Greetings | The Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida welcomes you! If you have any questions about the center or the services we provide, please contact us at 352-378-7474. Our number again, is 3, 5, 2, 3, 7, 8, 7, 4, 7, 4.
Tomorrow, September 16th, the CIL joins nonprofits across our community for Give4Marion, a 33-hour online fundraiser that makes a real difference.
Your support empowers people with disabilities to live, learn, work, and thrive. From building ramps that restore freedom, to teaching essential life skills, to providing assistive technology – your generosity changes lives.
💙 Tomorrow, we come together. 💙 Tomorrow, we create independence. 💙 Tomorrow, we build a community without limits.
On September 16–17, join us for 33 hours of giving to support the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida.
Your gift empowers people with disabilities—just like Brandy, who first connected with us in high school. Through money management workshops and our Project Looking Ahead program, she built confidence, leadership, and workplace skills. In 2024, she even spoke on a statewide panel to share her journey. Now, as she prepares to graduate in 2025, she’s working toward employment and an independent future.
💙 This is the impact of your generosity.
👉 Mark your calendar & donate: https://www.give4marion.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida
Today, we honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who showed us what courage looks like. Among those impacted were people with disabilities, reminding us of the importance of access, support, and community in every part of life.
At the CIL, we carry their legacy forward by working each day to build a world where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity and independence.
ID: The 9/11 Memorial in New York City at sunset, with the reflecting pool in the foreground and tall glass skyscrapers, including One World Trade Center, glowing in golden light. The words “Remembering 9/11” appear at the top of the image.
On September 16th—just under 2 weeks away—the Center for Independent Living joins #Give4Marion, a 33-hour fundraiser empowering local nonprofits to make our community stronger.
Your support helps neighbors like Mr. Joseph Arsenault, a 95-year-old WWII Veteran who recently reached out to us in need of a ramp. With our help, Joseph now has safe access to his community, enjoys visits with friends and family, and says ‘Life is so much better now!’ 💙
This is the impact of your generosity—together, we make independence possible.
Each year, Labor Day reminds us of the sacrifices and victories that shaped today’s workplace. Born from the labor movement of the late 1800s, this holiday recognizes the fight for fair pay, safe conditions, and dignity on the job.
For people with disabilities, Labor Day also reflects the ongoing push to ensure equitable access to the workforce. Landmark laws like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 helped break down barriers, but the work continues today.
✅ Advocates have fought for fair wages, reasonable accommodations, and accessible workplaces. ✅ Worker organizations have pressed for policies that protect every individual’s right to contribute and succeed. ✅ Policy recommendations highlight the need for stronger protections, expanded opportunities, and universal design in every workplace.
As we mark Labor Day, let’s honor the past and reaffirm our commitment to building a future where every worker has the chance to participate fully and thrive.
ID: A Labor Day graphic features construction workers on scaffolding against a pale blue sky. On the left, a bold blue overlay contains the text “LABOR DAY” in large white letters. Beneath it, in smaller text, it reads: “Honoring Workers. Expanding Opportunity.”
The Citrus County ILS group enjoyed a delicious lunch outing at Chili’s! This trip was a great opportunity to practice valuable community and restaurant skills. Members worked on ordering their own meals, using a friendly conversational tone that was respectful to those around them, and learning how to pay their bill—including the importance of adding a tip and how to calculate it.
The day was made even more special as we turned it into a cheerful farewell party for one of our members who will soon be moving away. It was a wonderful mix of learning, laughter, and warm goodbyes!
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The CIL is looking for a dedicated Associate Director to join our leadership team!
This full-time, onsite role works closely with our Executive Director to ensure the delivery of our five core Independent Living services—Information & Referral, Peer Support, Skills Training, Advocacy, and Transition.
As Associate Director, you’ll: – Provide leadership, guidance, and support to staff – Oversee programs, grants, and community partnerships – Help foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture – Represent CIL in the community and strengthen collaborations – Play a key role in empowering people with disabilities to live independently
We’re seeking someone with strong leadership skills, experience in program and staff management, and a passion for advancing disability rights and the Independent Living philosophy.
If you’re ready to make a lasting impact and grow with an organization rooted in commitment, integrity, caring, diversity, and collaboration, we’d love to hear from you!
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, current resume and a list of three professional references. To receive full consideration, applicants must submit all documents electronically by September 5th to the following email address: cilncf.org@gmail.com. Review of all applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position if filled.
🏈 We’re kicking off football season in The Swamp — and YOU can be part of it while giving back to your community!
The CIL is joining forces with Gator Athletics at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the first Gator Football game of the season on August 30th.
When you purchase your ticket through this link 👉 https://www.gofevo.com/event/Centerfor47 a portion of every ticket sold will go directly back to the CIL to support our programs and services for people with disabilities. 💙
Don’t miss your chance to cheer on the Gators AND make a difference in the lives of others. Let’s fill The Swamp with orange, blue, and community spirit! 🐊
We recently came together as a CIL family to share good company, laughter, and a great meal from David’s BBQ. The food was delicious, but the highlight of the day was the fun we had together.
To add a little friendly competition, we played trivia—congratulations to Destini for taking the win! She walked away with a sweet prize: one hour of vacation time and a bag of Jelly Belly’s. Yum!
We’re grateful for moments like these that allow us to connect outside of our day-to-day work and enjoy the community we’ve built together.
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On July 31st, our Independent Living Skills group enjoyed another engaging visit from Julie with Feeding Florida. This month’s session focused on basic cooking skills, starting with a fun discussion about fruits vs. vegetables. Julie demonstrated safe cutting techniques, then guided participants in making their own fruit and yogurt parfaits with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and optional granola. Everyone left with a recipe, a packet of fruit-and-veggie activities, and plenty of smiles. We’re grateful for Feeding Florida’s monthly visits and the valuable skills they share with our community.
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