National Council on Independent Living

Community Conversation: Federal Funding and Government Shutdown Impact on The Independent Living Program
2025-10-09 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Detroit)
In light of the recent government shutdown, we know many of you have questions about how this may affect funding and your programs. We want to hear from you! We invite you to join a community conversation so that your voice and experiences will guide our advocacy and response efforts.

NCIL is hosting this community conversation to:

Answer any questions we can about the shutdown

Discuss potential impacts on Part B-funded CILs and SILCs

Understand how your communities are being affected

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025Time: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Eastern Location: Zoom

Register online

This is an open space for dialogue, and we encourage anyone to attend. Your insights are essential as we work to advocate for the needs of our community during this time.

If you have specific questions or concerns you’d like addressed during the session, please feel free to submit them on the registration form or email them in advance to NCIL Advocacy and Public Policy Director Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org.

ASL and CART will be provided. If you need other accommodations, please contact Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Digital Accessibility for CILs, SILCs and other Non-Profits
2025-10-23 15:00 - 16:00
Archive:

Webinar archive

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (Word)

Transcript (Word)

Digital accessibility shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Yet many organizations struggle with the technical complexity of making their websites genuinely accessible—not just compliant on paper, but truly usable for people with disabilities.

That’s why the National Council on Independent Living is partnering with ArcStone and Insi to offer free web accessibility training specifically designed for disability advocacy organizations and Centers for Independent Living.

The recording of this webinar is available to NCIL members through the Empowerment Training Academy.

What You’ll Learn

This isn’t another compliance-focused webinar that leaves you confused. We’re covering practical accessibility fundamentals you can implement immediately:

Online accessibility basics including Section 508, WCAG guidelines, and what different compliance levels actually mean for your organization

An overview of accessibility fundamentals from structural foundations and design choices to content creation and interactive features

Accessibility tools you can use today—we’ll demonstrate free browser tools, professional scanning platforms, and show you what automated tools can and cannot do

Real demonstrations of Chrome Lighthouse, WAVE, ANDI, and Insi’s automated scanning technology

Throughout the session, we’ll address your specific challenges, from whether you have accessibility experts on staff to how your current website designs address accessibility requirements.

Why This Partnership Matters

NCIL members are uniquely positioned to lead by example in digital accessibility. Your websites serve people with disabilities every day. When Centers for Independent Living and disability rights organizations prioritize genuine accessibility over superficial compliance, it demonstrates what’s truly possible.

This training represents a collaboration between NCIL’s advocacy expertise, ArcStone’s two decades of WordPress experience, and Insi’s accessibility scanning technology. Together, we’re bringing insightful and practical accessibility training to organizations that need it most.

Beyond the Webinar

We’re keeping this session interactive. You’ll have opportunities to ask specific questions about your website challenges, and we’ll address common obstacles facing disability advocacy organizations—from limited technical staff to competing priorities.

You’ll also receive post-webinar materials and exclusive discounts on professional accessibility tools as a NCIL member.

Whether you’re just beginning your accessibility journey or looking to strengthen existing efforts, you’ll leave with practical knowledge and actionable next steps for creating more inclusive digital experiences.

Community Conversation: Changing Landscape – Food Insecurity and the Independent Living Network
2025-10-30 15:00 - 16:30
Register online

Considering the recent federal policy changes from recently-passed legislation (H.R. 1) and the government shutdown, we know many of you have questions about how this may affect your programs and the communities you serve.

We want to hear from you! We invite you to join a community conversation where your voice and experiences will guide our advocacy and response efforts.

NCIL will be hosting a community conversation to:

Answer any questions we can related to changes in federal policy

Discuss potential impacts on CIL programming

Discuss partnerships and actions CILs and SILCs can take to support the communities we serve

Understand how your communities are being affected

Hear why food benefits are important to you!

This is an open space for dialogue, and we encourage anyone to attend. Your insights are essential as we work to advocate for the needs of our community during this time.

If you have specific questions or concerns you’d like addressed during the session, you can submit them on the registration form or by emailing NCIL Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org.

ASL and CART will be provided. If you need accommodations, please email jessica@ncil.org.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Preserving ADA Parking Community Conversation: The Policy Challenge Spreading Across States
2026-02-17 14:00 - 15:30
Archive:

Webinar recording

Presentation (PDF)

Transcript (Word)

The National Council on Independent Living and United Spinal Association are coming together for a community conversation and educational meeting on what people with disabilities, allies, and community members can do to protect disability rights and access to accessible parking.

Several states across the country are considering or have passed legislation that would allow anyone who is pregnant to use ADA designated parking spaces for a full year regardless of whether their pregnancy has impacted their mobility.

This meeting will explain what’s happening, why it matters, and how we can work collectively to educate our local communities and to ensure that people with disabilities continue to have access to accessible parking spaces.

ASL and Cart will be provided. Please reach out to NCIL Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at jessica@ncil.org if you have any questions or accommodation requests.

PARTNER EVENT: Building Financial Independence
2026-04-14 15:00 - 16:30
Building Financial Independence: The ABLE Age Adjustment Act and Tools to Support Financial Empowerment

Hosted by the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC)

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