Vermont Center for Independent Living

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.

03/03/2026

Today is Town Meeting Day in Vermont. Disabled Vermonters are being denied the right to participate and vote for school and town budgets and elected officials in over 150 towns.

This goes against the ADA and state laws.

Here's what the Vermont Secretary of State had to say about that:

“We can’t burn the place down because we don’t like what they do in terms of accessibility with their local elections..."
-Sarah Copeland Hanzas

Were you denied your rights today?

We invite you to join the new REV UP Vermont coalition at our first meeting on March 12th. Details in the comments below.

“It's a really heartbreaking example of who gets left behind in systems that are not built for everyone.”

02/18/2026

When we’re all spending more time indoors, good air quality matters more than ever. Air purifiers can help improve air quality, especially during the colder months when opening windows isn’t always an option.

Efficiency Vermont now offers up to $75 cash back on qualified air purifiers for Vermont residents and businesses.

Air purifiers are especially helpful for people with asthma or allergies, but everyone benefits from cleaner indoor air. They can help filter out:
Smoke
Pet dander
Dust
Unpleasant smells

If you’re shopping for an air purifier, look for ENERGY STAR® certified models with HEPA filters for the best performance. Learn more and find eligible models here:
https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/air-purifiers

Stay cozy and breathe clean this season!

Get $50-$75 back on qualifying ENERGY STAR air purifiers.

02/18/2026

TOPIC: I’m Able: A Black History Story of Strength, Disability, and Becoming

Why Discuss This for Black History Month?

Black history is not only found in the past—it lives in our bodies, our stories, and our survival. In I’m Able, Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie shares a deeply personal story of growing up Black and disabled while navigating systems not built for her body, voice, or belonging. This memoir expands Black history to include disability, vulnerability, and the quiet courage of becoming visible in a world that often looks away. I’m Able reminds us that Black resilience is not just about endurance, it is about identity, dignity, and the right to define ability on our own terms.
I believe I am not just telling my story, I am widening the story of Black history itself, and I would like to frame my memoir as part of Living Black History, not just past heroes:
I will be addressing these three simple ideas:
1. Black History is also Body History
2.”I’m Able”Is a Counter-Story
3. Becoming is an Act of Resistance

02/15/2026

Thank You Valentines Phantom for all the LOVE 💕
and thank you, Melissa Marden! Photo Credit for getting this pic!

02/13/2026

02/13/2026

“VCIL helped me stay in my home by building a ramp and modifying my bathroom. Before, I had to figure out if I was able to shower if I felt well enough. When they put a handicap bathroom in for me, I could at least feel clean and feel better.
In a nursing home you don't have many
rights and what kind of life is that?”