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Javier is a recent graduate of CIL’s Project Search program, having completed the program in May of this year. Project Search is a program that helps young adults get on the job training with one of CIL’s partner organizations. Javier spent his time in the program working with Lakeland Regional Health. While there, Javier worked in the storeroom, catering, and the GI departments. In each of these departments he learned communication skills, organizational skills, and got hands-on experience helping patients.

CIL’s goal is to help our consumers live independent lives. The Project Search program is one of the many ways we attempt to accomplish this. When we asked Javier what living independently means to him, he said, “Living independently is the most important, that you always have to stay confident, stay focused, stay on track, be successful, stay on task.” Javier sees independent living as being successful, and capable of committing to your goals. CIL and the Project Search program helped give Javier goals to strive towards and a chance to learn about new types of work that might interest him.

Now that Javier has graduated from the Project Search program, he has already started looking for new jobs and has recently secured an interview. Even after graduating from the program, he will continue to work with one of CIL’s Transition Employment Specialists to find the best job for him. Working with CIL has given Javier opportunities to explore his interests and develop new skills. As Javier explains, “I learned from Center of Independent Living, how to get an independent job that I want to work.” 

Ismael is a recent graduate of CIL’s Project Search, a program that places consumers with one of our partner companies for three, ten-week work rotations. Participants are given the opportunity to develop new skills and find jobs that interest them. During his time in the program, Ismael worked with Lakeland Regional Health, gaining hands-on experience working in food service and engineering. This program gave Ismael the opportunity to become more independent and develop essential life skills.

Once Ismael completed his time with Project Search, he began looking for a job. Using his food service experience at Lakeland Regional, Ismael secured a position at Waffle House, being offered the position immediately after his interview. When asked about how working with Project Search has helped him, he explained, “Nothing makes me very nervous now.” His time at Project Search has not only given him valuable work experience but also the confidence to go out and find a job.

Helping people like Ismael achieve their independent living aspirations is CIL’s primary goal. Before participating in Project Search, Ismael found it difficult to be confident and self-reliant. He used the example of doing laundry, something he struggled to do by himself previously. He developed the skill little by little over time – now, it’s something he can confidently do by himself. “Independent living means more responsibilities and learning how to do more things on my own,” he explained. Whether it’s doing laundry or getting a job, Ismael’s time with CIL has given him a chance to explore his interests, develop his skills, and pursue his future.

Life after graduation can be very intimidating – a feeling . Especially true for young adults with disabilities, who have the added struggle of finding work that will also accommodate their needs. The Center for Independent Living’s Step Ahead program helps to ease those fears and show young adults all the options that are available to them. By providing training and assistance to young adults with disabilities aged 14-22 years old, Step Ahead instills the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce through work-based learning experiences, career camps , and more.

Through our partner organizations, we provide work-based learning experiences that are highly valuable for our consumers to find a career that suits them. For example, through our partnership with AC Marriott in Downtown Orlando, our consumers work as an employee for three weeks, receiving on-the-job experience and training. Sometimes, our students will go on to receive full-time positions at the companies they learn from. These real-world opportunities give our young adults valuable experience they can rely on.

Another important part of Step Ahead is our career. This week- long program offers lessons in a fun and interactive way, teaching soft skills, time management, workplace appropriate behavior, and problem solving. Participants also attend field trips to potential workplaces and hear from guest speakers. These camps prepare our consumers to enter the workforce by giving them insights and practice that helps them succeed. 

Similarly to our career camps, Project SEARCH helps young adults aged 18-21. This program is a longer version of the work-based learning experiences in which participants spend three, 10-week rotations working at Lakeland Regional Health. Our transition program is a similar, with participants getting work experience at Advent Health East Orlando. These in-depth programs give our consumers on-the-job training, experience, and opportunities to form connections with employers. Many participants have stayed on to work full-time with these hospitals once the program is over.

Every part of the Step Ahead program has something to offer our consumers. CIL’s goal is to help our consumers live as independently as possible, and for many, having a career is an integral part of doing so. To learn more about Step Ahead, visit https://cilorlando.org/programs/step-ahead/.

Damari is a driven young man who has been working with CIL through our Project Search program to help him find the job that best fits him. Project Search is a transition program that helps young adults ages 14 to 22 find a career they can thrive in.

For Damari, finding a job is an important part of living independently and being successful. When asked what being independent means to him, Damari said, “Independent means to me: doing stuff on your own or by yourself. Living independent means stuff like paying for your own bills, paying for your own phone bill, cooking for yourself, cleaning for yourself.” Finding the right job is an essential part of reaching Damari’s independent living goals.

Damari was looking for a job as a way to improve his life before CIL, and after reaching out to us, we were able to help him find the job that fits him best. In Damari’s words, “Now that I have a job, and now that I’m focused on doing a job, it’s good for improvement and all about adulting.” The Project Search program helped him find a job that matched his needs through partnerships with local business. The program also prepared Damari for a working environment and pushed him to strive for success.

Being successful in life is an important goal for Damari. According to him, “Success is where you’re at that point where you got everything you wanted to achieve in your life and you can move on and go bigger, live bigger.” Damari has started on his path to live a successful life and CIL will be there to help every step of the way.

Kristian is a hardworking young man who participates in CIL’s annual Career Camps. Our Career Camps helps young adults from ages 14-22 find the kind of work that’s best for them. The Career Camps have many ways of helping people find future careers, such as lessons on how to prepare for interviews and taking tours of potential employment locations.

During the Career Camp, Kristian watched videos about how to look for and prepare for a job. These informational videos focused on how to dress for an interview, how to build a resume, and how to greet potential employers. Kristian is a someone who loves to learn and when asked what he liked about CIL, he said, “I like to go to CIL because I learn about different jobs like store employee, how to work in a restaurant, and other jobs.”

While Kristian was participating in the Career Camp, he also went on a tour at Orlando Health. At the hospital, Kristian got to visit the laundry department and see the process of cleaning towels and linens. While on the tour the group even got to stop and have lunch at the hospital’s cafeteria. Kristian recommends the gluten free pizza.

At CIL, we want to give our consumers the opportunity to live their lives independently and make the best decisions for themselves. That’s why we want to make sure participants in our Career Camps, like Kristian, have all the information they need to start a career. Through his time with CIL Kristian found that he enjoyed helping in the medical field and currently works at Lakeland Regional Health. He has been commended for his work multiple times since he started and has a bright future ahead of him.

Maki Jones has been part of the CIL family since 2023-and he’s made quite an impression. At just 17-years-old, Maki is an active and vibrant young man with a fierce determination to live independently.

Maki, who has autism, approaches every opportunity with confidence and creativity. He has participated in several of our programs, including our annual Career Camps, where he’s been able to explore new skills and learn helpful tools that will support his future career goals.

When asked about what independent living means to him, he shared, “It means to be brave and take chances,” a mindset he takes with him everywhere he goes.

Through our capacity as the Midland Regional Demonstration Center, we have been proud to support Maki’s journey to independent living through assistive technology. We recently provided him with a Scanmarker Air Reading Pen and Pen Scanner, an innovative tool designed to help individuals with disabilities that affect reading and focus. The pen reads aloud the text it scans, helping Maki to stay engaged and absorb information more easily.

According to Maki, “CIL/Midland RDC helped me use this pen that is a 9/10. It helped me when my eyes got tired and has also helped me learn how to pronounce new words!”

Maki has big dreams and a bright future ahead of him. His bold personality and imaginative spirit push him toward independence, a journey that we are honored and excited to be part of. At CIL, we’re committed to providing the tools, education and support that empower individuals like Maki to live life on their own terms.