CIL-NET Presents… A National Teleconference & Webinar

April 19, 2016; 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern

Register online or by using the printable registration form (PDF)

Does your CIL take advantage of the resources that are available from the Reeve Foundation and Paralysis Resource Center? Of course you’ve heard of them, but you may not realize all that they offer to consumers and CILs alike. From literature, to peer mentoring, and even grant opportunities – you may be pleasantly surprised by all that they provide.

Join us on April 19th for an overview of what the Reeve Foundation can do for you and your consumers.

Registration Fee: $75.00. Fee is per site (connection) and does not apply per participant; registrants are encouraged to gather as many individuals as desired to participate by telephone.  [Read more…]

Together we have improved the accessibility of voting (though it is still far from perfect). In this all-important election year, it is essential that we increase voter participation of people with disabilities as well as our family and friends. There is really only one way to do this—organize measurable voter education and an all-inclusive Get Out the Vote drive. This year’s NCIL Preconference will train attendees how to do this.

The NCIL website has a detailed Get Out The Vote manual designed for Centers or Independent Living:

• NCIL Voting Subcommittee GOTV Manual (PDF)
• NCIL Voting Subcommittee GOTV Manual (plain text)

Although the Disability Vote has been increasing in the general presidential elections, it is terrible in the much more important presidential primary. Over the years we have learned what increases our power and what does not. Voter turnout surely increases this power, so it is important to put your time, talent, and energy into organizing measurable Get Out the Vote drives.

Candidate forum experience has taught us that forums focusing on disability issues almost always have a dismal turnout. In some cases, there have been more candidates than people with disabilities. A low turnout candidate forum makes us look weak! Usually the only candidates who attend are already our allies, and we often end up with second class surrogates. A much more effective strategy to get our issues before candidates is to go to forums organized by the candidates themselves. Let the candidate do the turnout work! Going to forums that the candidate has put together has been a very effective strategy for other communities such as women’s rights groups, LGBTQIA groups, pro-life and pro-choice groups, and many others.

NCIL is part of the National Election Protection Coalition which on Election Day runs a hot line with lawyers to solve voting access problems. We are also building our own file of voting access problems. Let your colleagues and consumers know about their toll free number—1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

Upcoming primaries the hotline will be operating on:

• April 5: Wisconsin
• April 19: New York
• April 26: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
• June 7: California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota

The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) will be holding a public hearing on April 27 on voting access problems. We want to gather as many individual stories as possible detailing the many issues folks have faced recently.

If you have a personal story, please immediately email it to [email protected]. Simply and briefly state what happened and where the polling place is located. We Need Your Stories!

The NCIL Voting Rights Subcommittee Presents: #VOTEDISABILITY 2016 GOTV Campaign – NCIL Pre-Conference: Sunday, July 24; 2:00 – 5:15 P.M.

Dear Friends of NCIL,

The 2016 Annual Conference on Independent Living is scheduled for this summer and we have an exciting Conference planned! The Annual Conference Committee and NCIL staff is quite dedicated all year planning the Conference on a limited budget and we are very committed to keeping costs low to make the Conference as affordable as possible for attendees. To make this Conference affordable for all, we need volunteers!

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

We hope that IL advocates, family, friends, and supporters around the country will provide assistance at the 2016 NCIL Annual Conference. We have wonderful incentives for those who put in volunteer hours! We know some of your staff must attend all Conference activities, but if there are others that may not normally get to attend, incentives for volunteering may be the perfect opportunity for them. If you or your staff volunteers more than 5 hours during the Conference, half of the volunteer’s registration fee is waived. If you or your staff person volunteers 10 or more hours, the volunteer’s full registration fee will be waived.

If you are interested in signing up to volunteer, please fill out a volunteer sign-up form by July 1, 2016. Volunteer spaces are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  [Read more…]

July 25-28, 2016; Grand Hyatt, Washington

Open our Annual Conference Guide (in PDF or plain text) to find everything you need to know about the 2016 Annual Conference.

Then, register online or by using the printable Registration Form (PDF or plain text). Online registration gives you the ability to register up to three attendees with one transaction and accepts Discover, American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

All registrations received and paid before April 29, 2016 are eligible for the Early Bird registration rates.

Visit our 2016 Annual Conference web page for:

• Complete registration details
• Hotel information and reservations links
• Complete Conference agenda

NCIL’s Annual Conference on Independent Living is our nation’s largest gathering of disability rights advocates, and is a crucial opportunity for people with disabilities to connect, meet with our legislators, and propel the movement forward.  Last year, we set a record with over 1,500 participants including over 100 youth from across the country. Please take a moment to watch the videos below that describe our success with youth involvement.

• Thank You Sponsors Video
• Audio-Described Version: Thank You Sponsors Video

The theme for the 2016 NCIL Conference is Solidarity: Everybody In. Due to a variety of barriers, most especially cost, youth with disabilities have been unable to fully participate in the national disability community. In order for the Independent Living Movement to be more inclusive of young people we need the support of Centers for Independent Living and State Independent Living Councils. We are asking your CIL or SILC to pledge to support youth in one of the three ways:

1. Pledge to financially sponsor 2 young people in your local area to attend the NCIL Conference.
2. Pledge to financially sponsor 2 young professionals on your staff to attend the NCIL Conference.
3. Contribute towards the Youth Scholarship Fund that will bring young people from across the country to the NCIL Conference. Your donation will support plane tickets, hotel accommodations, personal assistance services, and registration costs for attendees.

With your help, we can bring youth with disabilities to the 2016 NCIL Conference and ensure that youth leadership will grow and flourish in the Disability Rights Movement.  Together we can ensure that young people with disabilities are empowered, engaged, and ready to lead.  [Read more…]

July 25-28, 2016; Grand Hyatt, Washington

Later this week, NCIL will publish our Annual Conference Guide with complete details on this year’s Conference, but you can also find the information you need to plan your trip right now at ncil.org.

Visit our 2016 Annual Conference web page for:

• Complete registration details
• Hotel information and reservations links
• Basic Conference Agenda

All registrations received and paid before April 29, 2016 are eligible for the Early Bird registration rates.