Western Reserve Independent Living Center

12/18/2025

The Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences at the University of Washington (CREATE UW) is conducting a research study to understand how diverse people with disabilities use AI tools, particularly how they navigate their communication, behavior, and self-expression when using AI. Check this link to learn more! - https://mailchi.mp/.../april-weekly-membership-email-june...
Alt Text: AI and Accessibility Research Study. We want to understand how diverse people with disabilities interact with AI technology.

The Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences at the University of Washington (CREATE UW) is conducting a research study to understand how diverse people with disabilities use AI tools, particularly how they navigate their communication, behavior, and self-expression when using AI. Check this link to learn more! - https://mailchi.mp/8d2b1319bda2/april-weekly-membership-email-june-7-13889416

Alt Text: AI and Accessibility Research Study. We want to understand how diverse people with disabilities interact with AI technology.

12/18/2025

Protect the right to live independently—join NCIL’s Protect IL Campaign today: https://bit.ly/48HxsoA

Join the Protect Independent Living Campaign!

Learn more / donate: https://bit.ly/48HxsoA

For over 40 years, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has worked to ensure that people with disabilities have the same right as anyone else: to live independently, in their own homes, and as part of their communities.

Today, that right faces new uncertainty. Shifts in federal funding and oversight have created instability for the nationwide network of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs).

These organizations provide critical services and advocacy every day, helping people transition out of institutions, securing housing, making homes accessible, providing peer mentoring, and ensuring access to healthcare, education, and employment.

When funding is disrupted, lives are disrupted. Without support, people risk losing their independence, being forced into costly institutions, or going without essential services.

That’s why NCIL is launching the Protect IL Campaign. This campaign will defend the infrastructure that makes supports and service delivery possible and stronger.

Together, we can protect what matters most: the freedom of every person with a disability to live in their own home, make their own choices, and participate fully in community life.

Join us. Protect Independent Living.

Image: Protect Independent Living Logo features a black umbrella. Beneath, the National Council on Independent Living logo features a multi-colored fingerprint.

12/17/2025

🌍 December is Learn a Foreign Language Month—Celebrate ASL!
American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich, visual language with its own grammar, culture, and heritage. Learning ASL builds bridges, supports inclusive communication, and strengthens connections with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. 💬✨
Want to get started? Try SignSchool https://www.signschool.com/ — a free, interactive app that lets you learn ASL anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re starting with the ABCs or refining your signing skills, this month is the perfect time to dive in!

🌍 Learn a Foreign Language Month: Celebrate ASL!

December is Learn a Foreign Language Month—a great opportunity to explore languages that open doors to new cultures, perspectives, and communities.

American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich, visual language with its own grammar, structure, and cultural heritage. Learning ASL not only supports inclusive communication but also strengthens connections with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Whether you’re starting with the ABCs or refining your signing skills, this month is a perfect time to dive in.

12/17/2025

"Hundreds of malls across the nation are set to welcome individuals with disabilities and their families to meet Santa in a sensory-friendly environment."
Read more from Disability Scoop about sensory-friendly Santa here: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/.../sensory.../31753/

With the holiday season underway, kids with disabilities coast to coast will have the chance to meet Santa Claus in a calm setting that's been tailored to their needs.

12/17/2025

Help The Salvation Army reach their 2026 goal for vital social service programs. Share, spread the word, and encourage your friends & family to give at the Red Kettle. ❤️
Merry Christmas & thank you for making a difference! 🎁✨

We are closing the gap - but we can't let up until we've reached the mark. Help us reach our goal for our social service programs in 2026 by sharing this post and encouraging your friends and family to donate at the Red Kettle. Merry Christmas!

12/12/2025

❄️ Cold weather is settling in across Ohio this weekend—and winter is just beginning.
For older adults on fixed or limited incomes, high home energy costs can be tough.
The Ohio Department of Aging, together with partner agencies, offers programs to help eligible older Ohioans stay safe and warm.

It’s going to be bitterly cold across parts of Ohio this weekend. And winter is just revving up.

Home energy costs can be challenging for Ohioans on fixed or low incomes. The Ohio Department of Aging partners with several agencies and Ohio’s aging network to provide programs and information to help eligible older Ohioans.

Find more information here: https://aging.ohio.gov/care-and-living/get-help/understand-your-benefits/energy-assistance

12/12/2025

❄️ Winter can be tough, but safety should never be out of reach. These practical tips help people with disabilities stay safe, warm, and independent all season long. 🧣🛷


https://udservices.org/winter-safety-tips-people-with-disabilities/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOpBqFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeesEyT1og7ELQZSCE_dGH38Xz3lJ7ZhW7kxIBq0uIzkZUJ7jXe_eYUVBAWiQ_aem_rtD37rGgt7MRTAzcZbpCbA

Winter weather can be dangerous for anyone, but these risks are particularly acute for seniors and people with disabilities. Find out how you can stay safe.

12/11/2025

The U.S. Department of Education is bringing back hundreds of staffers to tackle a backlog of civil rights cases — including disability discrimination complaints — after trying for months to fire them.

12/09/2025

Holiday hustle can be overwhelming—crowds, noise, lights, and stress. 🌟 Remember to take small intentional breaks: step into a quiet corner, walk outside, reset in your car, or lean on comfort items. Little resets make the season more manageable!

Last-minute shopping, crowded stores, loud music, bright lights—sometimes the holiday season is a lot!

If you or someone you know needs a break from seasonal overload, here are simple things you can do and places you can go to recharge:

✨ Find a quiet corner. Step into a bookstore aisle, an uncrowded lobby, or a calm hallway to take in a moment of stillness.

🌲 Reset in nature. A short walk outside, even just around the block or through a nearby park, can help calm sensory overwhelm.

🚗 Use your car as a controlled retreat. Lower the lights, adjust the temperature, and take a few deep breaths in a comfortable and familiar space.

📱 Create a mini-break with your phone. Paired with noise-canceling headphones and calming playlists or grounding apps, your phone can provide a quick escape anywhere.

🧣 Bring a comfort item! Weighted lap pads, fidgets, or your favorite soft scarf can offer grounding support in busy environments.

Remember: small intentional resets can help you make the holiday season more manageable!

12/05/2025

Please enjoy the December 2025 Edition of Independent Living, WRILC's Consumer Newsletter.
If you would like to receive an email or mailed copy of this newsletter by the first of each month, please call us and find out about the benefits of being a consumer with WRILC: 330-372-3325. You can also check out our website for other accessible options. www.wrilc.org

12/04/2025

📢 In recent weeks, the administration announced plans to move more than 100 programs into agencies with little or no experience running them. These transfers strip the Department of its core functions and threaten to unravel the systems that help schools serve students with disabilities and other historically marginalized groups.

Disability advocates are challenging the Trump administration's steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, arguing in a lawsuit that the actions will harm kids with developmental disabilities.

12/03/2025

🌍✨ Today we stand with the global community in honoring the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The 2025 theme — “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress” — reminds us that true progress means equity, accessibility, and inclusion for all.
Let’s raise awareness, break down barriers, and build communities where everyone belongs. 💙

Today we join the global community in recognizing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The 2025 theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress”, calls on all of us to put disability inclusion at the center of our communities, systems, and policies.

Let’s work together to raise awareness, remove barriers, and support full inclusion for all.