Although the holiday season has passed, we wanted to still send some holiday cheer in January!  After three years of virtual events, our High School High Tech (HSHT) students were finally able to celebrate their Annual Holiday Party in person this year!  In mid-December, students from all of our HSHT counties in Alachua, Levy, Marion and Putnam were able to come to the CIL and celebrate the holidays together.  Everyone enjoyed yummy snacks, door prizes and fun holiday games that included, Face the Cookie, Holiday Pictionary and Holiday Reverse Charades.  They also had a special surprise guest crash the party…Santa!   All of the students had a great time and were grateful celebrating the holidays in the CIL activity room after such a long time.

ID: There are a total of 8 photos of the HSHT students celebrating their Annual Holiday party in the Activity Room at CIL Gainesville. The photos show everyone playing games, eating delicious snacks, and having a great time together.

Last month, during our Staff Appreciation Luncheon, we were finally able to honor staff members in person, who achieved specific work anniversary milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20 and even 25 years! This past year, we had seven staff members to celebrate and they are all listed below.

Colleen Metcalf, Consumer Specialist – 25 years, wow!!!!
Steve Grant, Office Receptionist (Retired) – 20 years!!!
Kathy Elkins, Sign Language Interpreting Program Manager – 20 years!!!
Amy Feutz, Associate Director – 20 years!!!
Terri Poucher, ILS Coordinator – 15 years!!
Lucinda Haile, Ocala Office Receptionist – 15 years!!
Kevin Towles, Consumer Specialist – 10 years!

You all have made such a huge difference in the lives of people with disabilities throughout the years, and we are so grateful to have you on our CIL Team! Thank you so much for your dedicated service, commitment and all that you do for the CIL, our community and our consumers!

ID: There are 6 images. Each image is a Poloraid graphic with a picture of each of the staff mentioned receiving their award from their supervisor. The photo of Terry does not include Tony, her supervisor. There is not a photo of Steve Grant because he retired a few months earlier. The background color for each image is a different color of the CIL logo: purple, blue, green, turquoise. The name of the staff member and their supervisor is written on each image.

All of us here at the CIL would like to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and honor his legacy through continued commitment to service for our community. Let us join together to reflect on MLK’s life, memory, and ability to spread love and kindness to all. Let us recommit to building a better, fairer, and more equitable world.

In collaboration with Caption Call AND Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, The Center for Independent Living presents Mobility Express Presentation.

This presentation will cover information and equipment that helps accommodate for communicating with the Deaf & Hard of Hearing 

Friday, January 27, at 10:00 AM via Zoom
Meeting ID: 352-378-7474
Passcode: cilclass

For questions, contact Brandon Palermo: 
The Center for Independent Living
2760 SE 17th Street, Suite 300 Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 368-3788 ext. 1012
BPalermo@cilncf.org

Our Wheelchair Ramp Building Program continues to make a difference in our consumer’s lives! Debbie was in dire need of a ramp, as she was in jeopardy of having to go into a nursing home due to her disability. But thanks to our new program for modular ramps, we were able to secure a ramp for Debbie this past month, and ensure that she is able to continue living independently in her own home. Debbie is thrilled and still can’t believe she has a new ramp! She now has access to the community and is able to go to important doctor appointments and therapy, without needing assistance from neighbors or relatives to help her go up and down stairs in her wheelchair. Debbie said the best part of her morning is now sitting on the front deck of her ramp, enjoying a hot cup of coffee, the fresh clean air and sunshine. She is forever grateful for this blessing and for the Center for Independent Living!

Special thanks to our CORE Services Director, Mark Brisbane, for continuing to make this happen for our consumers with disabilities in need of a ramp and better access to their community!

Our Director Tony at the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida shares a message of deep gratitude and wishes for a happy, healthy, and independent 2023! Our staff work with so much heart and dedication to empower people with disabilities to live independently. We’re absolutely thrilled for what this year will bring.

In collaboration with Mobility Express AND Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, The Center for Independent Living presents Mobility Express Presentation.

This training will cover information and equipment that helps accommodate for lift chairs, power chairs, vehicle modifications, and more!

DATE: January 17, 2023, 9:30am – 10:30am
Please call to reserve a seat, space is limited

LOCATION: The Center for Independent Living
2760 SE 17th Street, Suite 300 Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 368-3788

Coping with Caregiving is a free course for caregivers to learn how to de-stress and better manager daily life. This course is for anyone who cares for a loved one with dementia, chronic illness, or any other disability.

Location: Center for Independent Living
222 SW 36th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32607

The second Tuesday of the month, from 10:00 – 12:00
– January 10th – Bouncing Back
– February 14th – Strategies for Stress
– March 14th – Coping with Frustration
– April 11th – Filling the Well

To Register, contact Sam Strickland at 352-692-5246. Participants who attend all 4 sessions will receive a certificate of completion and gift card.

Sponsored by Elderly Options The Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida, and FAAST. Contact Claudia Avendano for FAAST Programs (352-378-7474 ext. 2100

Happy 2023! We are thrilled to continue in-person classes at the CIL, so please join us this January! We are still offering one online class per week for those of you who prefer that option.

Independence Hacks (ILS) classes will be on Tuesdays in Ocala, Wednesdays on Zoom, and Thursdays in Gainesville. All classes will be from 10:30am – 12pm.

Youth Leadership and Social Group classes are still on Tuesdays from 3:30-5pm. So far, they will continue to be conducted online until further notice.

For every online class, the meeting username is 352-378-7474 and the password is cilclass!

Please be sure to share this with anyone who would like to participate, and contact Terri Poucher at 352-378-7474 or tpoucher@cilncf.org with any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!

All of us here at the CIL wish you a very Happy New Year! Cheers to 2023!