The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its 33rd anniversary on July 26th, 2023.
Much remains to be accomplished in the United States to make for a truly equitable society for citizens with disabilities. However, the work completed in the name of this act remains undoubtedly noticed in society today.
CIL celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by hosting a panel at our Winter Park office. The panel features Representative Anna V. Eskamani, Representative Rita Harris, and Policy Fellow Hiram Helfman.
The panel discusses in detail the ADA’s impact on the lives of people with disabilities, and the next steps needed to make a truly equitable society.
I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a year like no other. However, despite all the negativity this year has brought, I still have HOPE. I have HOPE that there are still incredible people in this world that want to help others and HOPE that when a person with a disability needs something that can make their life more meaningful and become more independent, that people step up.
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a diagnosis that would change the way I live the rest of my life. This disease has taken so much away from me- my mobility being the most difficult to cope with. My ability to get around on my own has drastically decreased and now I fully rely on my wheelchair to do even the simplest of things like get around my home.
Losing my ability to walk wasn’t the only obstacle I faced. My own home, a place that used to make me feel safe and happy, now made me feel afraid and anxious. The steps leading to my front door seemed like a steep mountain, and if I fell down, I was unsure if I would be able to get back up on my own. Not only did this unexpected diagnosis take a physical toll on me, but also an emotional and mental toll. I felt like a prisoner in my own home. With the isolation came depression.
I knew I needed help, but I did not know where to turn until last year when I was connected with an organization that would change my life forever. On September 21 of 2019, CIL provided me a miracle by building me a ramp. This ramp has truly changed my life. It has given me the ability to be independent, to access my home, and to not feel like a burden to others. It has given me a sense of safety and the ability to reconnect with the world.
Last year I was 1 of the 119 people that CIL helped by providing life changing home modifications like ramps, door widenings, and the installation of grab bars. In addition, CIL provided 73 people with assistive equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and shower chairs to give them the sense of independence they deserve.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, CIL has still been working hard to help people with disabilities in need, giving people struggling that same HOPE that they gave to me. Since March of this year, CIL has received 1 call per day from individuals needing a home modification. That is an additional 200 people added to the waiting list since March.
They cannot continue to do the amazing work that they do without you though. Your donation truly makes a difference. By making a donation to CIL you help to give Central Florida’s most vulnerable residents the opportunity to be in control of their own lives. Your gift will provide the much-needed accessibility that our neighbors with disabilities need in order to live their lives to the fullest. We all face obstacles, especially during a year like this one, so I ask you to embrace the opportunity to make a positive change in someone’s life, and make a donation to CIL.
Bobbie Smith spent 10 years as a mechanic in the United States Army and another 20 working for the United States Postal Service. While Bobbie was not in a rush to stop working, he was forced to retire after developing prostate cancer. He underwent radiation therapy that ultimately saved his life, but this was just the beginning of Bobbie’s medical journey. His back also required an intricate spinal fusion surgery, and bad circulation related to his diabetes required a partial amputation of one of his feet. With all of that, Bobbie also lost one of the things that he cherished most: his freedom.
Bobbie has always been very active in his community and without a safe and accessible way to leave his house, he was not able to do things that he once enjoyed. “I’m not really a home body. I want to explore, stay busy, participate in activities, and give back to the community,” Bobbie said. He uses a motorized chair to get around his house and outside, but there was still one thing that stood in front of him and his independence: the stairs to his house. With limited resources and the desire to leave his home, Bobbie crafted a makeshift ramp that allowed him to leave his home, but was very unsafe and not fully accessible.
Although Mr. Smith makes it his mission to live as independently as possible, he still relied on regular assistance from family, friends, neighbors, roommates and daughter, who would all help him get in and out of his home.
“I had to depend on a lot of people, which is something I do not like to do,” Bobbie said.
The chairs at the bottom of Bobbie’s front door left him relying on a chair and his friends and neighbors to get out of his home.
With the help of ABC Prosthetics & Orthotics and their volunteer group “Limb-It-Less,” Bobbie received an aluminum ramp on February 9, 2019 that was built using donated tools from Stanley Black & Decker. The ramp was was built to not only allow Bobbie to access his home without assistance, but also to do safely. Bobbie described first seeing his ramp like the feeling of “opening up a present on Christmas day”.
“I am on the go a lot, and now I do not need any help leaving the house,” Bobbie said.
Bobbie recommends that veterans who are in similar situations to get in touch with CIL. He is very thankful and appreciative of all the work that volunteers have done for him to give him back his freedom.
Volunteer team “Limb-it-Less” join Bobbie on his newly assembled ramp.
October is nationally recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, also known short as NDEAM. This year’s observance is unique in that it not only marks the 75th anniversary since NDEAM originated, but 2020 also celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); a piece of civil rights legislation signed by George H.W. Bush, that granted rights and equal opportunities to people with disabilities in the United States.
One of the numerous focuses of the act was the expansion of equal employment opportunities and full inclusion for people with disabilities. While great advances in employment equality have been made thanks to the ADA, some people with disabilities still find it difficult to secure meaningful employment. In the state of Florida alone, there are an estimated 2.67 million people who indicate that they have some sort of disability, according to a 2019 report from the Florida Chamber Foundation. This is 13.4 percent of all Floridians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent among people with disabilities in the United States in 2019, a slight decrease from the 8 percent reported in 2018. However, people with disabilities are still twice as likely to be unemployed, compared to those without a disability.
This was the case for a young woman named Danielle Head, 35, who was not born Deaf, but after childhood complications from Rotavirus, lost her hearing. After graduating and attaining an associate degree from Seminole State College, Danielle wanted to explore the work field of graphic design and photography, with the hope to ultimately land a job. But it’s not that simple for people with disabilities in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, unemployment rates for persons with a disability were higher than those for persons without a disability, even with the same education levels. Although Danielle had a respectable amount of graphic design and photography experience, she still struggled to find fulfilling employment that utilized her skills and capabilities.
Danielle graduated from Seminole State College in May of 2018 with an A.S. in Digital Design.
“I think that it’s important that people know that people with all different types of disabilities can do so many things that a lot of jobs require. There is so much misconception about the capabilities and work ethic of people with disabilities,” said Danielle.
In November of 2018, Danielle was referred to the Center for Independent Living of Central Florida, now known as CIL, for employment services. After working closely with her case manager on things like her resume, interview skills, and the job application process, Danielle felt ready for the next step of the process, which was on the job training, or OJT. This process typically is a supervised hands-on experience at a workplace to ensure that the transition to a job after this process is smooth. Danielle inquired if her training could take place within the walls of CIL, specifically with the development department, and her request was happily accepted. Development Director, Brittany Pilcher, knew that this training opportunity could allow Danielle to utilize and grow her skills of graphic design and photography, and that is exactly what happened.
Danielle Head, 35, currently works at the Center for Independent living of Central Florida (CIL).
After Danielle’s on the job training came to an end, she still found herself struggling interview after interview. She couldn’t help but feel that she was at a constant disadvantage because of her disability, and found that as an individual who is Deaf and primarily uses American Sign Language to communicate, there was a communication barrier that kept her from connecting with potential employers. At this time, an opportunity arose within the development department at CIL for a graphic design position, and Danielle was happily selected to fill that role.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 6.5 million current job openings. Many of these positions could be filled by qualified people with disabilities; yet stigmas and misconceptions keep these positions vacant and unfilled.
Earlier this year, Danielle was selected to design a mural at Camping World Stadium for Orlando City Soccer Club. Image source: Seminole State College
“With increased education and advocacy on people with disabilities, we hope that potential employers see the true benefits of hiring people with disabilities,” said Jascinth Lawrence, Program Director at CIL.
“Our clients are eager to get into the workforce and lead independent lives; they just need the opportunity and employers who are willing to see them for their abilities,” Lawrence added.
38 years ago, Hector Del Valle was involved in a drunk driving car accident. He was only 17 years old and was battling a major substance abuse problem. He hit two cars and a brick wall, leaving him with a life altering Spinal Cord Injury. Hector is now in a wheelchair and is paralyzed from the chest down.
A story written by Hector and published in a NAADD (National Association on Alcohol, Drugs & Disability) newsletter. In the writing Hector talks about the lack of accessibility in drug and alcohol abuse treatment centers.
“Today almost 38 years later I could honestly tell you that this injury has impacted my life by the power I give it,” Hector said. “Sometimes it’s my chariot of entitlement thinking I have every right to abuse myself and others and other times I’m humbled by it.”
Since the accident that caused his Spinal Cord Injury, Hector has been a major advocate against drunk driving. While he lived in New Jersey, he was a part of the effort of raising the drinking age from 18 to 21, and this gave him his first job in the New Jersey department of highway safety. Later, he moved to New York and landed another job as a Minority Outreach Coordinator for an independent living center. In 1997 he moved to Orlando in pursuit of his Masters degree in Social Work at UCF. At that time he was also working at one of the biggest substance abuse programs in the area where he was a major advocate for equal access to substance abuse treatment for people with addictions and disabilities on a national level. This later led him to become involved at CIL.
Sylvia Longmire, Hector Del Valle, and Amanda Perla Jereczek at the 2018 Celebrating Independence Gala event.
Knowing that this injury has left him to be dependent on others which also places him in a vulnerable position, he has created a “medical support network” of people he knows he can trust. As a board member of CIL, he hopes to be someone who others may be able to relate to and trust.
“CIL does their best to address and to advocate those rights of people with disabilities and caregivers who take care of them,” Hector said. “The world is changing every day, our climate is changing, we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and we are already changing how we do health care. Hence, why we will need more individuals with SCI’s and other types of disabilities to provide mental health counseling to keep us all balanced as we navigate these world wide changes and how it’s impacting all of our communities.”
As someone who has faced the challenges that comes with a Spinal Cord Injury, Hector has some words of advice and encouragement for anyone who may feel they can relate to him.
Hector with friends getting ready for the 2018 Stroll and Roll CIL fundraising event.
“Stay in motion and express yourself however you can,” Hector said. “Find your purpose for today, for tomorrow will take care of itself”
September was designated National SCI Awareness Month by the US Senate in an effort to raise awareness about SCI, the need for better treatments and education on prevention. According to themiamiproject.org, 17,730 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States alone.
Christopher Pruitt, a current CIL Board Member, found himself as a part of that statistic when he was involved in a traumatic boating accident six years ago. This accident happened in the blink of an eye and left him with spinal cord injuries that have paralyzed him from the neck down. He relies on friends and roommates to help him with day-to-day tasks such as getting food, driving, and bathing.
Christopher before his accident. Much has changed in his life but Christopher can always be seen smiling.
Before his injury, Christopher worked as an event planner. He was the person in charge of making memorable and welcoming corporate events, weddings, concerts, and more. After the accident, he realized that he was not able to perform the necessary tasks that event planning required. This was just one of the many changes that he had to make to adjust to his new life. Christopher says that his injury has placed insane limitations in his home life and the real world. Although Christopher has learned to adapt to a new version of his life, he still finds himself adapting to new changes constantly.
Christopher testing our a wheelchair attachable robotic arm at UCF.
“You know life is always changing and you have to change with it and if something doesn’t work try something different,” Christopher said.
Christopher has become very passionate about working with non-profit organizations, such as CIL. After discovering about the work of CIL in the community, from a friend, Christopher knew that he wanted to get involved with the organization that shared his values and drive to better the disability community.
“When I got the opportunity, I wanted to go ahead and jump at it and get on their board and see what I can do to help further their agenda,” Christopher said.
Christopher has noticed that through his time with CIL, that he has a unique understanding and real perspective on the needs and challenges of people with disabilities.
“There are tons of people out there that do not have the equipment or the access to people that can help, so I think that was one of the biggest things that drew me to CIL.”
Despite the challenges and battles, Chris finds hope with the support and love of his friends.
Although Christopher’s accident has altered his life completely in countless ways, he realizes that he has become stronger because of it, and he hopes that people who may be going through what he went through will not be discouraged.
Christopher had the ultimate platform to tell his story on February 20, 2020- when he told a crowd of over 500 people about how his disability has not only affected him, but also how it has allowed him to think and interact with his world in a whole new perspective. He also described how important it was for him to make relationships with organizations like CIL, so that he could offer his unique perspective to better help the people that these groups serve. Ultimately, Christopher’s story resonated and touches the hearts of the competition’s attendees, as CIL won third place and $10,000.
Christopher with CIL staff and board members holding a check for $10,000- after receiving third place at the 2020 Victory Cup Initiative competition.
“I think that it’s very important for people to know but while people might stare at you, nobody’s really judging you, it’s more curiosity than anything else,” Christopher said.
