July Newsletter

Center for Independent Living Options

Empowering people with disabilities to lead independent and inclusive lives in the community.

July 2017

CILO Celebrates!

There is still time to RSVP for our 40th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, July 26 beginning at 4:30PM on The Deck@Washington Park in OTR. As our guest you will enjoy dinner by the bite and a cash bar along with lively music and commentary: this is our way of saying Thank You to our supporters and colleagues as well as our consumers who are part of the CILO family. RSVP for this free event here!

Join us for the 2017 Disability Pride March!

Wednesday, July 26 at 4:00pm

Disability is part of human diversity - together we can promote change in the way people think of and define disability. Everyone is welcome to bring an awareness sign and gather at 3:45pm at the bandstand at Washington Park for the 4:00pm march - a short route from 12th to Race to 14th to Elm Streets and returning to Washington Park for CILO's 40th celebration party.

To RSVP or more information, email us .

How well do you know the ADA?

July 26th marks the 27th anniversary of the ADA so we are sharing this fun and informative collection of puzzles, questions, and scenarios about implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability etiquette, and self-advocacy. This resource is appropriate for businesses and organizations responsible for implementing the ADA as well as individuals with disabilities needing to understand the law and effectively self-advocate. Check out the ADA Quizbook here!

Meet our Summer Interns

CILO is delighted to have Tracey Gary and Krysanna Sydnor, two recent high school graduates participating in the Summer Work Experience Opportunity (SWEO) a program of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. These young ladies spend three fun-filled days each week at YOLO, our summer program where they work alongside CILO staff to provide support and mentoring to students with disabilities. Tracey and Krysanna also spend one day each week at CILO's offices to become familiar with human services and gain work experience.

Access to Cincinnati

Access Cincinnati has launched accesscincinnati.org , a crowdsourced mobile site that provides users with an interactive map of more than 150 restaurants and bars in Over-the-Rhine, downtown and the Banks. Access Cincinnati was founded last year by businesswoman Kathleen Cail and architect Nestor Melnyk with the goal of providing individuals with mobility issues information about accessibility for establishments in and around the city. Check it out here.

Would you like to make your facility a barrier-free, welcoming environment for people with disabilities? CILO can help!

CILO can assist in making your facility more user-friendly for people with disabilities by conducting an accessibility site survey/evaluation. CILO's accessibility surveys are conducted by using a cloud-hosted software system for end-to-end management of ADA evaluation and compliance initiatives of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (2010 ADAS) and the 2015 Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard (2015 ABAAS). The purpose of the survey is help you identify and evaluate accessibility needs, determine priorities, and find solutions to afford every individual the opportunity to benefit from your business and/or services. If you are interested in having an accessibility site survey, please contact Suzanne Hopkins, Director of Programs: by phone (513) 241-2600 ext. 122, or email .

In the News: Medicaid Restructuring Under the American Health Care Act and Nonelderly Adults with Disabilities

This brief describes Medicaid's role for nearly 7 million nonelderly adults with disabilities living in the community to help inform the debate about the American Health Care Act's proposals to end enhanced federal funding under the ACA and reduce federal Medicaid funding under a per capita cap. Read the brief here.

Coming Soon to Art Beyond Boundaries

Save The Date

Jazzed About Art is Friday, September 15

Watch for details!