The Access Center

08/28/2026

Discover the Access Center's Information and Referral Service!
Ever needed info but had no time to search? ACIL's I&R service is here to help!
I&R is a key service provided by ACIL and CILs nationwide, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to vital information and resources. CILs serve as community hubs, offering personalized guidance and support.
CILs provide current info on:
- Accessible housing
- Educational resources
- Assistive tech
- Job opportunities
- Transport options
- Healthcare services
- Financial aid
Need ACIL’s I&R service? Call 937-341-5202 for help finding specific resources. Connect with our I&R Specialist, Terry Cammack, who will gather your info and assist in locating what you need.
“It’s crucial for consumers to give me time to find what they need and maintain realistic expectations,” Terry says.
REDI Program inquiries and accessible housing requests are common. Terry emphasizes the need for detailed info on budget, income, and location to provide effective help.
I&R aims to empower consumers to help themselves. For example, if you request legal aid, Terry will refer you to Disability Rights Ohio, providing contact info without making the call for you. Similarly, he provides housing listings rather than visiting locations.
ACIL is available for I&R requests Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Multiple calls on the same topic, like employment, may lead to a referral to an Independent Living Specialist.
While the ACIL team may not have all the answers, we are committed to finding them! Over the past year, we've referred individuals to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, recommended RTA Connect for transport, and more. Our resource database is ever-growing.
Questions about ACIL’s I&R Program? Contact Terry at 937-341-5202 Ext 110 or [email protected].

08/27/2026

Help Increase Our Visibility!

Since 1984, the Access Center has been dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve independence in the community. We offer essential services such as Information & Referral, Peer Support, Independent Living Skills Training, and Advocacy on individual, self, and systemic levels. Our Individual Transitioning services help ease the journey to independence.

Additionally, through our REDI Program, we provide recycled medical equipment, supporting health and accessibility needs. Our Youth Transitions initiative and the Think This is Easy? program raise awareness and understanding of disability challenges.

Despite our long-standing presence, many people are still unaware of the services we offer. As a local non-profit, we rely on the generosity of individuals like you to continue our mission. Your donations are crucial for expanding our reach and enhancing our visibility on social media, allowing us to connect and support more people in need.

Join us in making a difference! If you would like to contribute or learn more about our work, please visit http://www.acils.com/make-a-difference/.

Together, we can create a more inclusive community. Thank you for your support! 🤝

We also provide recycled medical equipment through our REDI Program. We work with Youth Transitions and provide Disability Awareness training through our Think This is Easy? program. As a local non-profit based in the community, donations from individuals are a vital part of our continued services.....

08/26/2026

Respectful disability language matters, but respectful language alone does not create equality.

A friend may say all the right things, but still forget about accessibility when making plans.

A business may use person-first language when talking about disability, but still have a main entrance that people using mobility aids cannot access.

A workplace may avoid outdated terminology and still refuse an accommodation.

A church may talk about inclusion, but still show videos without captions.

Language matters, but we also need fewer barriers.

Equality is not created by finding the perfect way to talk about disability.

Equality comes from creating a world where people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Image Description: A graphic with a warm blush background and muted watercolor-style botanical accents. Large brown handwritten-style text in the center reads, "Equality is not created by finding the perfect way to talk about disability.”

In the upper-left corner is an illustration of a person using a wheelchair. In the lower-right corner, another wheelchair user is shown holding hands with a standing person. Decorative floral arrangements frame the upper-right and lower-left corners, featuring roses, layered leaves, and dried botanical elements.

08/25/2026

If you think walking is the only progress worth celebrating, you're missing out on so much more.

I often see this with kids with disabilities. The first question is always some version of: "Will she ever walk?" or "Has therapy helped her walk yet?" as if walking is the ultimate goal.

For some kids, walking might be a goal, but for others, it may never be. Focusing solely on walking could mean missing out on working on things that truly enhance their everyday lives.

Progress can be as simple as gaining enough head control to look around, tolerating a new position longer, reaching for a toy, learning a new way to communicate, or finding equipment that allows them to relax.

Progress can also mean fewer seizures, better secretion management, recovering faster from illness, maintaining weight, or having less pain. It can be learning how to say YES or NO without words.

Sometimes progress is obvious to everyone, while other times, it’s so subtle that only those who know the child deeply recognize it. And sometimes, maintaining a skill is an achievement in itself.

We need to stop treating walking as the ultimate proof of improvement or worth. Walking should never be the only measure of progress. There are countless ways for a child to move forward without taking a single step.



Image Description : The image depicts a child in a wheelchair looking at two signs, one indicating "Walking X" and the other "So Much More ✓." A winding path with footprints leads to various icons representing different aspects of progress, such as small steps, connection, communication, comfort, strength, independence, and new skills, accompanied by the text "Progress isn't one size fits all." and "All progress counts."

08/24/2026

Please stop making wheelchair users search for an entrance we can actually use.

If everyone else can use the front door, wheelchair users shouldn’t have to circle the building, follow confusing signs, go through an alley, find a loading dock, or ask multiple employees where the accessible entrance is.

That isn’t welcoming.

Access should never feel like a scavenger hunt.

An accessible entrance should be easy to find, clearly marked, and unlocked.

Whenever possible, wheelchair users should be able to use the same entrance as everyone else.

A place isn’t truly accessible just because a wheelchair user can eventually get inside.

Real accessibility means being welcomed in with the same dignity and ease as everyone else.

Image Description: A pink graphic featuring the text, "Real accessibility means everyone can enter with dignity." above an image of a small bakery.

08/19/2026

🌟 Stay Informed with Enabling Access! 🌟
Stay current with the latest updates from the Access Center for Independent Living! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Enabling Access, and be among the first to hear about our events, advocacy opportunities, and more in Dayton and its surrounding areas.
Join us in empowering residents of Dayton and nearby communities to flourish in their chosen environments! Sign up now to receive future newsletters directly in your inbox.
🔗 Subscribe at http://www.acils.com/news

Community Corner (August ’26)-Local Park Will Undergo Accessibility-Focused Rennovation Cromer Park will soon be more inclusive and welcoming to all thanks to a renovation focused on enhancing the accessibility and features of the park. Read More » August 3, 2026

08/19/2026

As kids head back to school, here's your annual reminder:

Teach your children to include others, not judge them. Encourage them to ask questions rather than make assumptions. Show them the importance of being kind to those who do things differently. Remind them to never make anyone feel “less than” because they learn, move, communicate, or experience life in unique ways.

And parents — don’t feel bad for a second if your child has an IEP, a 504 plan, extra support, accommodations, an aide, or anything else they need to succeed. These are not things to be embarrassed about; they are tools to help your child thrive. ❤️

Here's to a school year where every kid feels like they belong.

08/17/2026

Help Increase Our Visibility!
Since 1984, the Access Center has been dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve independence in the community. We offer essential services such as Information & Referral, Peer Support, Independent Living Skills Training, and Advocacy on individual, self, and systemic levels. Our Individual Transitioning services help ease the journey to independence.
Additionally, through our REDI Program, we provide recycled medical equipment, supporting health and accessibility needs. Our Youth Transitions initiative and the Think This is Easy? program raise awareness and understanding of disability challenges.
Despite our long-standing presence, many people are still unaware of the services we offer. As a local non-profit, we rely on the generosity of individuals like you to continue our mission. Your donations are crucial for expanding our reach and enhancing our visibility on social media, allowing us to connect and support more people in need.
Join us in making a difference! If you would like to contribute or learn more about our work, please visit http://www.acils.com/make-a-difference/.
Together, we can create a more inclusive community. Thank you for your support! 🤝

We also provide recycled medical equipment through our REDI Program. We work with Youth Transitions and provide Disability Awareness training through our Think This is Easy? program. As a local non-profit based in the community, donations from individuals are a vital part of our continued services.....

08/17/2026

ADA requirements are the floor, not the ceiling.

Meeting the minimum legal requirement for accessibility should never be the ultimate goal.

A business might meet all the legal requirements but still make disabled people feel left out.

It is one thing to be able to enter a building, but another to move around easily once inside.

Having just one accessible seat is not the same as having enough accessible seating for several people.

There is a meaningful difference between just having an accessible restroom and keeping it clean and usable.

Making an accommodation easy to use is very different from forcing someone to search for an employee to get help.

Following the law is not the same as truly making disabled people feel welcome.

The ADA has provided very important protections.

But "technically compliant" should not be where our expectations end.

People with disabilities deserve better than just the legal minimum.

Image Description: A graphic with a crumbled paper background. The text reads, "It is one thing to be able to enter a building, but another to move around easily once inside." There is a decorative green circle around the text.

08/12/2026

Meet Becky Ogle, disability rights activist, access consultant, and namesake for the first-ever Barbie to use a wheelchair - Becky!
Becky was released by Mattel in 1997. The rest of Barbie’s world was not adapted to accommodate Becky’
Becky’s wheelchair did not fit through the doorways or into the elevator of the Barbie Dreamhouse. Becky was discontinued shortly thereafter. The first Barbie’s Dreamhouse that was accessible to wheelchair-using Barbies was made in 2021.