CIL Orlando

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.

02/18/2026

Accessibility lives in the details.

From zero step entrances and wider doorways to clear signage, quiet spaces, and thoughtful lighting, small design choices can have a powerful impact on how people move through and experience a space. When accessibility is considered from the beginning, communities become safer, more welcoming, and more inclusive for everyone.

Designing spaces intentionally allows people to participate, navigate, and belong without barriers. As we look toward the future, CIL Central Florida remains committed to building communities where accessibility is part of the foundation.

Help us build future-ready communities where everyone belongs.

02/17/2026

Kindness can look like a compliment, a helping hand, or simply showing up for someone but one of the most powerful acts of kindness is accessibility.

When spaces, programs, and communities are designed to include everyone from the start, people don’t have to ask to belong, they already do.

This Random Acts of Kindness Day, we invite you to think about how everyday actions, big or small, can help create a more inclusive and accessible world for all.

What can you do to show a random act of kindness? Have you done it already today? Share your thoughts below.

02/12/2026

For 50 years, CIL Central Florida has helped remove barriers and expand access across our community.

For the next 50, we’re focused on building neighborhoods, workplaces, and public spaces where accessibility is the starting point and not a special request.

The future we’re working toward is inclusive by design, creating opportunities for everyone to live, work, and belong.