LIFE Center for Independent Living

05/27/2026

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

The Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC) is a not-for-profit that provides FREE equipment to individuals are:
* Deaf
* Hard of Hearing
* Late-Deafened
* DeafBlind
* Speech-Disabled

Did you know that LIFE CIL is a selection center for the ITAC Program and we can assist you with the application process, you can see and try some of the equipment in our offices and we can help you order the equipment you need!

To qualify for the program, you must:
* Be a resident of Illinois - provide a copy of your driver's license, state ID card, or a piece of mail showing your address matches the application
* Provide a copy of your most recent phone bill(s) - proof of landline and/or cellular service
* Complete an application that must be signed by a medical professional that the applicant is unable to use a standard phone or needs speech equipment

Want to learn more or wish to apply for equipment?
Please contact us, we are happy to help!

To help us be most prepared to help you, please contact us to make sure someone is available to assist you:

Bloomington: (309) 663-5433 or [email protected]

Pontiac: (815) 844-1132

You can see the types of equipment available through the program by visiting their website:

ITAC is a Not-for-Profit serving the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, Deaf-Blind, and Speech-Disabled communities. Our equipment is designed specifically for people who are having difficulty hearing on the standard phone system.

05/25/2026

LIFE CIL offices are CLOSED today in observance of Memorial Day.

Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is an annual day of remembrance to honor all those who died in service to the U.S. during peacetime and war. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers place American flags on graves at national cemeteries.

This and more can be found on the U.S. Department of War's website: https://www.war.gov/spotlights/Memorial-Day/

LIFE CIL offices will be open again tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26.

Each year on the last Monday in May, the Department of War joins the nation in honoring service members who lost their lives in defense of the nation, and mourns with their families.

05/22/2026

Great ballgame coming to the Corn Crib in Normal tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon. This is a game you don't want to miss! LIFE Center for Independent Living and some of our friends will be there, get your tickets now!

🚨⚾️ TOMORROW MAKES HISTORY. ⚾️🚨

Tomorrow is more than just Opening Day…
it’s the beginning of the VERY FIRST season in Chicago Snowballs history. ❄️💙

A brand new team.
A brand new journey.
And a chance to build something special from the ground up with our players, coaches, staff, and fans every single step of the way.

From the first pitch…
to the first hit…
to the first win…
every moment this weekend becomes part of history forever. 🙌

This team is about energy, passion, family, fun, and bringing people together through baseball. Whether you’re cheering in the stands, dancing between innings, or supporting from afar — YOU are part of this first chapter.

📍 The Corn Crib — Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
🗓️ Saturday, May 23 — 6:30 PM
🗓️ Sunday, May 24 — 1:00 PM

The countdown is over.
The wait is done.
The inaugural season starts TOMORROW. ⚾️🔥

Let’s make history together, Snowballs family. ❄️

05/22/2026

REMINDER -
LIFE CIL offices will be CLOSED on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

We will be back in the office on Tuesday, May 26.

image is a dark blue background and in white letters it says "We will be closed for Memorial Day". To the right is an American flag waving.

05/19/2026

May is also Arthritis Awareness Month

Basic Facts About Arthritis:

* About 1 in 4 adults and hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed by a doctor with a form of arthritis or related illness.

* Contrary to the common misconception, it’s not just an “old person’s” disease.

* About two-thirds of those living with arthritis are aged 65 and under.

* There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related rheumatic diseases.

* As our nation’s top cause of disability, arthritis costs the U.S. economy over $300 billion annually in medical bills, lost wages and associated expenses.

* Most people with arthritis also have comorbidities — accompanying conditions, like heart disease, diabetes and obesity — that further jeopardizes their health.

All of this and more can be found at the Arthritis Foundation's website:

Find out why May is Arthritis Awareness Month and why it’s important to make more people understand this leading cause of disability.

05/18/2026

Planning Ahead -
One week from today, LIFE CIL offices will be CLOSED in observance of Memorial Day.

image shows part of a calendar with a yellow note that says "PLAN AHEAD" in red letters.

05/17/2026

May 17 was specifically chosen as the day to observe IDAHOBIT to commemoriate the World Health Organizations's decision in 1990 to declassify homos*xuality as a mental disorder.

IDAHOBIT is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Inters*xphobia, and Transphobia.

The main goal of the May 17 events is to help people learn about the violence, unfair treatment, and discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ people around the world. The day also encourages people to speak with the media, leaders, communities, and the public to support equality and change.

The events can look different in each country or community because cultures, religions, and laws vary around the world. There is no single way to take part, so people organize many different kinds of activities.

Although the day focuses on homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia, it is also about supporting and protecting people of all s*xual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and s*x characteristics. It brings people together to celebrate pride, love, and acceptance while standing against hate and discrimination.

Learn more at

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia[1][2] (IDAHOBIT) is observed on 17 May[1] and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBTQ rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBTQ rights work worldwide. By 2016, the commemorations had taken place....

05/15/2026

May 15 is the International Day of Families.

This day is to celebrate the importance of families and raise awareness of the issues they face around the globe.

As Grace Howarth states, "Whatever form your family may take, from biological to those you choose to play a major part in your life, your nearest and dearest deserve to be celebrated."

You could celebrate by spending quality time with those you are close to and connect with extended family members with a phone call or video chat to catch up and share stories.

You can find this and learn more about the International Day of Families at

Whatever form your family may take, from biological to those you choose to play a major part in your life, your nearest and dearest deserve to be celebrated. International Day…

05/14/2026

Great day advocating at the State Capitol today! LIFE CIL staff and consumers met with elected officials and with colleagues from all over the state also there for INCIL advocacy day!

05/14/2026

Today is Apraxia Awareness Day.

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is a speech sound disorder. A person with AOS has difficulty saying words clearly and correctly, even though they know what they want to say. AOS happens because the brain has trouble planning and coordinating the mouth movements needed for speech. The muscles are not weak—the brain just cannot send the right movement instructions in the correct order.

Learn more about Apraxia of Speech by visiting the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicaito Disorders website:

Apraxia of speech (AOS)—also known as acquired apraxia of speech, verbal apraxia, or childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) when diagnosed in children—is a speech sound disorder. Someone with AOS has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently.