ORLANDO, Fla. — For 50 years, the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida (CIL) has worked with children and adults with disabilities, allowing each of their clients to create their own success story.

What You Need To Know

The Center for Independent Living in Central Florida (CIL) celebrates 50 years 

The organization has helped hundreds of adults with disabilities so far this year

It provides resources for kids, adults and seniors 

This National Disability Employment Awareness month, Spectrum News met with a CIL graduate who works in downtown Orlando

Devin Bane has worked at the AC Hotel Orlando Downtown for two years. He received on-the-job training through CIL.

“They helped us get the experience we needed, and that’s how I got the job after,” said Bane.

Bane says his family is proud of him, but he’s proud of himself, too.

“(It’s) exciting and makes me able to make money and how to use it and what to spend it on, and it’s teaching me how to save on all that, too,” said Bane.

So far this year, CIL staff has helped 650 central Floridians with disabilities. It served 32 people with disabilities through youth transition programs.

“The turnover rate is much less because a lot of folks that have a disability, they’re either very grateful or they’re very adamant about their routine, so they love coming to work, they love doing their job, they love being reliable and they’re a wonderful resource for the working world at large,” said Adrian Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is a transitional employment specialist at CIL. He says Bane has a learning disability, which inspires others. Currently, four young men participate in a separate CIL youth program at the hotel.

“They might look to him and defer to him for his knowledge,” said Gutierrez. “It’s really great because they get to see his success and be like, ‘Wow, someone like me was able to do this,’ and now they work here, and they work part time, and they get a paycheck.”

Patrick Dossou is the director of housekeeping at AC Hotel Orlando Downtown. He checks in on Bane every shift and says he showed interest in the job right away.

“He’s more than capable of doing the task,” said Dossou. “So yes the transition was a little bit different, but not difficult for him. Why, because he already had the coaching needed.”

He told Spectrum News that Bane is one of the friendliest on staff, doesn’t let his disability get in the way of hard work, and inspires others.

“I have learned a lot from him is that regardless of what life throws at you, how to just get up from it and moving on,” said Dossou.

For information on the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, click here.