Center for Independent Living - Berkeley

05/27/2026

Join us for a special hybrid screening of The Ride Ahead, the Emmy-nominated documentary exploring disability, identity, independence, and adulthood.

Hosted by the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF), the event will feature a screening of the film followed by a youth-led panel discussion and community conversation with filmmakers Samuel Habib and Dan Habib, moderated by Jim LeBrecht (Crip Camp).

The Ride Ahead follows Samuel Habib, a young adult with a disability, as he explores questions about the future, relationships, employment, and what it means to live independently. The film offers a powerful and honest look at disability culture, access, and belonging.

📅 Tuesday, June 30, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM PST
📍 Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley + Virtual Option

Accessibility includes ASL interpretation, live captioning, and audio description. Masks are required for in-person attendees and will be available onsite. This is also a fragrance-free event.

Free event. Registration required.

Scan the QR code for more info and to RSVP, or visit: https://bit.ly/4txDeAi

05/26/2026

05/18/2026

DIE-IN TO PROTECT OUR HEALTHCARE

Healthcare cuts cost lives. Join the Die-In protest to protect access to healthcare for millions of Californians.

📍 Eastmont Town Center – Alameda Health Systems Wellness Center

🗓 Thursday, May 21

⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Union members, seniors, people with disabilities, Medi-Cal recipients, healthcare workers, and community advocates will come together to demand action and defend healthcare access for all.

Scan the QR code for more information and RSVP or visit: http://bit.ly/4nyKWsq⁠

‐-----------

DIE-IN PARA PROTEGER NUESTRA ATENCIÓN MÉDICA

Los recortes al sistema de salud cuestan vidas. Únete al Die-In para defender el acceso a la atención médica de millones de californianos.

📍 Eastmont Town Center – Alameda Health Systems Wellness Center

🗓 Jueves 21 de mayo

⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Miembros de sindicatos, personas mayores, personas con discapacidades, beneficiarios de Medi-Cal, trabajadores de la salud y organizaciones comunitarias se reunirán para exigir acción y defender el acceso a la salud para todos.

Escanea el código QR para más información y RSVP o visita: http://bit.ly/4nyKWsq

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we honor the mothers who fought for their children when the world said “no.”

Women like Zona Roberts, Celestine Tate Harrington, Isobel Walker, Aretha Robinson, and Isle Heumann challenged discrimination, defended dignity, and helped change history through love, resilience, and advocacy.

Their stories remind us that behind every movement for inclusion, there are mothers who never stopped believing in their children.

Learn more about preserving Zona Roberts’ legacy: https://thecil.org/zonaroberts/

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day 💛

Before accessibility, there were mothers who refused to accept “not possible.”

Before laws protected inclusion and disability rights, these women fought every day so their children could live with dignity, independence, and opportunity.

Zona Roberts

When her son Ed Roberts was paralyzed by polio, schools and universities doubted his future. Zona Roberts fought for his right to attend school, pursue higher education, and live independently. Her determination helped pave the way for the Independent Living Movement and changed disability rights forever.

Today, the Zona Roberts Story Project is preserving her story and honoring the role mothers and caregivers played in shaping the disability rights movement.

https://thecil.org/zonaroberts/

Celestine Tate Harrington

Born with a condition that left her unable to use her arms and legs, Celestine Tate Harrington fought a historic custody battle after authorities tried to take away her baby because they believed a disabled woman could not be a mother. In court, she proved she could care for her daughter using only her lips, teeth, and tongue, and won. Her fight became a powerful symbol of disability rights, parental rights, and resilience.

Isobel Walker

Isobel Walker encouraged curiosity and perseverance in her son Stephen Hawking long before the world recognized his brilliance. After his ALS diagnosis, she continued supporting his ambitions and independence, helping him pursue the work that would transform modern science.

Aretha Robinson

After her son Ray Charles lost his sight as a child, Aretha Robinson taught him to navigate the world with confidence and self-reliance. She refused to let blindness define his future, helping raise one of the most influential musicians of all time.

Isle Heumann

When schools tried to deny her daughter Judy Heumann an education because she used a wheelchair, Isle Heumann challenged discrimination head-on. Her fight for inclusion helped shape one of the most important leaders of the disability rights movement.

Today, we honor every mother who continues to fight for access, inclusion, and the right for their children to dream without limits.

05/07/2026

Muchas personas con discapacidad se ven obligadas a permanecer en la pobreza para no perder los apoyos que necesitan.

Únete a una conversación comunitaria con Disability Rights California sobre las trampas de pobreza, cómo los sistemas limitan las oportunidades y qué podemos hacer para cambiarlo.

🗓 20 de mayo | 12–2 PM
📍 1470 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland
🍽 Se servirán refrigerios

Comparte tu experiencia. Sé parte de la solución.

👉 Regístrate: https://bit.ly/4ubBk9T

_________________

Many people with disabilities are forced to stay poor just to keep the support they need.

Join us for a community conversation with Disability Rights California on poverty traps—how systems limit opportunity, and what we can do to change it.

🗓 May 20 | 12–2 PM
📍 1470 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland
🍽 Food will be provided

Share your experience. Be part of the solution.

👉 RSVP: https://bit.ly/4wre6OW

05/07/2026

New episode of The Independent 🎙️

Host Dr. Victor Pineda speaks with Jonathan Kaufman, founder of J Kaufman Consulting, licensed psychotherapist, executive coach, and disability inclusion strategist.

Born with cerebral palsy, Jonathan shares how disability can be a source of leadership, innovation, belonging, and why organizations must move beyond compliance toward true culture change.

Together, they explore accessibility, workplace culture, psychological safety, and the future of inclusive leadership.

Listen now:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4tlk80a
Spotify: https://bit.ly/48GSMds
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4ev6Omb

04/29/2026

CodeStars Program
Build your own apps, step by step.

Learn coding from scratch in this beginner-friendly program. Start with Scratch and Python, move into web design, and finish by building real applications with Django.

3 courses, 8 weeks each
Virtual on Zoom, 1 hour per week
Free for CIL consumers
Ages 16 and up, no experience required

Course 1: Scratch / Python (May 4 – June 22)
Learn the basics of coding, including logic, variables, and how programs respond to user input. Understand how developers think and build simple interactive projects.

Course 2: Web Design (July 13 – August 31)
Create your own websites using HTML and CSS. Learn how to structure pages, style them, and design accessible, user-friendly interfaces.

Course 3: App Development with Django (September 21 – November 9)
Build dynamic web applications using Django. Learn how apps manage data, handle user input, and connect front-end design with back-end functionality.

You’ll gain real coding skills, hands-on projects, and a clear understanding of how apps are built.

Register now: https://bit.ly/4sZOyFN

04/24/2026

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is expanding its WAV Single-Rider Program, which provides accessible, reliable, and person-centered transportation for people with disabilities.

We are currently hiring for the following positions:

Program Coordinator
Lead daily operations of the transportation program, supervise staff, and ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality service delivery.
Apply here: https://bit.ly/4cLNkak

I&R Dispatcher
Coordinate ride scheduling, communicate with participants and drivers, and support day-to-day transportation operations.
Apply here: https://bit.ly/3P0eORJ

Driver
Provide safe, timely, and respectful transportation, supporting individuals with disabilities in accessing essential services and community activities.
Apply here: https://bit.ly/4u2jBRt

CIL is a pioneer of the disability rights and independent living movement, committed to advancing access, dignity, and community inclusion.

To apply, follow the links above or scan the QR code on each image and submit your resume and cover letter as indicated in each listing.

04/13/2026

Join us for a Barrier-Free Park Picnic at Roberts Regional Recreation Area.

The Rotary Club of Oakland, in partnership with the Center for Independent Living, invites you and your family to enjoy a day outdoors at a space designed for everyone.

In 2004, The Rotary Club of Oakland partnered with the East Bay Regional Parks District to help build the barrier-free playground at Roberts Regional Recreation Area, created so children of all abilities can play side by side in a fully accessible environment. This gathering celebrates that ongoing commitment to inclusion and access for all.

Date: May 28, 2026
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Location: 10570 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA

Reserve your spot by scanning the QR code on the flyer or register here: https://bit.ly/4bYqayx

After registering, you will receive more details about the event by email.

We hope to see you there :)

04/07/2026

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is looking for an Assistive Technology & Residential Access Associate to join our team.

This role is an opportunity to work directly with community members to increase access, independence, and inclusion. You’ll support individuals with disabilities by repairing mobility devices, improving home accessibility (like ramps and modifications), and providing assistive technology consultations.

What you’ll do:

• Support home accessibility projects and assessments
• Repair and maintain assistive technology devices
• Work one-on-one with community members to develop service plans
• Document services and track projects
• Collaborate with community partners and programs

Who should apply:

• People with experience in social services or working with disability communities
• Candidates with hands-on skills (tools, repairs, installations)
• Organized, detail-oriented team players
• Individuals committed to disability rights, access, and anti-ableism
• Bilingual candidates and people with lived experience of disability are strongly encouraged to apply

This is a full-time, hybrid position, primarily based in West Oakland and Berkeley, with some remote flexibility.

CIL encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds — you don’t need to meet every requirement to apply.

More info and apply here: https://bit.ly/4t3F2lk

Be part of a movement rooted in dignity, choice, and freedom for all.