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Join CIL Broward every Thursday at 1:30 pm, where you can learn something new, make friends, and receive Peer Support.

CIL Broward is now Accepting Applications for its Leadership CIL Class XI . Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with preference given to those who apply before the end of August. If selected to the program, individuals will meet monthly during the year to develop their leadership ability, network with community leaders, and learn how to serve as disability advocates. PLEASE NOTE: THE PROGRAM MAY TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY OR IN-PERSON; A DECISION ON THIS WILL BE MADE AT A LATER DATE BASED ON THE FEELINGS OF THE CLASS PARTICIPANTS AND CURRENT SAFETY GUIDELINES. The annual leadership program begins with an Opening Retreat in September. The following monthly Program Days will expose participants to the competencies necessary for strong leadership and advocacy. During the program year, participants also work together on a community project designed to put their leadership into practice. The program culminates with a Graduation Reception in May, where class participants mingle with other Leadership CILB alumni. After completing the Leadership CILB program, graduates are encouraged to continue their participation by volunteering, advocating, and serving as advisors to new class members. Graduates are also afforded special networking and educational opportunities. Eligible participants must: · Have a disability. · Commit to full participation and active involvement in the program · Arrange for his/her own transportation to and from Program Day sites and other program meeting locations. · Be willing to be an ambassador of CILB and spokesperson for disability issues. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and corporate sponsorship, we are able to offer scholarships to program participants to cover the program cost – participants are expected to make their own travel arrangements to and from program locations (some transportation assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis). Questions? Contact Jene Kapela, Program Director, at jene@jenekapela.com.

Join CIL Broward every Thursday, where you can learn something new, make friends, and receive Peer Support.

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Still, waiting to do your taxes? Have your taxes prepared by trained IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers at CIL Broward for FREE! By Appointment Only Tuesdays and Thursdays February 1- April 14, 2022

Join us every Thursday from 1:30-2:30 pm for CIL Broward's Independent Living Workshops where you can learn something new, make friends, and receive peer-support. Please RSVP for the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81861072438

The Center for Independent Living of Broward (CILB) would like to thank the Craig H. Nielsen Foundation for their very generous donation for its Housing Assistance Program for People with Disabilities program to remove physical barriers in eleven people with disabilities' homes. Renovations to remove physical barriers and installation of smart technology devices fosters independent living, allowing more individuals with paralysis and other mobility issues to live on their own. Additionally, employment and educational opportunities are increased through skills training, coaching, and job placement services. Benefits counseling and financial literacy courses further aid clients in securing and maintaining financial freedom. The most requested and needed items were wheelchair ramps. Many consumers used plywood or other materials to create makeshift ramps to enter and exit their homes. These ramps create a lot of unnecessary stressors in their lives. Plywood ramps, though convenient and cheap to build, are not ideal. South Florida's rain and heat cause them to deteriorate more quickly, creating a potential for injury. They are also heavy and non-mobile. When the consumer needs a new ramp, they are faced with the additional burden of finding and paying someone to build it. Those who can't afford it have to make do with what they have and hope they aren't injured while trying to get in or out of their homes. Grab bars, shower chairs, and Google Mini devices were also popular items. Most of the consumers served by this project live alone and report worrying about falling. The simple act of bathing could be dangerous for them if they were to slip and fall in their tub or shower. Shower chairs and grab bars in the shower/tub and toilet areas allow them to bathe in a much more relaxing environment, while Google Mini devices will enable them to connect smart devices to things that may be out of their reach. Consumers can access their lights, thermostats, and even open their front door just by using their voice or app on their smartphone, eliminating the need to move or reach for things out of the way and potential for injury such as a fall. Thanks to the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, people with spinal cord injuries can now utilize and enjoy their homes to their fullest! The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation's funding is dedicated to supporting both programs and scientific research to improve the quality of life for those affected by and living with spinal cord injury.

Center for Independent Living of Broward Prevents Man with Cerebral Palsy from Becoming Institutionalized during COVID-19 Crisis. See press release here.