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
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
The CIL’s FAAST (Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology) Program provides assistive technology to Floridians with disabilities and their loved ones. Recently, we were happy to host the FAAST Headquarters staff during their annual staff retreat, where they planned out their year and collaborated on what is to come at their organization. Gainesville is the perfect halfway point between Tallahassee (FAAST Headquarters) and the FAAST remote employees in Central Florida. During their visit, they received educational presentations from Florida and Virgin Island Deaf-Blind Collaborative (FAVI) and CIL of North Central Florida. The FAAST team enjoyed their time with us in Gainesville, and we welcome any of our program partners to utilize our space if they are ever in need!
This past week in the Ocala ILS group, Ms. Tammy (a volunteer) came to visit and lead an activity. She brought all the supplies along to make and decorate some hot chocolate Valentine’s mugs! The group made paper hot chocolate mugs with marshmallows on top. Then inside the mugs consumers placed a packet of hot chocolate. They were put in a bag, twist tied shut and ready to give to their favorite valentine the next day. Everyone had a fun time getting in the spirit of Valentine’s Day and creating a homemade give from the heart. Thank you Ms. Tammy from all of us here at the CIL!
We had a great time celebrating Valentine’s Day at the CIL (grade school style!), thanks to our Health and Wellness team! CIL Staff were taken back to their childhoods and had the opportunity to decorate valentine’s boxes with their names on them. Throughout the day, everyone had so much fun sending valentine’s gifts, cards, notes, and candy to their fellow team members. We celebrated with bagels and pastries for breakfast and a large spread for lunch that included wraps, dips, crackers, cheese, fruit and tons of sweet and savory treats! Thanks so much Health and Wellness team, for filling our working Valentine’s Day with so much love and appreciation!
ID: First image has a bright red background with pink and white heart graphics in the top left and bottom right. There is also a white “xoxo” graphic in the center of the graphic. There are four photos shown in the graphic. The photo in the top left is in a heart shaped frame and shows (from left to right) CIL staff members Amy, Debbie, and Myrtle standing in the break room wearing their valentine’s day gear. Debbie is holding her plate of lunch. In the top right photo, the lunch spread is shown featuring a fruit tray, dip tray, wraps, cookies, and chocolate covered strawberries. The bottom left photo shows CIL staff (from left to right) Kelly and Ashlyn standing in the break room wearing matching pink pants. They are standing in front of a heart balloon and the staff’s decorated valentine’s day boxes. The bottom right photo is also in a heart-shaped frame showing off some valentine’s day pretzels and chocolates.
Second image has a light pink background with an assortment of red hearts and red chocolate candies. There are two photos in the graphic, each surrounded by a polaroid frame. The photo on the left shows (from left to right) CIL staff members Clara, Amy, and Cammeron. They are standing in front of the lunch table that has an assortment of fruit, dip, wraps, and cookies. There is an “xoxo” graphic on the polaroid border. The photo on the right shows the staff’s decorated valentine’s day boxes and a red valentine’s day heart balloon in the break room. The polaroid border has a three heart graphic.
Today, we wanted to use today to show our love and support for our consumers, advocates, supporters, and donors. Your belief in our mission drives us forward, and allows us to empower individuals with disabilities!
May your Valentine’s Day be filled with love and cherished moments 💌
Happy Mardi Gras from the CIL! Today we’re celebrating with a HUGE King Cake adorned with purple, green and gold icing, the official colors of Mardi Gras! The Mardi Gras season of feasting and fun begins on January 6th in New Orleans, the twelfth day after Christmas, and ends on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the final day of revelry before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins. Each King Cake has a tiny, plastic baby inside, and the lucky person who receives the slice of cake with the baby will have good fortune throughout the year! This year, Myrtle is our lucky staff member who found the baby, congrats Myrtle! Wishing everyone a wonderful Mardi Gras Day! 
To learn more about Mardi Gras history and traditions, please check out the link below!
https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/
Protect yourself and your family with seasonal vaccines.
There will be an accessible vaccine clinic on February 15th. Flu shots will be available and FREE!
The first 25 people who get a vaccine will get a $10 gift card!
Interpreters will be on-site. For any other accommodation requests, email eberndt@cilncf.org or call (352) 378 – 7474; Video Phone (352) 240-3079.
WOW, we blinked and January was gone, so we are finally sending out our January birthday wishes! Please join us in saying a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to CIL staff members who celebrated birthdays in January! We hope you all had wonderful birthdays celebrating YOU and the start of the new year!
KATHY – JANUARY 6th
MEDJINA – JANUARY 10th
RILEY – JANUARY 25TH
🚨 Calling all Marion County Residents! 🚨
Get ready for the Marion County Emergency PreParedness EXPO – an essential event for everyone in our community, especially those with disabilities, to ensure we’re prepared for any emergency! This FREE expo brings together a wealth of resources, vendors, and speakers dedicated to equipping us with the knowledge and tools we need to stay safe and resilient.
From expert speakers sharing valuable insights to interactive demonstrations and access to a diverse array of vendors, there’s something for everyone at this expo. Whether it’s crafting a personalized emergency plan or learning essential survival skills, this event has you covered. Sign language interpretation will be available.
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: College of Central Florida, Ewers Century Center
3001 SW College Rd., Ocala, FL 34474
REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emergency-preparedness-expo-for-people-with-disabilities-in-marion-county-tickets-688161990037
For more information about the event, please email Kevin Towles at ktowles@cilncf.org or call (352) 368 – 3788
ID: Graphic includes all the information provided above for this event