Ramping Up for Independence
As Jill’s medical condition worsened, she became more reliant on her motorized wheelchair. Every time she left her house, she had to drag the wheelchair down the steps from her front door.
When CIL heard about Jill’s situation through a referral, we got right to work — bringing in a team of volunteers that built a ramp to her door. Shortly afterward, we provided a vehicle lift that can be mounted on Jill’s SUV, allowing her to take the wheelchair anywhere.
The ramp and lift have restored Jill’s mobility — and her independence. “I can easily walk my dog, visit my mother, go to the store and go to doctor’s appointments on my own now!” she says. “CIL has changed my life for the better.”
Seeing Strengths, Not Disabilities
Roger was living his dream as a restaurant owner and chef in his Maine hometown. “Bringing my family and my community together for food and fellowship was rewarding,” he recalls. “But over the years, my health began to decline, and my mobility greatly decreased. Eventually I had to have multiple surgeries that resulted in the loss of my legs.”
Roger sold his restaurant and became a consultant, but using a wheelchair during Maine winters became increasingly difficult. Seeking a new start, he and his wife moved to Florida. But in a new place, no one knew how driven and community-focused Roger was.
“Potential employers see my wheelchair before they see my story, and it truly affected my confidence,” Roger says. “That’s where David, my employee specialist at CIL, has made the difference. David translates my strengths into opportunities to take on new career experiences. He reminds me that my achievements speak for themselves. I know that he and CIL are advocating for me every day.”
Answering His Life’s Calling
When he moved to Central Florida several years ago with his family, Abbas didn’t know anything about the area — or the resources that were available to him as a deaf man.
Then Abbas heard about CIL’s services from a friend. He began working with Margarita and Martha, CIL’s communication and education specialists, and he enrolled in the Deaf Education for Adults class, where he’s improving his knowledge of English.
“The deaf have a hard time learning English,” he says. “I want to make sure that my English is good, in order to communicate as a person with hearing.”
Using his newfound skills, and with Martha’s assistance, Abbas – who was born in Somalia – began preparing for the U.S. citizenship test. He passed on his first attempt! Now, CIL is helping Abbas study for his GED so he can achieve his goal of becoming a computer technician.
“I have hopes for a better life,” Abbas says. “CIL is helping me get there, one step at a time.”
