Vermont Center for Independent Living

03/31/2026

VCIL Honors Trans Visibility Day 2026!

03/27/2026

Last Friday, we said goodbye to two incredible coworkers, Alyssa Brink and Linda Schindler. 💙

Alyssa and Linda, thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and positivity you brought to VCIL. Your impact hasn't gone unnoticed--you've made a difference not only in the work you've done, but in the people around you as well.

We wish you both nothing but success and happiness in you next chapters. You will be missed! 💫

03/26/2026

https://thebridgevt.org/2026/03/rev-up-vt-aims-to-empower-the-disability-vote/

Dawn Fancher wanted to vote on the Plainfield town budget at this year’s Town Meeting Day on March 3. But due to a disability, they couldn’t attend in person — and the ballot they received didn’t include that question.  “Our town does floor vote for the town budgets … so I was not able ...

03/24/2026

We saw this today and wanted to share our sadness. Rick was a staple within the Montpelier community and he would often help VCIL and VT Coalition for Disability Rights in documenting activities including Disability Awareness Day. He would stop by often to the office. Sending love to his family and friends.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Richard (Rick) Glenn McMahan on Feb. 16, 2026 at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vermont. He was born on July 11, 1953 in Terre Haute, Indiana, and grew up in Freeport, Long Island. Avid. Defined as “characterized by enthusiasm an...

03/19/2026

Get your tickets for this Saturday night- PREMIERE VIRTUAL SCREENING!! Check out the trailer here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-singular-they-virtual-premiere-tickets-1984063845371?fbclid=IwY2xjawQpUGtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeFsrQ1x-VnPEs74sUQdqSDxNeGE_HAb1eQD5BEVEsWYsqpTlUb08eZu3bBhs_aem_5OJXot37-lhJqhDpNp0vaQ

World premiere of Toby MacNutt's solo film, A Singular They: a self-portrait in dance, with ground, aerial, and mobility apparatus.

03/19/2026

“We are so excited to share that we are now accepting artist submissions for Disabled Women Make History (and Art), an art show hosted by DEN and the Toledo Museum of Artcelebrating disabled women!

We invite women with disabilities to submit their art for consideration to be displayed as part of this unique event. We will select a total of 30 artists for the in-person event, with the possibility of selecting additional artists for a virtual component of the show. Artists selected will be invited to display their work at this event and receive admission to two exclusive workshops to enhance their skills in marketing themselves and their artwork.

The opening reception for this show will be on June 20, 2026, and the show will remain on display through July 31, 2026 in celebration of Disability Pride Month! For more information, visit https://www.disabilityempowhernetwork.org/dwmha

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 11:59pm ET on April 19th, 2026

If you have any questions, please feel free to email event organizers, Katie Shelley and Sophie Poost, at KShelley@toledomuseum.org or sophie@disabilityempowhernetwork.org”

The opening reception for this show will be on June 20, 2026, and the show will remain on display through July 31, 2026 in celebration of Disability Pride Month!

03/18/2026

On March 21st at 7:00pm there is a solo dance film entirely designed and performed by Toby MacNutt. Use this link: https://www.tobymacnutt.com/dance/a-singular-they/ to check out the trailer, and get tickets for this performance and information on how to share widely. This is a premiere and VCIL is thrilled to be a sponsor of it. Hope to see you there!

A Singular They is an evening-length solo dance film, bringing together many of my ways of being embodied in the world, overlapping and shifting, the same way I live them. Pieces are created by me and five collaborating choreographers who can draw out certain facets of my experience and let them shine. Different solos use different apparatuses and engage different elements of identity and embodiment, including an outsider's approach to masculinity, the way time changes with chronic pain, and what it's like to find freedom.

It has been designed with community access in mind, including its virtual format, sliding scale tickets, audio description, captions, and other features. For more access info, see the FAQ; you may also be interested in the pre-show text/audio tour or the audio described trailers

A Singular They Work In Progress Showing: Nov 28, 7pm Eastern, online via the New England Center for Circus Arts GET TICKETS Change is the universal aspect of all these sources of story. Story is something moving, something happening, something or somebody changing.Ursula K Le Guin Photo by Robyn Ni...

03/18/2026

We sure do miss her. 💔

March 18th marked the one year anniversary since the passing of our beloved Deborah. We miss her all the time. We also know that the work and dedication to Independent Living over her life continues to impact our society every single day. We pause and remember how important she is to us. We are still grieving and want to extend our love to her family as we move past this first anniversary.
Share with us your favorite stories, memories and pictures of Deb so that we may continue to support each other.

All our love,
Sarah Launderville

03/15/2026

Today is long COVID awareness day. Our appreciation to Krista Coombs, VCIL advocate who works tirelessly to support and advance the rights of people with long COVID.

03/05/2026

The right to vote and participate in local elections is a civil right.

The rights of disabled Vermonters are being violated right now in 153 towns around the state.

“The amount of people participating in our democracy is going to shrink," one advocate said.

03/03/2026

Do you live in an Australian ballot town? If so you have several options to vote today even if you cannot go inside your polling location:
-Request that Justices of the Peace bring your ballot to your house
-Request curbside voting
-Request an emailed ballot

Unfortunately the lack of Australian ballots in 68% of Vermont towns means that none of the above options are available for people who live in floor vote towns.

In these towns, people are required to go to town meeting and sit there for hours at a time in order to vote on town and school budgets and elected officials.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.