A Personal Letter of Opportunity- Meet Luz

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.