Accessible Shopping - be ready for the holidays!

Are you a visually impaired individual who likes to shop and also want to learn how others find good deals?  Or are you frustrated on the topic of shopping but like to learn how other people handle it?  As the holidays are approaching, the blind Services of the Center for Independent Living is hosting a workshop/discussion group around the topic of shopping on NOvmber 16th.

Some of the topics we will be covering will include but not limited to:

• Finding good deals
• Sharing good and/or bad shopping experience
• Accessibility issues around shopping either in store or online

Time: November 16, 4:00-6:00 

Place: Center for Independent Living (CIL) 3075 Adeline St, Ste 100 (Right across from the Ashby BART) Berkeley, Ca 94703

All CIL Meetings are conducted in wheelchair-accessible locations.   Please do not wear scented products to this meeting.

 If you need accommodations such as Sign Language interpretation, assistive listening devices, printed matter in alternative format, please call (510) 841-4776 or (510) 356-2662 (video phone) or TTY (510) 848-3101.  We will try to accommodate all requests, but need at least 3 business days notice.

Click here for the complete information.

CIL to open Vita (tax preparation site)

CIL will be opening a Vita tax help site at CIL headquarters in Berkeley on January 17th. People with low income can get their taxes done for free and get financial management help. For more information, click here.

New Personal Attendant Match Website For Consumers and Attendants!

CIL is Introducing Quick Match, a personalized data system for Personal Attendants and consumers.  This will allow you to go on and view profiles and then connect with the attendant of your choice.  It will give you all of the information you will need to make an informed decision on if you would like to interview, and possibly hire that attendant.  

This site will allow you to search on your own, once you have received a username and password from your PAS worker at CIL.

For the attendant, you will have more visibility and access to the consumers to receive more work by personalizing your profile page and it being available 24/7.  Please give CIL a call for more information and find out what you need to do to be apart of this new program and website!



Help defeat the Isakson Amendment to the ESEA

It is expected that Senator Isakson (R-GA) will offer an amendment during HELP Committee consideration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act of 2011 that would allow schools to discriminate by significantly lowering the academic expectations for students with disabilities.  Click here to learn more on how to fight this!

National Vocation Rehabilitation Success Stories

Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation Success Stories -  read success stories of people with disabilities in vocational rehab from all over the United States!