With 140+ attendees, 17 vendors, and a great turnout of volunteers, this year’s event was a huge success! We kicked things off with a warm welcome from Mayor Ben Marciano, enjoyed food from Smalls Sliders, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Sam’s Club, and heard from some incredible speakers who shared valuable safety info.

We wrapped it all up with 15 exciting door prizes—and tons of positive feedback from both vendors and attendees!

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer community. 💙

We’re incredibly grateful to our generous donors and sponsors, our amazing speakers who shared such valuable knowledge, and our dedicated vendors who provided resources and support to everyone who attended. This event wouldn’t have been possible without each of you—thank you!

SPONSOR:
Coalition for Health and Medical Preparedness (CHAMP)

DONORS:
Dunkin Donuts
Culligan of Ocala
Smalls Burgers
Herr’s Chips
Sam’s Club
United Health Care
Development Service Trainers (DST)

SPEAKERS:
Mr. Ben Marciano, Mayor of Ocala
Preston Bowlin, Emergency Management Director
Beth Meyer with Florida SILC
James F. Coleman with Community Legal Services

VENDORS:
Center for Independent Living
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
Comfort Keepers
Ocala 200 Lions Club
Encompass Health
Florida Visually Impaired and Blind Service
Marion County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicine
Ocala Police Department
Langley Health Services
Ocala Electric Utility
Ocala Fire Department
Heart of Florida Health Center
College of Central Florida
Community Legal Services
City of Ocala Water Resources
Advent Health Ocala
Suntran

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Your support empowers people with disabilities to live independently and thrive.

Meet Tequista, who was born blind and came to CILNCF for Supported Employment Services. With the help of our team and a welcoming Culver’s crew, she landed a job as a Lobby Attendant. From learning her workspace to delivering top-notch customer service, Tequista has become a standout employee—earning tips, glowing reviews, and newfound independence.

Last year, you helped us raise $10,035—directly fueling programs like employment services, sign language interpreting, wheelchair ramps, emergency preparedness, and assistive technology. This year, we’re aiming even higher.

✨ Your donation = real impact. It creates opportunities, builds confidence, and supports meaningful change.

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On St. Patty’s Day, the CIL family came together at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center for our Annual Staff Retreat—a day filled with connection, creativity, and celebration!

We kicked off with a surprise welcome for Amy, our new Executive Director 🎉—complete with a Mickey Mouse plant, a team-signed card, and sweet words from Amy herself. She even surprised us with vacation time as a thank you!

The day was packed with fun: 🎯 CIL Bingo to learn more about each other

🎨 Rock painting for our Gainesville office’s new garden
🥪 A chill lunch + game room laughs
📚 Tough St. Patty’s Day trivia
🎁 And prizes galore—from guessing games to leprechaun hat drawings!

We wrapped up with full hearts and lots of laughs. Grateful for a team that shows up with joy, creativity, and care—every single day. 💚

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We want to send a huge “THANK YOU” to everyone who joined us for our 4th Annual Alachua County Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Senior Recreation Center! This FREE event brought together a fantastic group of 13 vendors and over 40 attendees, all focused on helping people with disabilities stay prepared before, during, and after emergencies. We heard from insightful guest speakers on how to get ready for storms and where to seek help once they’ve passed. ASL interpreters were on hand to ensure full accessibility, and we wrapped up the day with raffles for weather-related preparedness prizes. We’re so grateful for the community’s support and can’t wait to keep empowering everyone to stay safe and prepared!

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A special THANK YOU goes out to our donors and sponsors for their generous support, our speakers who shared invaluable insights, and our vendors who offered services and information to our attendees. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!

DONORS:
Publix
Sam’s Club
Dunkin’ Donuts

SPONSORS:
Healthcare Coalition Alliance
Disability Rights Florida
Alachua County Emergency Management
Elder Care

SPEAKERS:
Daniel J. Hartley representing Congresswoman Kat Cammack
David Peaton, Assistant Director of Emergency Management
Bryan Russell with Disabiliy Rights Florida
Rachel Rall with Three Rivers Legal Services

VENDORS:
Center for Independent Living
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
Disability Rights Florida
Gainesville Fire Rescue Community Resource Paramedicine
Alachua County Library District
Elder Options
Alachua County Emergency Management
Sugar Dogs International, Inc.
Community Hospice and Palliative Care
Regiional Transis System (RTS)
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.
United Way of North Central Florida
Meridian Healthcare
Elder Care

Calling all parents of preschoolers! ✨

Do you have a child ages 3 to 5? Curious about how Assistive Technology (AT) can support their development? Join us for a fun and informative virtual training hosted by FAAST and Step Up AT!

🧠 Learn simple trials, tools, and tricks to support your child’s: language, literacy, attention, and motor skills!

🗓 Wednesday, April 16th
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Virtual – join from anywhere!

👉 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BuRvZplqQ_uiGCyTnUTokw#/registration

Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your child’s growth and development!

The CIL is teaming up with Spurrier’s Gridiron Grill for a special Amazing Give event — and we’d love for you to join us!

📅 Thursday, April 24th
🕓 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Spurrier’s Gridiron Grill

Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting a powerful mission – empowering people with disabilities to achieve their goals for independence.

✨ A portion of the evening’s proceeds will directly support CILNCF’s programs, services, and operations — making a real difference in our community.

Recently, our staff member Andrea visited Project Looking Ahead at Hernando HS for a fun and engaging Soft Skills workshop on teamwork. Students competed to build the tallest free-standing structure using only marshmallows and dry spaghetti. Congrats to the winning team—Jicelia, Skipper, Chen, and Max—for reaching an impressive height of 28 inches! 🙌

This activity highlighted the importance of communication, collaboration, and creativity. We’re so proud of everyone’s effort and teamwork!

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Last year, thanks to YOUR generosity, we raised over $10,035 to support individuals with disabilities in our community. Every dollar went to work—funding services that promote independence, dignity, and opportunity. 💙

Your donation does provides hope. It offers freedom. Here’s why your support matters:

✅ You empower independence through ramps, job training, assistive tech, & more
✅ You make a real, immediate impact in someone’s daily life
✅ You support local lives—right here in your community
✅ You help bridge accessibility gaps
✅ You’re part of something bigger—a movement for a more accessible future

🗓️ Mark your calendar for April 24th.

📢 Spread the word. Share this post. 💛 Be part of something amazing.

🌟 Get Ready to Celebrate Incredible Talents! ✨

Join us for a spectacular Talent Show, showcasing the amazing skills and vibrant spirit of our disability community! 🎤🎨🎭🕺

📅 Date: Friday, April 4th
🕒 Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
📍 Location: CIL Gainesville
222 SW 36th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32607

Everyone is welcome to participate or simply come and cheer on the performers! Let’s gather together to celebrate each other’s unique abilities and talents.

If you or someone you know with a disability would like to showcase your talent, please RSVP by scanning the QR code on our flyer or by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/a225FztE8ZCeLheZ8

🚨 RSVP Deadline: Friday, March 28th 🚨

Your timely RSVP helps us ensure everyone has a fantastic experience! Feel free to share this post and invite friends, family, and anyone interested in a joyful evening of talent and community.

Questions? We’re here to help—reach out anytime!

Let’s shine bright together! 🌟

We had an incredible time hosting the Project SEARCH interns for an exciting day at CIL! From tackling a thrilling escape room challenge to sharing a delicious pizza lunch, the day was filled with teamwork, problem-solving, and plenty of laughter.

A huge shoutout to these incredible interns for their dedication and enthusiasm! This experience was more than just fun—it reinforced collaboration, critical thinking, and the power of working together. 👏

Project SEARCH interns have been gaining valuable hands-on experience across various hospital departments, including Nursing, Linens, Kitchen, Guest Services, and Patient Transportation. Each step of their journey is helping them grow toward personal independence and prepare for meaningful employment, ideally within UF Health. 🏥💼

The Project SEARCH 2025 class:
Front row from right: Jamie, Maurice, Ashley, Danniell
Second row from right: Stephanie, Haywood, Shakari, Braeden and Trey

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