News

Thank you for making the Amazing Give 2019 a success!

Posted on by

Thank you to everyone who helped make The Amazing Give 2019 a success for the CIL! We raised OVER $6,500 this year, a record-breaking amount for the Center and $1,500 more than we raised last year. We could not have done it without your generosity and support.

Your donations will help us continue building ramps for those who need accessible home modifications; they will help us continue our High School High Tech youth program and ensure that youth with disabilities can pursue careers in science and technology; and they will help us continue to provide essential transition and employment services – but these are only a few examples of what we can do with your help!

Overall, your contributions will help us to continue striving towards our mission of empowering those with disabilities. 


Thank you again, and we can’t wait to do amazing things with you in the future.

Support the Center in the Amazing Give today!

Posted on by

Today at 6 p.m., The Amazing Give, a 24-hour online fundraiser hosted by the Community Foundation, will commence, giving our generous community an opportunity to directly support the Center for Independent Living’s countless programs. This year, your generous donations will go directly toward supporting our youth programs, including High School High Tech and Transition.

In addition, there will be a Kick-Off tonight at Gainesville’s own Adam’s Rib Co., at 2109 NW 13th Street, with raffle prizes and delicious ribs and barbecue. Supporters will have a chance to win two $20 gift cards to Adam’s Rib Co.

Get ready to give! Please visit the Center for Independent Living’s Amazing Give campaign page to get started at: https://www.theamazinggive.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

Amazing Give- Only One Week Away!

Posted on by

For the fourth year in a row, the Center for Independent Living will be participating in The Amazing Give, a 24-hour online fundraiser that is hosted by the Community Foundation of North Central Florida. The donations raised through the Amazing Give are an essential part of supporting our organization. This event is only ONE WEEK AWAY, so be sure to mark your calendars!

From 6 p.m. on March 20 to 6 p.m. on March 21, you will be able to support our organization by visiting our campaign page at:

https://www.theamazinggive.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

This year, donations raised will directly support our High School High Tech and Transition Services! Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 dollars, and we know we can reach it with your generous support!

In addition, please help us kick-off the Amazing Give at Adam’s Rib Co. on March 20 from 6-8 p.m.! 10% of the proceeds from your meal will be donated to the Center if you mention you’re supporting the CIL for the Amazing Give! Check out the flyer below for more details about the Kick-Off.

Meet Melisa!

Posted on by

Meet Melisa, an alumni of our High School High Tech (HSHT) program who has gone on to do amazing things!

Melisa was a member of HSHT for all four years of her high school career, and she says that HSHT played a “major role in my life and helped me become the person I am today.” Because she grew up with a hearing and learning disability, she knew that her interests would be best served in the support of others.

In pursuance of this goal, Melisa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University Of Central Florida College Of Nursing in Daytona Beach in 2017, after earning her Associate of Arts Degree in Health Science at Santa Fe College. She completed clinical rotations at Halifax Health and Florida Hospital while pursuing her RN degree. In 2018, Melisa was named Neuroscience Floor Rookie of the Year for her outstanding work at Halifax Health Medical Center.

 “I know my internships [with HSHT] were invaluable in helping me achieve my career goals,” she said. She now works as a registered nurse at Halifax Health Medical Center in its Intensive Surgical Care Unit in Daytona Beach, Florida. Way to go, Melisa!

Emergency Preparedness Conference to be held Feb. 26

Posted on by

On Feb. 26, the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Conference for people with disabilities, senior adults and members of the community. The event will be held in the Ed Croskey Center in Ocala from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Please see the flyer below for more details as well as information about registering for this free event.

Attorney Nancy Wright to speak on Guardian Advocacy

Posted on by

Next Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7p.m., the CILNCF will host guest speaker Nancy Wright.

Wright is a local, experienced, special needs attorney, who will be sharing free information with young adults with special needs and/or their families regarding guardianship issues. Nancy will explain the purpose of guardian advocacy and other alternatives families might utilize to assist or make important life decisions for their loved one with special needs.

See the flyer below for further information.

CILNCF to host Diversity and Inclusion Forum

Posted on by

Join us at the CIL Wednesday, February 27th for a Diversity and Inclusion Forum. The forum will feature guest speaker P.J. Jones, Assistant Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs at the University of Florida.

Jones will be discussing a variety of topics that include realizing the benefits of fostering a culture of diversity, considering diversity within the disability community itself, and examining issues related to intersectionality.

By holding this forum, organizer Morgan Fusco, a full-time intern at the Center For Independent Living, says she hopes to “engage current consumers, reach future consumers, and raise community awareness about the issues and topics that impact the independence and lives of people with disabilities.”

This event is free of charge. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this discussion as well as enjoy light refreshments.

See the flyer below for further information!

Sarah’s Story: A Gift to Give

Posted on by

In September of 2016, Sarah came to us, very discouraged. She was working, however, she felt she was going nowhere. She wanted something more for her life. We spent many months looking for janitorial work because she felt that was all she could do. Along the way, we learned that Sarah loved people and had an outgoing personality. When a server position became available at The Village, she applied, with some convincing. She went to the interview and learned about the positive working environment where employees are shown appreciation, along with being able to help others. She left the interview feeling amazed that she had been offered the job. All along, we knew what she was about to learn about herself, over time — that she had a gift to give to others.

Over the year or so that she has been working for The Village, she has been nominated twice for the Wall of Fame and earned Associate of the Month. Cheryl Huntington, Sarah’s Manager, says that Sarah is willing to work hard to change her life and make things better for everyone. Her outgoing personality and hard work ethic prove to be a great combination. She has made a noticeable difference in the lives of those individuals that she has touched.

Sarah has been complimented by others, as well, noting that she always takes extra time with some of the more challenging residents to make sure their needs are met. Ms. Huntington wrote to Sarah, “For your hard work and your honesty, I thank you; for being brave enough to come forward and make a difference, I applaud you; mostly, I am glad that you decided to stay and try something new.”

Kudos, Sarah! It has only been a year. Just think of all that you can accomplish for your future!

2018 CIL Social

Posted on by

Last week, we held our first annual CIL Social in order to give thanks to all of our donors, volunteers, community members and anyone else who has helped us on our mission to empower individuals with disabilities. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without these amazing people, and this social was our way of giving back to our community. We also took this time to reveal our exciting new logo, and we can’t wait to share it with you all! Thank you to everyone who came out! We hope you had as great of a time as we did.