Center for Independent Living - Berkeley

Center for Independent Living - Berkeley CIL supports and empowers people who aspire to achieve beyond the boundaries of the expectations

The Center for Independent Living (TheCIL) provides advocacy and services that increase awareness, collaboration, and opportunity among people with disabilities and the community. Our programs provide people with skills, knowledge, and resources that empower them to eliminate damaging and stereotypical notions of disability to strive toward realizing their full human potential. We emerged from the

independent living movement of the 1960s as a powerful social catalyst on the University of California at Berkeley campus. There, Ed Roberts, Hale Zukas, and Jan McEwan Brown joined forces to lead a movement that made the university's full academic and social life accessible to all. On March 3, 1972, these students and community members joined The Center for Independent Living, Inc. From 1975 to 2011, our headquarters were located near the UC Berkeley campus on 2539 Telegraph Avenue. There, we provided services for people with disabilities that included wheelchair repair, assistance finding accessible and affordable housing, and vocational training. TheCIL also hosted the first national conference on independent living in 1975. Our peer-based services were so successful that today we serve as a model for roughly 400 independent living centers nationwide, as well as similar programs in 20 countries.

The CIL is hiring! Join our team in Berkeley, California, and help expand independence, access, and opportunity for peop...
09/03/2026

The CIL is hiring! Join our team in Berkeley, California, and help expand independence, access, and opportunity for people with disabilities.

Current openings:

• Community Independent Living Specialist
Berkeley, CA | Full-time | $33.99/hour

Provide direct services, advocacy, resource navigation, and community outreach to support people with disabilities in living independently.

• Bilingual (Spanish) WAV Driver – Single Rider Program
Berkeley, CA | Full-time | $30.90/hour

Provide safe, reliable, and accessible transportation for people with disabilities. Fluency in English and Spanish and a valid driver’s license are required.

• Youth Programs Specialist
Berkeley, CA | Part-time | $30.90/hour

Support youth with disabilities under 30 through workshops, independent living and self-advocacy skill-building, community outreach, and social programming.

•Youth & Elder Travel Training Specialist
Berkeley, CA | Full-time | $30.71/hour

Help youth and older adults with disabilities build confidence, mobility skills, and independence through personalized travel training and real-world public transit experiences.

People with disabilities, bilingual and bicultural candidates, and individuals from historically marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about each position and apply through the link in our bio.

🌎 Be prepared. Stay informed. Stay safe.Join the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab ...
08/21/2026

🌎 Be prepared. Stay informed. Stay safe.

Join the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab for an Earthquake Readiness Presentation focused on helping our community prepare for emergencies.

📅 Friday, August 28, 2026
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Hybrid — In Person & Zoom
Ed Roberts Campus
3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703

We’ll cover:
🔸 Earthquake safety & preparedness
🔸 Fire & extreme heat preparedness
🔸 Emergency alerts & ways to stay informed

💻 The Zoom link will be provided after registration.

😷 Masks are required for in-person attendees. Masks and COVID-19 tests will be available at the venue if needed.

🔗 Scan the QR code or go to https://bit.ly/4zve9tR to register.

📣 Your voice matters. Join the conversation.More than 50 years ago, the Independent Living Movement took root in Berkele...
08/19/2026

📣 Your voice matters. Join the conversation.

More than 50 years ago, the Independent Living Movement took root in Berkeley around a transformative idea: people with disabilities should have the right to make decisions about their own lives and participate fully in their communities.

On September 15, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) are bringing our communities together for a Disability Community Town Hall.

We want to hear about the issues affecting your independence and your community, with a focus on:

Transportation. Housing. Emergency Preparedness.

📅 September 15 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Ed Roberts Campus | 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley

Share your experiences. Tell us about the barriers you're facing. Help identify priorities for a more accessible and equitable community.

Attendees will also have a chance to win one $100 Lyft voucher or one of two $50 Trader Joe’s gift cards.

Scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/4u9xk8G to RSVP.

Your experience is expertise. Your voice can help drive change.

📣 Build Your Voice. Know Your Rights. Advocate for Yourself!CIL’s Youth Program is launching a three-part, 11-module Sel...
08/12/2026

📣 Build Your Voice. Know Your Rights. Advocate for Yourself!

CIL’s Youth Program is launching a three-part, 11-module Self-Advocacy Workshop series designed to empower disabled youth with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate school, the workplace, and their communities with greater independence.

Participants will explore disability awareness and identity, learn about the history of the disability rights movement, recognize and respond to ableism and discrimination, understand their rights in educational and employment settings, and build practical communication and self-advocacy skills.

♿ All youth with disabilities ages 14–30 are welcome to attend!

📅 Starting August 31, 2026
🕚 Every Monday | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
📍 Osher Room at the Ed Roberts Campus
3075 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703

Scan the QR code or go to https://bit.ly/4fThM5j to sign up!

Questions? Contact Jorge Lara at (510) 422-5089 or [email protected].

Build your skills, strengthen your voice, and connect with your community! 💛

We’re hiring! Join CIL’s Single Rider Program!The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is looking for a full-time Bilingu...
08/12/2026

We’re hiring! Join CIL’s Single Rider Program!

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is looking for a full-time Bilingual (Spanish) WAV Driver to help provide safe, reliable, and accessible transportation for people with disabilities in the Berkeley community.

In this role, you’ll help community members get where they need to go while supporting independence, accessibility, language access, and respectful, person-centered service.

📍 Berkeley, CA
🕒 Full-time | 37.5 hours/week
🗣️ Bilingual English/Spanish required

We’re looking for a compassionate, dependable driver who is committed to disability inclusion and enjoys working with diverse communities.

Interested in joining our team? Scan the QR code or apply today: https://bit.ly/3Sz5iH3

Please share with anyone who might be a great fit!

08/06/2026

🎙️ New Episode of The Independent is Out!

In Episode 9 of The Independent, the podcast from the Center for Independent Living (CIL), host Dr. Victor Pineda sits down with Leroy F. Moore Jr. (poet, writer, founder of Krip-Hop Nation, and co-founder of Sins Invalid) for a powerful conversation exploring the intersections of race, disability, and art.

Leroy has spent decades creating spaces where disabled artists, especially Black and Brown disabled creators, are seen, heard, and celebrated. Together, they discuss:

-How poetry and hip-hop became Leroy’s tools for justice.

-The global impact of Krip-Hop Nation and disabled musicians worldwide.

-How Sins Invalid transformed conversations about disability, sexuality, and beauty.

-What true solidarity looks like across racial justice, disability justice, and the arts.

-The challenges disabled artists face in media and cultural institutions, and how we can challenge ableism together.

-Practical resources for listeners and the voices Leroy wants to uplift

This is a conversation about creativity, community, and building a more inclusive cultural future.

🎧 Listen now:

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4zfSAxF
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hfErK7
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4w4ViTC

If this conversation inspires you, like, share, and subscribe to help amplify disability voices and stories. 💙

We're Hiring! 🌟 Youth Programs Specialist (Part-Time) | Berkeley, CAJoin the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and hel...
07/28/2026

We're Hiring!
🌟 Youth Programs Specialist
(Part-Time) | Berkeley, CA

Join the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and help empower youth with disabilities through advocacy, leadership, independent living skills, and community engagement.

As a Youth Programs Specialist, you'll support workshops, outreach, social clubs, and inclusive programming that advances disability justice while helping young people build confidence, independence, and meaningful connections.

We're looking for someone who is passionate about equity, inclusion, and creating opportunities for youth to thrive.

📍 Location: Berkeley, CA
⏰ Part-Time (with potential to become full-time)
💲 $30.90/hour

📲 Scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/4pIsvCE to learn more and apply.

🎬 Join us for a special double feature celebrating disability history, advocacy, and the power of storytelling!The Cente...
07/23/2026

🎬 Join us for a special double feature celebrating disability history, advocacy, and the power of storytelling!

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is proud to partner with the Roxie Theater, the GLBT Historical Society, and the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities for an inspiring afternoon of film and conversation.

📅 Sunday, July 26
🕐 Starting at 1:00 PM
📍 Roxie Theater, San Francisco

The afternoon begins with SIGN 504 NOW!, a powerful documentary that captures the historic 1977 Section 504 Sit-In—the longest nonviolent occupation of a federal building in U.S. history—and the cross-movement solidarity that helped transform disability rights in America.

Following the screening, join a live panel discussion moderated by Jim LeBrecht, Filmmaker and Director of Crip Camp, featuring:

🎙️ Vivien Hillgrove – Director of VIVIEN'S WILD RIDE and acclaimed Bay Area film editor.

🎙️ Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda – Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living and internationally recognized disability rights advocate.

🎙️ Dr. Kevin Mintz – Disability rights advocate, scholar, and Roxie Community Member.

The event concludes with VIVIEN'S WILD RIDE, a feature-length documentary following filmmaker Vivien Hillgrove as she navigates vision loss, identity, creativity, and disability, redefining belonging through a powerful cinematic journey.

🗓️ Event Schedule

• 1:00 PM – Welcome remarks by Dr. Kevin Mintz
• 1:10 PM – Screening: SIGN 504 NOW!
• 1:50 PM – Live panel discussion
• 2:30 PM – Screening: VIVIEN'S WILD RIDE

🎟️ For more information and to purchase your ticket, scan the QR code or visit:
https://bit.ly/4f1SxgK

We hope you'll join us for this meaningful celebration of disability history, community, and the stories that continue to shape the movement for disability rights.

💛 Shining Families Future is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering working families by providing essential re...
07/23/2026

💛 Shining Families Future is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering working families by providing essential resources, educational opportunities, wellness activities, and mutual aid. Their mission is to help families build a brighter, more inclusive future where everyone has the support they need to thrive.

We're excited to partner with Shining Families Future to bring their Community Closet to the CIL community at our Fruitvale office!

Stop by and receive free:

🧴 Hygiene items
🪥 Toiletries
💄 Makeup
👕 Clothing

📅 Monday, July 27
🕚 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 CIL Fruitvale Office

No registration is required. Supplies are available while they last.

Everyone is welcome! We look forward to seeing you, connecting with our community, and helping make these free resources available to all. 💙

--------------------------------------

💛 Shining Families Future es una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a fortalecer a las familias trabajadoras brindando recursos esenciales, oportunidades educativas, actividades de bienestar y apoyo comunitario. Su misión es ayudar a construir un futuro más inclusivo donde todas las familias tengan las herramientas y oportunidades para prosperar.

Nos entusiasma asociarnos con Shining Families Future para traer su Closet Comunitario a la comunidad de CIL en nuestra oficina de Fruitvale.

Ven a recibir gratuitamente:

🧴 Artículos de higiene
🪥 Artículos de aseo personal
💄 Maquillaje
👕 Ropa

📅 Lunes 27 de julio
🕚 11:00 a. m. – 1:00 p. m.
📍 Oficina de CIL Fruitvale

No es necesario registrarse. Los artículos estarán disponibles hasta agotar existencias.

¡Todas las personas son bienvenidas! Esperamos verte, compartir con nuestra comunidad y acercar estos recursos gratuitos a quienes los necesiten. 💙

Pride is about more than visibility, it's about dignity, identity, and belonging.Disability is a natural part of human d...
07/14/2026

Pride is about more than visibility, it's about dignity, identity, and belonging.

Disability is a natural part of human diversity, not something to hide or overcome. This month honors decades of advocacy that have advanced civil rights, accessibility, and independent living, while recognizing that the fight for equal rights, inclusion, and full participation in society continues.

Swipe through to learn why Disability Pride matters and discover the meaning behind the colors of the Disability Pride Flag.

Together, let's celebrate our community, honor our history, and continue building a world where everyone can live proud and thrive.

Address

3075 Adeline Street Suite 100
Berkeley, CA
94703

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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