CIL Jacksonville

02/13/2026

Read the full article:

Black History Month 2022: Celebrating Black Disability Activists Both Past and Present

02/04/2026

Did you know that if you require assistance with at least two activities of daily living to attain and maintain employment, you may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $2,330 per month to help offset the cost of your personal care expenses?

The James Patrick Memorial Work Incentive Personal Attendant Services and Employment Assistance (JP-PAS) Program was created by the Florida Legislature in 2002 as a pilot project. The pilot was a success – and in 2008, JP-PAS was established as a permanent, statewide program in Chapter 413.402, Florida Statutes.

Eligibility requirements:
-Individuals must be employed, 18+ years of age, and a FL resident
-May not receive SSI, SSDI or Medicaid HCBS
-Be a United States Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident
-Must require personal assistance services for support for
at least two activities of daily living, such as ambulation,
bathing, dressing, eating, grooming and toileting as
defined in F.S. 429.02

If you fit the criteria, we'd love to chat!

Angie Walker is ready for your call and/or email!

02/03/2026

'Tis the season to CILebrate! Wait... wrong time of year. Let's try that again.

'Tis the season to do your taxes!

Tax season doesn’t have to be complicated. We are here to help!

In partnership with United Way of Northeast Florida's RealSense Prosperity Campaign, CIL will be offering free tax preparation!

Booking Your Appointment is Fast and Free:
-Visit the RealSense Scheduling Page
-Select Tax Prep Site
-Select Service (see below for services available)
-Select Appointment Date

Tax season doesn’t have to be complicated. RealSense provides free tax preparation services. Booking your appointment is fast and free. Schedule Today!

02/03/2026

This support will allow us to expand our smart home demonstration spaces across Florida and develop take-home starter kits. These kits will give individuals the opportunity to try smart home A.T. in their own homes, removing barriers to access and helping people explore technology that supports independence, safety, and daily living.

02/02/2026

Advocacy in action!! Jacksonville Center on Independent Living Executive Director Sharon D***s recounts experiences of disabled Floridians with recent natural disasters during a panel discussion at NCD's January 22 Council meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Keep it up!

Jacksonville Center on Independent Living Executive Director Sharon D***s recounts experiences of disabled Floridians with transportation issues during a panel presentation on accessible transportation in Florida, during NCD's January 22 Council meeting in Orlando, Florida.

01/27/2026

“We know this fight isn’t over.”
— Sharon D***s
Executive Director, CIL Jacksonville

Thank you to all community members, council members, and CIL advocates fighting for independence and empowerment.

Keep up the momentum!

01/25/2026

Community Sneak-Peek Announcement:
The Abilities In Art initiative is expanding and growing into an artisan collective!!

We are kicking off recruitment for artists, craftspeople, dancers, musicians, performers, and more!

Events and meetups will include showcase and exhibition opportunities, along with mentorship, collaboration projects, internships, and entrepreneurship facilitation within CIL Studios.

Warm up your creative engines, and stay tuned for more!

01/23/2026

Dear Community:

Progress! We're pleased to make the update that the JTA Board of Directors voted to postpone any Connexion Plus fare modification until after April 1st. There will be no change to the Connection Plus service or fare at this time. A special Board of Directors subcommittee is being formed to meet with advocates, customers and other potential partners so that the JTA can continue to provide and sustain this premium service. Full details from JTA provided further below.

Thank you to every rider, family member, advocate, and ally who spoke up. Your voices moved the process. Now we have to keep that same momentum to ensure the final outcome protects access, affordability, and quality of life for people with disabilities.CIL Jacksonville and disability community advocates will continue showing up:

City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 27
5:00pm - 9:00pm (please arrive at 4pm)
Council Chamber, City Hall
117 W. Duval St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
No speaking required; your presence alone is tremendous support!

CIL Jacksonville will be handing out free t-shirts to show solidarity

To help us with advocacy for this issue, please leave your feedback at 904.399.8484 ext. 319 (voice message line).

Thank you for helping ensure this information reaches all those who may be impacted.

Thank you — and keep going

Kind regards,

CIL Jacksonville

Read the JTA info here!
https://www.ciljacksonville.org/archives/35483

01/22/2026

Greetings, colleagues:

Following a month of strong advocacy and community engagement, JTA has announced that Connexion Plus services for people with disabilities will not be cut and will remain in place. However, citing “sustainability” as the primary concern, JTA has proposed a six-month pilot program that would significantly increase rider fees.

Under the proposed pilot pricing, users would pay $10 for the first 8 miles of a trip and $3.50 for every mile after that. This is a major change from the prior cost structure, where riders paid $6 for up to 15 miles (more than double the distance) and $2 per mile after 50 miles. These proposed increases raise serious concerns about affordability and access for riders who depend on this service for work, medical care, and daily independence.

As previously discussed, we will continue our advocacy efforts and pursue constructive collaboration with JTA to improve both the affordability and the long-term sustainability of the system—so people with disabilities can continue to use Connexion Plus without being priced out.

To support continued engagement, awareness, and advocacy, we’re sharing the following upcoming public meetings and ask for community support and attendance:

JTA Board Meeting
Thursday, January 22, 2026
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center, Board Room 341 – 3rd Floor

100 LaVilla Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32204
No speaking required; your presence alone is tremendous support!

City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 27
5:00pm - 9:00pm (please arrive at 4pm)
Council Chamber, City Hall
117 W. Duval St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
No speaking required; your presence alone is tremendous support! CIL Jacksonville will be handing out free t-shirts to show solidarity

To help us with advocacy for this issue, please leave your feedback at 904.399.8484 ext. 319 (voice message line).

Thank you for helping ensure this information reaches all those who may be impacted.

Kind regards,

CIL Jacksonville

01/19/2026

Grateful for Dr. King’s dream and the work still calling our names. Happy MLK Day! Here are some of our favorite MLK Jr quotes from around the office!

"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in.” —Speech at the Youth March for Integrated Schools, 1959💗

"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or an animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way."

"There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." This quote inspires perseverance in the ongoing struggle for disability rights and progress, even when it is slow.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort... but where he stands at times of challenge."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

01/08/2026

Community Alert: Paratransit Changes 🚨

JTA plans to modify Connexion Plus beginning Feb 1, 2026, potentially returning to a shared-ride model. This service was created to improve reliability and on-time performance for riders with disabilities — and many in our community have concerns.

Stay informed. Show up. Speak up.

Key Meetings in January:
• Jan 12 – JTAC (4–6 PM)
• Jan 13 – Mayor’s Disability Council (10 AM)
• Jan 13 – City Council (5 PM)
• Jan 22 – JTA Board (2 PM)

To leave feedback, call 904.399.8484, and ask for Jose.

For the full email sent by CIL, click here:
https://tinyurl.com/yd8tpxh2

Accessible transportation is not optional — it’s essential.
Please share.

For news coverage, see the below article:
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/news/community/transportation/jta-discontinue-connexion-plus-disability-transportation-jacksonville/77-1933c3ec-62a2-4570-8a9d-2a89b04aafc7

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is discontinuing Connexion Plus, its door-to-door private transportation program for customers with disabilities.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas Eve & Happy Holidays from CIL Jacksonville!

Click below to read an end-of-year holiday letter from Sharon D***s, Executive Director of CIL Jacksonville.

https://mailchi.mp/ciljacksonville/merry-christmas-happy-holidays-from-cil-jax-bbe3m007ru