A small person stands with the capitol building in the background, holding a large posterboard in front of most of their body that reads disability matters. Under the Where it's AT logo the text reads Inclusive Organizing abilitytools.org

Inclusive Organizing

Jessica Riestra, Statewide Youth Organizer for YO! Disabled and Proud, a program of California Foundation for Independent Living Centers Organizing is a big part of today’s society. Today, more than ever before we are seeing communities come together to advocate for human rights. However, oftentimes many organizations fail to be inclusive when making sure that…

Photo of people in line to vote with a person in a wheelchair. Text reads: Making Voting Accessible for Everyone. Where Its AT Logo. AbilityTools.org/blog

Voting Made Accessible

One in five people eligible to vote have a disability. With Election Day 2018 just around the corner, Ability Tools is sharing resources on voting accessibility, apps, and guides. If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities  there would be about 2.2 million more voters in the 2016 elections. According…

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Assistive Technology at Work

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) and its programs are partnering with California disability communities to celebrate October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The purpose of NDEAM is to educate the community about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme…

Banner featuring two photos of Alexa using her power chair with the YO and Ability Tools logos

The ADA: A Huge Help!

By Alexa McBride The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed on July 26th, 1990. The bill was signed by then President George W. Bush. The ADA gave millions of Americans who have disabilities access to public places, transportation, education, employment and housing. I recently learned that President Bush had a sister-in-law with a disability.…

It Is Because Of Ed: From Goals To Dreams

Written By: Sara Moussavian, Full-time Employee & Advocate On July 30, 2009, I left California’s Youth Leadership Forum knowing more about who pioneer leaders of the disability community are and what they have done in comparison to the first day of the program. My knowledge about the Disability Rights Movement continued to expand, when I…

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New Year, New Tech

AT Advocates are community based information and referral specialists who can assist consumers with a variety of assistive technology issues. They work at Independent Living Centers in California.  Ability Tools wouldn’t be the program it is without these advocates and all their hard work. With the New Year approaching we asked our advocates to tell…

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#GivingTuesday

Written by: Emily Flynn and Megan Cowdell, Program Coordinators at The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers About #GivingTuesday Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since…

Women holding sign that states" Medi-cal saved my mental health. Now I am back to work"

The DME Challenge Part 2

Written by: Christine Fitzgerald, Community Advocate, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center Not all situations and needs are the same, and this extends to medical needs.  Without insurance coverage, many would be forced to choose between DME and basic needs, like food or housing.  As it is, many people already have to make this choice between…

ILM banner with black and white photo of the ADA signing

Using AT to Advocate: NCIL 2017

  This week, advocates from across the country are gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual National Conference on Independent Living (NCIL). This year’s conference theme is Revolution: A Global Independent Living Movement. Timing couldn’t be better this year! The Conference is not only being held during the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Americans…