Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida

01/27/2026

Sharing NDI and the New Disabled South released a research report on the intersection of workers & technology rights. We’re highlighting the importance of workplace accommodation and the difficulties that people with disabilities face while applying.

Read the full report at https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/reports/intersection-technology-disability-worker-rights/.

01/26/2026

Sharing one other weather update.

01/26/2026

Sharing weather models.

Get ready for cold morning lows this week in the 20s/30s. Expect all 7 freezing mornings inland.

01/26/2026

Get ready to discover the life-changing world of Assistive Technology (AT)! Whether at work, in the classroom, or just navigating daily life, AT is all about empowering people with disabilities to smash goals and gain independence. From boosting mobility to opening new lines of communication, these tools make the "impossible" possible!

The coolest thing about AT? It’s a massive spectrum of innovation! It can be "no-tech" (like a trusty pencil grip or a handheld magnifier) or "high-tech" (like mind-blowing eye-tracking software).

When picking the right tool for your child, remember: high-tech doesn't always mean better tech! The best solution is simply the one that works for your child. Sometimes the most effective choice is the simplest and most low-profile one.

If you’re in the Florida Panhandle, you have an incredible resource right in your backyard! CIL of Northwest Florida (CILNWF) serves as the Gulf Coast Regional Demonstration and Recycle/Reuse Center for the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST).

We are here to cheer you on and get you connected! Our team responds to information requests and bridges the gap between you and the agencies, funding sources, or products you need. With access to a massive, up-to-date database of disability resources, we make sure you have everything you need to make informed, confident decisions about AT.

CILNWF envisions a world where people with disabilities have freedom, choice, and control over all aspects of their lives so they can fully and equally participate in society. Call us at 850-595-5566 or email us at info@cilnwf.org if you need any assistance.

01/24/2026

ADA National Network Learning Session: “Unleashing Service Animal Best Practices in Healthcare Settings"
February 19, 2025
2:30 PM Eastern Time - 1:30 PM Central Time


The ADA sets clear rules for service animals, yet real-world application in healthcare is rarely one-size-fits-all. This session goes beyond the two allowable questions to examine policies, procedures, and practices across emergency, outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care settings. Through real-world scenarios, participants will explore rights and responsibilities to harness greater understanding of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe the rights and responsibilities of service dog handlers, healthcare providers, patients, and visitors within healthcare settings.
Differentiate how service animal policies, procedures, and practices may appropriately vary across emergency, outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care environments.
Identify best practices that promote compliance, safety, and patient-centered care when service animals are present.
Presenters:
Laura Lee Putzback is Executive Director of Service Dog Alliance, Inc., an all-volunteer nonprofit promoting safe, unfettered access for service animal handlers. With 30+ years in health and human services, she provides community education to implement practical ADA-compliant strategies.

She is co-facilitator of the Florida ADA Coordinator Network and a member of the ADA National Train the Leader Network. Laura Lee is a certified ADA Coordinator and has a Bachelor of Science in Human and Social Services Administration from Bellevue University.

Register early! https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yNmGPpN2QpGcIQtF9c400g

FAAST, Inc. United Way of West FloridaUnited Way Emerald Coast IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Sunday's Child The Arc Gateway Autism Pensacola Inc The Arc Gateway PALS John Collins Navarre Chamber The Seven Project - Adaptive Fitness Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida Mari Marcanio Carolyn Grawi Escambia County Crestview Resource Center Emerald Coast Council on Aging 211 Northwest Florida Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of CommerceGreater Pensacola Chamber Autism Speaks

The ADA sets clear rules for service animals, yet real-world application in healthcare is rarely one-size-fits-all. This session goes beyond the two allowable questions to examine policies, procedures, and practices across emergency, outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care settings. Through real-w...

01/24/2026

Escambia County Improves 911 Safety Response System — Next Generation — Diana Arnold and CIL Northwest Florida provide statement on WEAR-TV News.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Escambia County Public Safety Department's 911 system is getting a facelift.

01/24/2026

Ed Roberts Day is celebrated annually on January 23 to honor the "father of independent living" and pioneering disability rights activist, Edward Verne Roberts. That day commemorates his fight for accessibility and the right for people with disabilities to live independently, marked by his work in founding the first Center for Independent Living.

Ed Roberts (1939–1995) was a trailblazer who contracted polio at age 14, later becoming a leading advocate for disability rights, including pushing for access to education at UC Berkeley.

He founded the Physically Disabled Students Program and the first Center for Independent Living, which shifted focus from institutionalization to community-based

His work laid the groundwork for civil rights protections, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

FAAST, Inc. United Way of West Florida IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Sunday's Child The Arc Gateway Autism Pensacola Inc The Arc Gateway PALS Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida Navarre Chamber The Seven Project - Adaptive Fitness Escambia County Carolyn Grawi John Collins Mari Marcanio Crestview Resource Center Emerald Coast Council on Aging United Way Eglin Federal Credit Union

01/23/2026

Winter storm will bring Florida Panhandle temperatures into low 20s. The Pensacola area and the greater Florida Panhandle now seem poised to dodge any major impacts from an approaching winter storm, but will face what are likely to be the coldest temperatures of the season. What AccuWeather is calling a “high-impact” winter storm is set to bring snow and ice across more than two dozen states, from Texas through the Carolinas and Maine, starting on Jan. 23. While some uncertainty still remains in the forecast, any potential mix of freezing rain and sleet appears to mostly be isolated over the northeastern tip of the National Weather Service office in Mobile’s coverage area, which extends to southeastern Mississippi and south-central Alabama. The Florida Panhandle can expect rounds of showers starting today (Thursday) through Sunday night, according to the latest NWS forecast. High temperatures will reach near 70 degrees over the same time period before dropping around 20 degrees on Monday. SOURCE: https://www.pnj.com/story/weather/2026/01/22/florida-panhandle-winter-storm-impact/88300968007/

Additional Weather Source: National Weather Service, https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.216&lat=30.463

We want to share an important reminder as the Southeast U.S. prepares for a dangerous upcoming winter storm. If you are in immediate danger or have an emergency, call 911 right away. During and after the storm, check on your neighbors, friends, and family members who may need extra support, including older adults and people with disabilities.

Keep these tips in mind.

• Keep emergency supplies together in an easy to reach place, including flashlights, batteries, water, and non-perishable food.
• Put all medications in a water-tight bag in case you need to move to a safer location.
• Make sure your phone, medical devices, wheelchairs, and backup batteries are fully charged. There is a potential for power outages with this storm. If your medical equipment requires electricity, have a plan to relocate to a place with power.
• Allow faucets to slightly drip to help prevent frozen pipes. Cover exposed pipes with insulation or foam, if possible.
• Cover gaps at windows and doors with blankets or towels to prevent drafts at doors and windows.
• Should you need help with food, shelter, utility assistance, or other community resources, you can dial 211.
Basic Needs: Food, housing assistance, utility help, clothing.
Health: Mental health, substance abuse support, clinics, prescription assistance.

Helpful Fact Sheets from the ADA National Network

Bedside Emergency Supply Kit Checklist
Web: adata.org/factsheet/bedside-checklist

Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery-Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices
Web: adata.org/factsheet/emergency-power

Emergency Supply Kits
Web: adata.org/factsheet/emergency-supply

Always engaged. Always essential. Always here to assist. Call us at 850-595-5566 or email us at info@cilnwf.org if you need any assistance.

01/22/2026

Interesting low tech that may be useful to individuals with less use of their hands. Check out their BRAND NEW Cap Cracker!
Source: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2058109375029460

CIL is always Engaged!
CIL is always Essential!
CIL is always Here to Assist!

CILNWF envisions a world where people with disabilities have freedom, choice, and control over all aspects of their lives so they can fully and equally participate in society. Call us at 850-595-5566 or email us at info@cilnwf.org if you need any assistance.

01/21/2026

Major Winter Storm Targets The South, East Friday Into The Weekend With Potentially Damaging Ice, Heavy Snow

A winter storm is expected across the South beginning Friday and the East this weekend. A winter storm is expected across the South beginning Friday and the East this weekend. There is a lot of wiggle room here, but check back with us frequently to see if your area could be impacted.

A major, widespread winter storm is likely from the South into parts of the East Friday into the weekend that could spread damaging ice and heavy snow for millions from Texas and Oklahoma to the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states.

The storm has been named Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel. This is coming after parts of the South just saw snow last weekend.

Source: https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/2026-01-19-rain-snow-ice-mix-south-southeast

01/19/2026

To mark the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., and often referred to as MLK Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law and civil society. The movement led to several groundbreaking legislative reforms in the United States.

Born in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr.'s actual birthday is January 15 (which in 1929 fell on a Tuesday). The earliest Monday for this holiday is January 15 and the latest is January 21. The Monday observance is similar for those federal holidays which fall under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. Official observance in each state's law as well as federal law occurred in 2000.

Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr._Day

Our office is closed today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. We will reopen tomorrow at 8AM.

CILNWF promotes, educates, facilitates, assists and advocates with and on behalf of people with disabilities, in partnership with their communities, to achieve their goals for independence. Call us at 850-595-5566 or email us at info@cilnwf.org if you need any assistance.

01/18/2026

Please share your thoughts with this accessibility survey for Tippen Park Playground for Pensacola Parks & Recreation. Please share.

Tippin Park Playground Accessibility Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tippin-park
Share ideas and feedback for the upcoming Tippin Park Playground redesign. Along with traditional playground features, we’re focused on incorporating accessible and sensory-friendly elements to ensure every child can enjoy the space. Our goal is to create a playground that is welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for children of all abilities. Thank you for taking the time to share your input and help shape this community space.

WEAR ABC 3 News, Pensacola Autism Pensacola Inc The Arc Gateway United Way of West Florida IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Sunday's Child The Arc Gateway PALS

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.