CIL Orlando

03/20/2026

We’re getting closer but we need your help!

If you haven’t voted for us in the Magic Buckets campaign yet, there’s still time to make an impact. Every vote brings us one step closer to securing funding that directly supports the individuals and families we serve.

It only takes a moment, but it makes a lasting difference.

👉 Cast your vote here: https://www.suncoast.com/Promo/Magic-Buckets

Thank you for showing up, sharing, and supporting our mission!

buckets

03/17/2026

Representation. Matters.

At CIL Central Florida, our DeafVoice team is led by Summer, whose lived experience and leadership help guide programs, advocacy efforts, and communication access initiatives that directly impact the Deaf community. When policies, programs, and services are informed by people with lived experience, they are more responsive, more effective, and more equitable.

Deaf leadership ensures that decisions are not made about the community without the community. By centering Deaf voices in leadership roles, we help create systems where accessibility is built in, communication barriers are reduced, and individuals have greater opportunities to participate, lead, and thrive.

03/16/2026

There are many misconceptions about what it means to be Deaf or hard of hearing. Let’s break down a few common myths.

Myth: Individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing are mute.
Truth: Many Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals are able to speak, though communication preferences vary. Some may use spoken language, others may prefer American Sign Language (ASL), and many use a combination of communication methods depending on the situation.

Myth: Hearing devices give people perfect hearing.
Truth: Devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants can help amplify sound or support how the brain processes sound, but they do not restore hearing entirely. Experiences with hearing devices can vary widely from person to person.

Myth: Everyone who is Deaf or hard of hearing can read lips.
Truth: Lip reading can be extremely difficult, and only a small percentage of speech can be accurately understood this way. Many factors like lighting, facial expressions, and speech patterns can affect how much someone can understand.

Understanding these differences helps create more inclusive spaces where communication access and respect for individual preferences are prioritized.

03/11/2026

We’re proud to see the voices of our community represented in this important conversation.

Recently, our President and CEO, Charlotte, along with our wonderful inter, Andrew, here at the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida had the opportunity to speak with Spectrum News 13 at our Winter Park office about the urgent need for the Right to Repair Act for Mobility Devices.

For many wheelchair users, a mobility device is essential to independence, employment, education, and participation in everyday life. Yet under the current system, individuals can wait weeks or even months for repairs, leaving them without the mobility they rely on to live independently.

The proposed legislation would require manufacturers to provide repair parts, tools, and documentation so wheelchair users and independent repair providers can address issues more quickly and affordably.

We are grateful to our staff and community members who continue to advocate for policies that protect independence, dignity, and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Thank you to Spectrum News 13 for highlighting this critical issue and helping amplify the voices of those directly impacted.

Some users say they do not have access to their wheelchairs for months while they are in the repair shop.

03/10/2026

DeafVoice empowers Deaf individuals through advocacy, leadership development, and meaningful language access ensuring Deaf voices are centered, valued, and heard.

Through self-advocacy, peer support, and community connection, DeafVoice helps remove communication barriers so individuals can fully participate, lead, and shape the communities around them.

03/05/2026

When the Magic scores, our community wins!

We’re participating in Magic Buckets for the Community, powered by Suncoast Credit Union and the Osceola Magic and YOUR vote determines how much funding we receive.

We’re competing for a share of up to $5,000, and every vote makes a difference.

It only takes a minute:
Click the link
Select our name
Submit your vote
Share with friends & family

Vote here: https://www.suncoast.com/Promo/Magic-Buckets

Help us bring these dollars back into the community to continue expanding our impact!

03/04/2026

Communication justice means everyone has the right to understand and be understood across spoken language, ASL, visual communication, captioning, and alternative communication methods.

Access to communication is essential for independence, leadership, and full participation in everyday life. When barriers are removed, people can advocate for themselves, connect with their communities, and make informed choices about their futures and building a world where access is expected and not optional.

03/03/2026

Communication access is a civil right.

This March, we’re highlighting how language equity and inclusive communication open pathways to leadership, independence, and belonging for Deaf and disabled communities, helping build a future where access is expected and everyone can fully participate.

02/27/2026

Community Inclusion and Foundations to Freedom work hand in hand to ensure people with disabilities can live, participate, and thrive in their communities.

Through Community Inclusion, individuals gain the tools and support needed to navigate public spaces, build connections, and fully engage in everyday life. Through Foundations to Freedom, we assist individuals who want to age in place by coordinating home modifications that improve safety, accessibility, and independence.

This is how inclusive futures are built...through access, advocacy, and meaningful support that removes barriers and strengthens communities for everyone.

Help us build future-ready communities where everyone belongs.

02/26/2026

At the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, independence looks different for everyone and that’s exactly why our work matters.

We support children learning to navigate school systems, youth preparing for adulthood, job seekers building meaningful careers, individuals aging safely at home, and members of the Deaf community accessing communication and connection. We also advocate for inclusive communities where people with disabilities can live, work, and belong.

For 50 years, our mission has been rooted in one belief: accessibility should never be an afterthought, it should be the foundation.

Swipe through to learn more about who we serve and how independence takes shape across our community.

02/23/2026

Our President and CEO, Charlotte Leavitt had the privilege of joining fellow Centers for Independent Living from across Florida for CIL Day at the Capitol, where we came together in Tallahassee to advocate for independence, access, and opportunity for the disability community.

Thank you to Representative David Smith, Representative Rita Harris, State Representative Susan Plasencia , Senator Jason Brodeur, Kristen Arrington for Florida, Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith and Representative Anna V. Eskamani for taking the time to connect and learn more about how independent living services are strengthening communities across Central Florida.

During Tuesday evening’s dinner and Wednesday’s legislative meetings, we shared the impact of youth transition services, diversion supports, nursing home transition programs, and community-based solutions like home modifications and durable medical equipment that help individuals remain independent.

With all Florida Centers for Independent Living represented, these conversations reinforced a shared vision for communities where accessibility is the norm and opportunity is available to everyone.

02/20/2026

We are proud to announce Orlando Health, in collaboration with Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Pride, as the Presenting Sponsor of The Power of Independence: A Live Experience Celebrating 50 Years.

For five decades, the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida has worked to remove barriers and expand opportunity for people with disabilities. Partnerships like these help us continue building communities where accessibility is not an afterthought but a starting point.

We are grateful for the leadership and commitment of Orlando Health, Orlando City Soccer Club, and Orlando Pride as we celebrate 50 years of impact and look toward a more inclusive future.

Join us as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and shape the next 50 years together.