After more than three decades serving the community, we are delighted to report that CIL, the pioneer in promoting independent living and disability rights advocacy, is still on the cutting edge of furthering community integration for people with disabilities. In fact, each year we provide direct services to approximately 2,000 people with disabilities, the majority of whom are from communities of color. We also fill more than 60,000 requests for information from other agencies and individuals.
Additionally, CIL has taken the lead on a number of critical advocacy issues:
- Working in collaboration with other disability organizations towards the realization of the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley.
- Organizing people in our service area to attend rallies in Sacramento and Oakland. This organizing has contributed to the state tabling cuts to the In Home Support Services Program, a program that provides attendant services so people can live in their own homes.
- Supporting the passage of measure BB in Alameda County, which provides additional funding for public transportation.
- Organizing youth and their families to prevent school closures in Oakland, and to ensure that the California High School Exit Examination is accessible to students with disabilities.
- Collaborating with the East Bay Regional Parks and the Oakland Rotary Club on the construction of a barrier-free playground at Roberts Park in Oakland.
These achievements would not have been possible without the contributions of our donors and volunteers. With increased support from the community, we can bolster our services to assist more people with disabilities – people we cannot always reach today. Further, additional contributions will enable us to strengthen our fight for policy and social change. We invite you to be at the forefront of the independent living movement by making a financial donation or volunteering your time and talent.