News

Cheers for Spring!

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As the birds chirp and the flowers bloom, we’re welcoming the first day of spring with open arms and joyful hearts here at The CIL 🌼

Today marks a time of renewal, growth, and endless possibilities. Just like the vibrant flowers in a spring garden, our community continues to bloom with resilience, creativity, and strength. 🌻

Let’s celebrate this beautiful season by spreading kindness, embracing diversity, and cherishing every moment together. Whether you’re planting seeds of hope, blooming in new opportunities, or simply enjoying the sunshine, we’re here to support and uplift each other every step of the way. 🌱

ID: Graphic is yellow with spring flowers in the bottom left corner and top right corner. A darker yellow circle is displayed on in the top corner and bottom right corner. “Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it’s a rebirth of the spirit. – Toni Sorenson” is written in the center of the graphic.

Marion County Emergency PreParedness EXPO | TUESDAY, March 26th!

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🚨 Attention Marion County Residents! 🚨

Mark your calendars for the Marion County Emergency PreParedness EXPO happening TUESDAY, March 26th!

This FREE event is designed to equip everyone in our community, especially those with disabilities, with the knowledge and resources needed to tackle any emergency situation.

Date: TUESDAY, March 26, 2024

Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: College of Central Florida, Ewers Century Center

3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474

REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emergency-preparedness-expo-for-people-with-disabilities-in-marion-county-tickets-688161990037?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

ID: Graphic includes all the event information provided above.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Hey there, lucky leprechauns! 🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the whole gang at CIL! May your day be a treasure trove of laughter, luck, and the cozy vibes of community! As we deck ourselves out in shamrocks and paint the town green, our hearts overflow with gratitude for getting to share this special day with all of you. While we’re out there celebrating, let’s not forget the real magic of St. Paddy’s – the power of togetherness and the joy of inclusivity. Let’s be each other’s lucky charms, lifting spirits and spreading kindness wherever we roam! 🌈

ID: Graphic displays an illustration of a green Irish lucky shamrock. There is green text circling the shamrock that reads, “gratitude • community • generosity • luck • resilience”

Team Social at The Cade Museum!

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We are continuing to highlight our most recent team socials! At the beginning of last month, the HSHT and FAAST teams enjoyed their time away from the office with a yummy lunch at Harry’s and a visit to the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. They explored exhibits that featured the history of animation, the story of toilets (exhibit is actually in the bathrooms!), and of course the invention of Gatorade. The museum is named after Dr. James Robert Cade, Gatorade’s lead inventor.

The team had a great time relaxing and enjoying their time together, and we are so happy to be able to continue providing these activities for our amazing staff who work so hard each and every day!

ID: Graphic has a vibrant purple background and contains 3 photos. The photo on the left shows (left to right) Niusha, Claudia, and Amy standing outside the Cade Museum under the sign. The top right photo shows (left to right) Claudia, Amy, and Niusha sitting at their table at Harry’s restaurant, enjoying a meal. The bottom right photo shows (left to right) Cade staff member, Niusha, Amy, and Claudia in the Fabrication (Fab) Lab, we’re standing around their 19th century printing press and pretending to use it as they did back in the day.

Alachua County Emergency PreParedness EXPO | THURSDAY, March 14th!

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🚨 Attention Alachua County Residents! 🚨

Mark your calendars for the Alachua County Emergency PreParedness EXPO happening THURSDAY, March 14th!

This FREE event is designed to equip everyone in our community, especially those with disabilities, with the knowledge and resources needed to tackle any emergency situation.

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Senior Recreation Center
5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32653

REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emergency-preparedness-expo-for-people-with-disabilities-in-alachua-county-registration-718046706027?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

*PLEASE NOTE: ADA CERTIFIED CONSUMERS WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE FOR FREE ON MV TRANSPORTATION, TO AND FROM THE EVENT ON THAT DAY. PLEASE BE SURE TO SCHEDULE YOUR RIDE AT LEAST 24HRS IN ADVANCE.

Employment Team Social!

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Our Employment Program staff had a great time at their February team social! Lauren, Clara, and Brandon visited CAVA for a Greek lunch and the Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary. They met the owner Kari and the staff Diane who toured them around much of the 42 acre location. Many of the primates there come from inhumane backgrounds, but luckily, live a life of luxury now that they are in Ms. Kari’s hands! Thanks so much Employment Team for all that you do!

ID: There are four images in the graphic. The top left photo is of two Marmosets holding on to the fence and looking outwards. The top right photo is of Goldie Hawn and Udi, they are their biggest spider monkeys. The bottom left photo is of a black tufted-eared marmoset sitting in its enclosure. The bottom right photo is of a cottontop tamarin climbing the fence. The background is green and there is a blue box in the center that reads “Employment team social!” in white letters. The CILNCF logo is in the top right corner.

Vaccine Clinic: March 14 | 8 am – 1 pm

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Protect yourself, your family, and your community! Come get your seasonal flu and Covid-19 vaccines at our upcoming event on March 14, 2024 from 8:00am – 1:00pm at the Senior Recreation Center in Gainesville.

ASL interpreters will be provided on-site and the first 45 people who receive vaccinations will be given a $10 Walmart or Publix gift card!

For additional accommodation requests, contact Emily Berndt at email eberndt@cilncf.org, by phone at (352) 378-7474, or via video phone at (352) 240-3079.

ID: Ad for an upcoming accessible vaccine clinic in Gainesville Florida on March 14th, 2024 from 8AM to 1PM. There are three organization logos features, including Disability Rights Florida, the Center for Independent Living, and USAging. The address listed is 5701 NW 34th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32653. There is a graphic of a green stick figure with arms stretched out, inside of a heart, with three plus signs around it. There is also a logo for ASL interpreting, which is offered on-site.

CORE Team February Social!

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The CORE Team had a great time at their social this past month! They met at the indoor pavilion at the Veterans Memorial Park for a game day, and kicked off the festivities with a breakfast of bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and coffee! While enjoying the breakfast spread, they all introduced themselves for the new people in their group. They also had snacks of blueberry muffins and pretzels while playing games throughout the morning. Everyone had a blast learning more about each other while playing cards, learning a new Monopoly card game, and playing several rounds of Dominos. For lunch, they had a Publix pizza roll platter (with a happy face on it!), chips, veggies and dip, then cookies and brownies for dessert! It was a wonderful day away from the office, with lots of food, fun, games and laughter!

ID: There are two photos shown in the graphic. The top left photo is a selfie of the CIL CORE team (from left to right) Stephanie, Lucinda, Kevin, Terri, Patricia, Sada, and Colleen taking the photo and holding up a peace sign. They are sitting around a round table playing a game of dominos. The bottom right photo is of Colleen standing in front of the food and holding up the Publix pizza roll platter. The platter has a smiley face on it. The graphic has the CIL logo in the top right corner, with a white background and text that reads “CORE Team Social” in the bottom left corner, with a blue and purple ombre background.

Celebrating February Birthdays!

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We can’t believe another month has already begun, and hope everyone had a fabulous February! Please join us in saying a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to CIL staff members who celebrated birthdays this past month! We hope you all had wonderful birthdays filled with lots of love, family and friendship!

PATRICIA – FEBRUARY 7th
SADA – FEBRUARY 11th
MYRTLE – FEBRUARY 25th

ID: Picture of Myrtle (left), Patricia (middle), and Sada (right) in the Gainesville CIL activity room. They are standing behind a table covered with a black tablecloth and white baby’s breath flowers in a vase to the left. An assortment of colorful sweet treats covers the remaining part of the table: cupcakes (chocolate, carrot cake and red velvet), a whole carrot cake, and mini cheesecakes (plain, strawberry and cookie dough). Myrtle, Patricia and Sada are all smiling and holding 2-3 long-stemmed yellow sunflowers each. Behind them on the light blue wall is a colorful banner that reads, “Happy Birthday” There is a bright green overlay on the picture. “Happy Birthday” is written in white across the bottom, with a white bar that separates it from additional text that reads, “Myrtle, Patricia, & Sada”

Free FAAST Presentation: Friday, March 8th

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Join us for a FREE Presentation for on wearable assistive technology and handheld devices for individuals with low vision or blindness, brought to you by OrCam and the FAAST Program.

Date: Friday, March 8th
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: The Center for Independent Living
222 SW 36th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 33607

Who is it for?
✅ Those who are blind or visually impaired
✅ Anyone with reading challenges or learning differences

Whether you’re seeking independence or supporting a loved one, this event is a must-attend!

For questions, contact Claudia Avendano:
(352) 378 – 7474
cavendano@cilncf.org

ID: graphic includes all the event details shared above. The FAAST and OrCam logos are displayed on the top center and the CILNCF logo is displayed on the bottom right. The background of the graphic has the color blue in the top left, purple in the top right, bright green in the bottom left, and turquoise in the bottom right.