CACIL

We are excited to announce that our annual Dinner and Silent Auction will be taking place on Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 5:00pm until 9:00pm at the Best Western Plus Hotel (formerly the Causeway Bay Hotel) on South Cedar Street in Lansing.

Our annual gala has grown from a small event to a “can’t miss” night of fun, food, music, and shopping thanks in large part to the support of our partners and community members and efforts of CACIL staff.

We are pleased this year to welcome back our talented MC’s, Jane Aldrich and Kip Bohne, as well as esteemed auctioneer, Mr. Jim Weaver. Also returning will be our talented group of string musicians to provide us with some delightful sound as you browse our auction selections.

The proceeds raised at our Annual Dinner and Silent Auction help CACIL to provide quality services and supports to persons with disabilities in Ingham, Eaton, Shiawassee, and Clinton counties. Tickets are $50 each or a table for 8 people is $425 and can be purchased by contacting Peggy Jones or Ellen Weaver at (517) 999-2760. With your support, we know that that our 11th year will be our best annual Auction yet!

May 17th, 2012

5:00-9:00pm

Best Western Plus Hotel

6820 S. Cedar St., Lansing, MI

If you are visiting this website, chances are you are familiar with our organization, the Capital Area Center for Independent Living. But are you familiar with what a Center for Independent Living really is, or what independent living is truly all about?

The very first Center for Independent Living (CIL) was opened in Berkeley, California in 1972 by a disability activist named Ed Roberts. Roberts was incredibly influential in spreading the IL philosophy, and is often referred to as the father of the disability rights movement. Roberts and other disability activists of the time were able to use the momentum of the 1960’s civil rights era to propel the philosophy of disability rights and independent living across the country. Today, there are CIL’s in every state nationwide, including 15 here in Michigan.

So what exactly IS independent living? What does that mean for people with disabilities? A lot of people would probably define independence as being able to do things on your own, without any help. Some might say independence is being self-sufficient, depending only on yourself to get by. Here at CACIL, where in addition to the consumers who we serve, the majority of our staff members also have some form of a disability themselves. When asked how they define independence, one word resonated in the answers: choice.

“We all have paths to choose. Some choices are good, some are bad, but our choices lead us to where we are today and influence who we ultimately become” shared Academy coordinator Kim McDonald. “Choices are choices, for better or worse and we all make mistakes but being able to make choices and learn and grow from them is what independent living means to me”. Jean Harris, an Independent Living Specialist explained “independence means a lot of things; having informed choices, self-determination, recognizing opportunities, being aware of your strengths and weaknesses. When a person is able to look at their life and acknowledge what they need to be independent, with or without supports; that is truly independent living”. Teresa Weaver echoed that sentiment stating, “you can need help and still be independent, what is important is making your own decisions and fully participating in life”.

There are two core beliefs to the independent living philosophy. The first is that disability is a natural part of the human experience. Everyone at some point in their life will be touched by disability in some manner. Recognizing that having a disability doesn’t mean someone is “defective” or needs to be “fixed” was a huge accomplishment for the disability rights movement. The second core belief is that the focus of disability policy should be to change the environment, not the person. It is attitudinal and programmatic barriers that cause the most discrimination and problem for people with disabilities. If we change how we perceive people, we can change how we treat them and how we set up our communities. By allowing all people access to opportunities and giving everyone the right to make their own choices, we can empower so many individuals that have a lot to offer.

Here at CACIL, we work every day to empower people to be as independent as they can be, to break down barriers, and change attitudes. We have seen firsthand how enriched a person can become when given the chance to decide things for themselves, and understand the value in being accountable, responsible, and informed. Al Swain, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, explained “if independence is determined by a physical act, then anyone who is bigger or stronger than you can take away your independence. Independence is an internal process that is based on self-determination, self-advocacy, and taking responsibility for your life’s choices”. We challenge you to be informed and spread the word about what independence really is.

To learn more about the independent living movement or to connect with CIL’s nationwide, please contact us at (517) 999-2760, or visit http://www.ncil.org/ or http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/.

**Please note: This blog entry features the recollections, opinions, and hopes of individuals, and does not reflect the views or opinions of the Capital Area Center for Independent Living as an organization**

As the 10^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks approaches us this weekend, we here at CACIL wanted to take a moment and remember that day; where we were, how we felt, and what we think about our nation a decade later.

Terry Weaver: I was leaving a doctor’s appointment on the morning of September 11^th, and I heard the news about the planes hitting the World Trade Center on the radio in my car. By the time I got to the hospital where I worked, we were all watching the coverage on TV and saw the towers fall. It was the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Kim McDonald: I was off of work at the time because I had broken my foot. I had an appointment later that day to get my foot checked out, and my husband and I were relaxing at home watching the Today Show. We watched the towers at the World Trade Center fall. I remember seeing my neighbor outside cutting his grass and running out to tell him to turn on the radio and listen. I was worried about my son who was down near the Capitol in Lansing, because we didn’t know what was going on and where the next target would be. I drove to the doctor later and just thinking about how surreal it was, just knowing that not a single plane was flying at the time because everything was grounded.

Kellie Blackwell: I was 22 years old when the September 11^th attacks happened. I was at home and I happened to turn the TV on just before the 2^nd plane hit. I remember just thinking to myself “is this really real?”. For a week, my roommate and I watched the coverage on TV nonstop. We bought American flags to hang outside and we just cried. I remember watching the rescuers pull bodies from the collapsed buildings and realizing just how many people had died and just sobbing. It was emotional to watch, and to see news anchors break down on television.

Kelly Loftis: I was 14 on September 11, 2001. My history class was getting ready to watch a movie, and while our teacher tried to figure out the VCR, the news was on and we saw the 2^nd plane hit. I remember all my classmates were joking about how the pilot must’ve been really out of it to not realize he was near such a big building, and then looking over to see my teacher sink into a chair with his hand over his mouth and realizing at that moment that this was probably no accident.  I watched the coverage nonstop for days after school, just trying to understand how a few evil men could ruin so many lives.

Ron Cutcher: September 11^th is my birthday. My family was taking me to Denny’s for breakfast that day, and then we were going to put money down for my daughter to get her own apartment. My son told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center and I told him that just couldn’t be right. We sat and watched the coverage on a TV the Denny’s staff brought out and saw the 2^nd plane hit. I told my family my initial instinct was that “we are at war” and sure enough, we went to war and are still there today.

Kellie Blackwell: 10 years later, I wish we could live in a time where other countries got along with the United States better and we did not have so much conflict overseas.

Kim McDonald: 10 years later I think people are much more paranoid than they used to be. Things have gotten really bad, but we have to trust our neighbors again. Bad people are out there, but I believe the majority of people are good, and we need to move forward together.

Kelly Loftis: 10 years later, I look back on September 11^th as a very defining moment in the society and culture I grew up in. I think I am extra suspicious and more cautious than I perhaps would be had September 11^th never happened.  It was strange to watch the coverage and know just what a huge deal this was, and see for the first time what the world looks like when evil strikes. I hope moving forward in the next 10 years, that our nation continues to rebuild and prevents this type of tragedy from ever happening again. I learned that security is a privilege.

Ron Cutcher: As a veteran, I wanted to re-enlist in the Army, but because I am disabled I wasn’t allowed back in. I knew we were going to war, and I wanted to help. As a father and grandfather, I am glad that my kids have learned now that freedom comes at a cost. They’ve been really educated about freedom and sacrifice and those are important lessons. I think that as a nation we are back to where we were before 9/11, and people are forgetting the spirit we had as a nation immediately after the attacks. My hope for the next 10 years is that our country really learns that we are only as safe as we let ourselves be.

Terry Weaver: 10 years later, I worry that we’ve forgotten the lessons from that day. It takes all of us together to be the United States and to be strong, and we have to work together and help one another. I remember afterwards, seeing all the flags out everywhere and people wanted to help each other, and my hope for the next 10 years is that we get back to that.

Nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the terrorist attacks and our nation as we knew it was changed forever. We will always remember the lives lost, the heroes that emerged, the hope that resonated, and collectiveness of our nation united together to rebuild, recover, and remember. We are grateful to all of those who have served our nation, both here and overseas, and to all of those who have lost their lives doing so. Your service means the world to us.  Thank you.