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Join Us in Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting Independence!
Thank you to all that attended our 30th Anniversary Celebration! We celebrated 30 years of inclusion, independence, and empowerment of people with disabilities and look forward to many more years.
Congratulations to all our Award Recipients for promoting and supporting Independent Living in Ohio.
The Doris Brennan Award – The Ability Center of Greater Toledo
The Advocate of the Year Award – Maria Matzik
The Independent Living Award – Melanie Hogan
The Disability Community Champion Award – Breaking Silences
The Disability Policy Impact Award – State Senator Mark Romanchuk & State Representative Scott Oelslager
OSILC's Why IL Campaign
As part of the 30 Year Anniversary Celebration of the SILC, we’d like to hear from you! We want to know what Independent Living Means to you!
We have several sets of questions you can choose from depending on whether you are a
consumer, CIL staff, CIL Board Member, SILC members…
Using Vocal Video links provided below, you can record your answers via video or audio only.
All responses collected will be unveiled in October as part of the 30 Year Anniversary Celebration of the SILC.
About the Questions:
(Download Questions/Instructions)
IL Philosophy – These can be completed by anyone, SILC Members, CIL Staff, CIL Board Members, and consumers.
Question 1: Introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.
Question 2: What does Independent Living mean to you?
Question 3: Please share why the IL philosophy is important
Consumer Personal Story – These questions are specific to individuals that have worked with your CIL that are willing to share how working with the CIL has impacted them personally.
Question 1: Introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.
Question 2: How has the Independent Living Center worked with you to achieve your goals?
Question 3: Why should other people contact the Center?
CIL Staff – These are questions for CIL staff to be able to share what they do at their Center, the impacts they have on individuals and in the community. This will help to show more of the work done in CILs.
Question 1: Introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.
Question 2: Tell us a little about what you do in your job at the Center and what your favorite part is about the work you do.
Question 3: Without sharing personal information, do you have any impact stories you would like to share?
Center Impact In the Community – These can be done by anyone that can share why CILs are important in working in their community. It could be about advocacy accomplishments, partnerships with other organizations, or any other aspect that the CILs work in the community.
Question 1: Introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.
Question 2: Please give an example of how Independent Living Movement has impacted your community.
Question 3: Without sharing personal information, do you have any impact stories you would like to share?
How to provide a response:
– After selecting a set of questions, simply click the link to be taken to a website to complete your video response.
– You will be taken to a website where you will see the photo/video release and a pink button that says “Let’s Go”
– After you hit Lets Go. You will be taken to a page that shows the first question on the left side of the screen. On the right side, you will see the buttons to complete a video or audio response.
– After clicking video, your camera on your computer or phone will turn on and be shown onthe right side of the screen. Click Start Recording when you are ready to provide a reply.
– You can re-record as many times as you would like.
– You will do the same for the next questions.
– On the last page you will enter in your name and email address and you are done!
30th Anniversary Awards
In Recognition of the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council’s 30th Anniversary, the Council wishes to recognize leaders in our community for the outstanding work promoting independence for Ohioans with disabilities.
There are 5 awards that we hope to acknowledge those leaders with this year and for years to come. a more fair and equitable society for persons with disabilities.
Thank you for your nominations. Nominations are now closed.
Awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 at the Ohio Statehouse during the OSILC 30th Anniversary Celebration!
The Doris Brennan Award – The Ability Center of Greater Toledo
In honor of Doris’ powerful legacy, this award will be presented to a Center for Independent Living for promoting innovative work in independent living in Ohio.
Simple lessons that Doris Brennan taught: treat people with dignity and respect; give people an opportunity to succeed; do what you can to help others. Doris had a devastating automobile accident as a teen, resulting in a spinal cord injury. Not allowing her disability to stop her, she and a colleague started the first Center for Independent Living in Ohio in 1980 Services for Independent Living (SIL) in Cleveland. Then in 1986, she became the first Executive Director of Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP) and served in this capacity until her passing in 2000. She was also the first Centerfor Independent Living director to be appointed on the SILC Board of Directors in Ohio. She served on the Ohio Governor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities and received numerous awards and recognition for her work over the course of her lifetime. Brennan was present at the 1990 signing of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act in Washington D.C., and in 1998 she was the first Ohioan inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Persons with Disabilities.
The “grande dame” or great lady of independent living gained respect and recognition from governors, legislators, mayors along with foot soldiers within the movement. She had poise and composure while everyone around her was arguing, and she had an amazing ability to tactfully bring closure to that argument after listening attentively to all sides. Doris left a powerful legacy of disability policy innovation, compassion and social change that has resulted in a more fair and equitable society for persons with disabilities. In honor of Doris’ powerful legacy, this award will be presented to a Center for Independent Living for promoting innovative work in independent living in Ohio.
The Advocate of the Year Award – Maria Matzik
In recognition of all of the great contributions to independent living throughout the year, this award will be presented to an individual with a disability that is working to promote the advancement of independent living in their community and/or the state.
The Independent Living Award – Melanie Hogan
Oftentimes, we become so consumed in our day-to-day work and the many challenges facing the disability community today, that we so often forget to stop and recognize our accomplishments along the way. This award is being presented to a Center for Independent Living Staff Member or Board Member for their outstanding work and contributions to the independent living movement.
The Disability Community Champion Award – Breaking Silences
Centers for Independent Living work tirelessly to educate, change and mold the landscape of our communities promoting the independent living philosophy and importance of inclusion. However, there are community organizations that stand out along the way who support and further our mission and work alongside CILs every day. This award goes to a community organization that works closely with a Center for Independent Living to promote the philosophy of independent and disability rights for individuals with disabilities in Ohio, or their local community.
The Disability Policy Impact Award – State Senator Mark Romanchuk & State Representative Scott Oelslager
Systems Change Advocacy has a significant impact on the lives of persons with disabilities and oftentimes requires influence not only from disability organization leaders but from policy makers. We wish to recognize those that have made significant policy impacts and contributions toward the advancement of independence and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ohio.
