed su internships and have all secured employment they are exci Our Deaf Services team helped 133 people get access to V Tax Assistance and provided training to law enforcement on how to be interact with the Deaf community.
As you can see, YOUR dollars have created a positive impa community!
Thank you,
Elizabeth Howe Executive Director
Swing
24 students in Lakeland and Winter participated in a 1 week Career Camp over Spring Break. During the week participants gained skills needed to get them ready for life after high school. During the camp participants had opportunities for explore clerical, maintenance/operation, and construction fields and learn skills helpful for any career.
WHERE:
WINTER PARK WINTER PARK WINTER PARK
LAKELAND LAKELAND LAKELAND
KISSIMMEE KISSIMMEE KISSIMMEE
FOR:
AGES 14-21 AGES 14-21 AGES 14-21 MUST BE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL MUST BE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL MUST BE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL
STUDENTS WITH AN IEP OR 504 PLAN STUDENTS WITH AN IEP OR 504 PLAN STUDENTS WITH AN IEP OR 504 PLAN
DETAILS:
LEARN HOW TO PREPARE FOR WORK LEARN HOW TO PREPARE FOR WORK LEARN HOW TO PREPARE FOR WORK
LEARN JOB RELATED SKILLS LEARN JOB RELATED SKILLS LEARN JOB RELATED SKILLS
GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE
BUILD YOUR RESUME BUILD YOUR RESUME BUILD YOUR RESUME
Are you struggling to find resources for your children?
Does your child have a disability?
Are you overwhelmed trying to support your family's needs?
SHOUT OUT TO ALL ORANGE COUNTY FAMILIES! We are serving Orange County families with children 3 to 22 with a disability to increase participation of children in all aspects of school and community life using a Person-Centered Approach.
Is your child enrolled in an Orange County school?
WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR YOU!
Navigators will be accessible within your own community!
THIS PROGRAM WILL OFFER:
Advocacy for children 3 to 22 with disabilities or potential trauma
Skills training including social skill development, independent living skills, preemployment training (older children) and identified training
Empowerment and referral for parents/guardians to available community social service resources, medical support, educational programs/scholarships, and schoolbased support for their children
Wellness assessment and referral for child's medical and diagnostic services
Planning, advocacy, and navigation of IEP/504
Support groups and education for parents and community events
PLEASE REACH OUT WITH QUESTIONS TO CIL AT (407)623-1070 OR EMAIL NATALIA AT NPIEDRAHITA@CILORLANDO.ORG
If you need additional assistance, please let us know when you reach out
The Project SEARCH program at Lakeland Regional Health and Advent Health Lake Wales works with students with disabilities, ages 18 to 22, to help prepare them for highly skilled, complex jobs in a variety of industries. We are thrilled to report that 100% of this year’s Project SEARCH participants have already secured employment and are looking forward to starting their jobs after graduation.
Project SEARCH provides support and training that continues after graduation. Students continue to receive job coaching and support from the Center for Independent Living while working and earning income. Additionally, any students not hired by graduation continue to receive job placement assistance and other support services leading to paid employment.
Project SEARCH is funded by Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Harper Family Charitable Foundation, George W. Jenkins Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation, and Regions Bank.
There are more than 800,000 deaf or hard of hearing individuals throughout Florida, and thousands living in Orange County. CIL Orlando serves individuals with disabilities throughout seven counties in Central Florida, including Orange County. The need for a better way to communicate with those who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing is paramount to helping reduce crime, as people living with disabilities like hearing loss are twice as likely to be victims of violent crime, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Through an Orange County Safety Grant, the Center for Independent Living (CIL Orlando) is launching an initiative to educate law enforcement and Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing residents throughout Orange County. This includes public service announcements, police training, and rack cards that promote safe communication with law enforcement.
“We want to ensure there is accessibility and positive interactions when individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing are pulled over for a traffic stop,” said CIL Orlando Executive Director Liz Howe “Our hope is that this alleviates some of the communication barriers individuals who have hearing loss face and that there are appropriate accommodations made.”
As part of the new program, CIL Orlando staff will give a presentation to Orlando Police Department on May 29th 10am-11:30am. In addition, CIL has plans to educate the 721 Orange County Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients they and their partner organizations currently serve. CIL will also promote the campaign through ads placed at 17 Lynx Bus Stop Shelters throughout Orange County.
This card is to help drivers with hearing loss communicate with police officers.
QUICKCOMMUNICATIONTIPS
• Please face me as eye contact is necessary
• Speak slowly and clearly in a normal tone, do not cover your mouth
• Repeat, rephrase, or write your request
• Be patient, give me a chance to understand
THEBESTWAYTO COMMUNICATEWITHME:
INEEDTOSEEYOUR:
LICENSE LICENSE REGISTRATION INSURANCE OTHER VIOLATIONS
SPEEDING STOP SEATBELT CARELESS
REDLIGHT CELLPHONE INFLUENCE EQUIPMENT
WARRANTS LICENSEPLATE OTHER
YOUAREBEING:
WARNED TICKETED ARRESTED
INTERPRETER
VERBALLY WRITING/ TEXTING LIP-READING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICE
Keep this card in your vehicle in the event that you are pulled over, have this card readily available to present to the law enforcement officer.
No further action Follow instructions on ticket
HELP
Please follow my directions
POLICE MEDICAL LOST GAS
MECHANICAL TOW OTHER
The cards will be provided to law enforcement agencies throughout Orange County and are also available at CIL’s Winter Park office.
If you’ve spent any time in the past couple of years in public spaces, or even some offices, then chances are, you’ve seen an animal, usually a dog, in a vest with some variation of “do not pet” emblazoned on it. Though service animals are neither brand new nor uncommon in today’s society, knowledge of their history, rights, and behaviors, is not as widespread as it should be. For example, did you know that only dogs and miniature horses “that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities" can be legally considered a service animal? Some good rules of thumb are to give the animal and their handler space, and not to pet the dog without permission from the handler.
For as long as the ADA has stood, so too have the many service animals and their handlers that have tirelessly stood as models for the equity and inclusion of all individuals with disabilities in all facets of everyday life. We hope that you remember their storied history and duties and, whether as a handler or spectator, always respect these very good dogs, and miniature horses, and their colleagues as emotional support, comfort, and therapy animals, in all that they do.
Read full article on our website:
https://cilorlando.org/service-animals-theyre-more-than-pets/
Taking place the second Wednesday of every month from 12:00 - 12:30pm, CIL, aking place the second Wednesday of every month from 12:00 - 12:30pm, CIL,
aking place the second Wednesday of every month from 12:00 - 12:30pm, CIL, the Midland Regional Demonstration Center for FAAST will be hosting a monthly the Midland Regional Demonstration Center for FAAST will be hosting a monthly the Midland Regional Demonstration Center for FAAST will be hosting a monthly Public Health Series on Webex. Registration Required. Public Health Series on Webex. Registration Required. Public Health Series on Webex. Registration Required.
January 11, 2023- COVID-19 & other Airborne Virus Prevention:
February 8, 2023- Social Isolation & its risks with seniors and individuals with disabilities
March 8, 2023-Preparing for COVID-19 & other viruses as the seasons turn
April 12, 2023-Best response practices for COVID-19 and other viruses
May 10, 2023 -Preparing for COVID-19 & other viruses recap
June 7, 2023-The digital divide, bridging the safety gap
July 12, 2023-Social isolation & its risks recap
August 9, 2023-COVID-19 & other airborne virus prevention recap
September 13, 2023-The digital divide, bridging the safety gap recap
Contact Roshana at rragarrat@cilorlando.org
Contact Roshana at rragarrat@cilorlando.org
Contact Roshana at rragarrat@cilorlando.org to receive link for webinars to receive link for webinars to receive link for webinars
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.
OUR
To preserve the dignity and respect of people with disabilities through full access and full integration in society.
Chair
Mellissa Slover-Athey
Vice Chair
Steve Beres
Treasurer
James Moody
Secretary
Tamara Mackroy
Michelle Blake
Hector Del Valle
Cheryl Stone
Gregory Edwards
Dr. Maxine Ruddock
Lainie Fox Ackerman
LaVonda Wilder