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By Scott Bartlett, Advocacy Specialist Approximately one in ten Americans live with a disability which is not easily observable. These are sometimes called ‘hidden’ disabilities. Examples…
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by Scott Bartlett, Advocacy Specialist The best part of advocacy to me is telling people with disabilities that they can do something they wish to do,…
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by Scott Bartlett, Advocacy Specialist July is an important month for disability advocacy. You might be aware that July marks the anniversary of the Americans with…
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The following quote is from congress in 1972 upon the creation of social security income (SSI): “Building on the present social security program, [the Social Security Amendments…
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June 22nd marks the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Act. I want to take a moment to reflect on this landmark case because of its importance to the…
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On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all Americans can reflect on the movement for civil rights in the United States and its achievements as well as…
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Even those of us who look forward to the holidays as a time to celebrate with friends and family know that this time of year can…
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in the U.S. more than 30 years ago. One of its requirements is for health care providers, from…
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October is one of the most important months for disability awareness in the United States, being the month designated for awareness of more than a dozen…
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Not only is September Deaf Awareness Month, the International Day of Sign Language is celebrated on September 23rd. When it comes to American Sign Language…
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Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common lifelong physical disability in the world. It affects roughly 1 million people in the U.S. and 18 million people…
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August means the start of a new school year! For teachers, this is a perfect time to consider Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This approach structures…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14876″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Imagine you are involved in an accident and need to temporarily use a walker. On the day you return to work, you must park…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”14800″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]In 1943, General George S. Patton infamously assaulted two soldiers in separate incidents after visiting injured men in different Army hospitals. These…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”14772″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Just in time for Global Accessibility Awareness Day , The Independence Center (The IC) and Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) have partnered to…
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May 6 – 12 is National Nurse’s Week 2022. We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the nurses who work here at The…
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May 6 – 12 is National Nurse’s Week 2022. We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the nurses who work here at The…
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May 6 – 12 is National Nurse’s Week 2022. We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the nurses who work here at The…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Imagine that you trip and break your arm. Now imagine that you’re so embarrassed that you don’t tell your friends or family. You don’t even…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”14731″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text] “If I could snap my fingers and be non-autistic, I would not. Autism is part of what I am.” -Temple Grandin,…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”14658″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Photo credit: J. Leigh Photography[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]February 28 is designated as Rare Disease Day, which raises awareness for the 300 million people worldwide living…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, he urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]By the time you read this, I will have officially retired after 10 years as CEO of The Independence Center. Ten years! How did that…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Sometimes there’s a spark that changes everything. The spark could be a chance meeting or an exceptional teacher or just a different route home. Whatever…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Filling the shoes of Patricia Yeager is a tall order. But new CEO Indy Frazee is up to the challenge! As Patricia put it, “Indy…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Oxford English Dictionary defines independence as “The freedom to organize your own life, make your own decisions, etc. without needing help from other people.” This…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]For people with low vision, reading a book, a label, or a printed work document isn’t as easy as throwing on a pair of glasses.…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]In the U.S., around 61 million adults – or one in four – have a disability. That means that the odds are good that a…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]This country and its citizens owe so much to our veterans. No matter the branch, no matter how long they served or where, our veterans…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]It seemed that the world turned upside down in March 2020. Suddenly, our entire lives were altered in one way or another. Whether it was…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Did you know that right now, there’s more than one job opening for every American who wants to work? Despite this, people with disabilities continue…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Each year since 1992, December 3 has been recognized as International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD). We join with others around the globe today…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Today, on Veterans’ Day, we pause to give thanks for all the men and women who have put on the uniform; who pledged to support and…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]After 10 years as The Independence Center’s (The IC’s) chief executive officer, Patricia Yeager, Ph.D., has announced she will retire from the organization effective November…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]In February of this year, Amtrak agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a lawsuit due to an alleged lack of accessibility at some of…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Day in and day out, nurses give their all to provide care and comfort as they protect and save lives. While nurses always work hard,…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Late last year, The Independence Center (The IC) was named one of The Gazette’s “Best Workplaces” for 2020. This award is especially meaningful to me because…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Drew Wills loves a challenge. On any given day, you can find the Colorado Springs attorney on a mountain biking trail in Stratton Open Space,…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Local, state, and federal governments are working quickly to get the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible. El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) is…
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Imagine going to bed one night and waking up in a world in which you can’t understand anyone. To make matters worse, you find it impossible…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Home. It’s a word that means different things to different people. Safety. Security. Stability. Comfort. A home is more than just four walls and a…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]“My vote is my voice…and the voice of all who struggled so that I may have my voice.” – Lydia Obasi The disability community in…
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As Black History Month winds down, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the African-American civil rights movement and the impact that Black activists…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]We are excited to announce that The Independence Center was recently recognized as one of the Gazette’s Best Workplaces for 2020. This award is special…
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Written by Carrie Baatz, Community Training Coordinator for The IC Originally published by Colorado Community Health Alliance In this season of COVID-19, we are living in…
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By Rebecca Hull, IL Specialist Outreach Almost overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we communicate. Everything from school classes to work meetings to religious services…
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Congratulations to The Independence Center’s CEO, Patricia Yeager, Ph.D., who was recently named as a 2020 Women of Influence award winner by the Colorado Springs Business…
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With the election just days away, the deadline has passed to return your ballot by mail. However, we invite you to join us here at The Independence…
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The pandemic has caused a seismic shift in how we work, learn, obtain services, and interact with each other. Before social distancing, meeting/communication platforms like Zoom,…
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During Colorado’s stay-at-home order, issued to combat the pandemic, The Independence Center’s halls were empty for almost three months. So when restrictions were finally eased,…
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COVID-19 has not just had an impact on the physical health of those in our community. Job and income losses due to the pandemic have increased…
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Living in a rural community has many benefits, including a lower cost of living, a feeling of safety, and a sense of belonging. But for people…
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When Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis issued a statewide stay-at-home order in March due to the coronavirus, most of The IC’s staff had to figure out new…
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Each July, The IC celebrates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with an in-person event. Hundreds of people attend the free luncheon to…
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As a nonprofit, The Independence Center couldn’t do what we do without the generous support of individuals, foundations, and community partners. Recently, two Foundations recognized The…
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The following is adapted from an op-ed originally published in The Gazette and written by Kelsey Sandella, The IC’s former Community Organizing Assistant. When this year…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13125″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]In September 2020, The Independence Center conducted a survey of several thousand individuals in Southern Colorado. The goal of the survey was…
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The Aging and Disability Business Institute has presented The Independence Center with The John A. Hartford Foundation 2020 Business Innovation Award Honorable Mention. The Independence Center…
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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Dear friends, As we enter the final few months of 2020, we here at The Independence Center are looking toward the future. Our…
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Maya Angelou, the late Poet Laureate wrote, “When we know better, we do better.” After the Waldo Canyon Fire, our community took those words to heart…
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At The Independence Center (The IC), our goal is to help increase independence and accessibility for people with disabilities. To do this, we not only work…
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In the Spring of 2018, Steve Frost had an epileptic seizure while driving. He went to UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, spent three months there, got out,…
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The Independence Center (The IC) is widely known in the region for its Independent Living services. However, its commitment to people with disabilities doesn’t stop there. Through…
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Over the last few months, most of us have learned the basics of what we need to survive during a national or local emergency. But for…
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During any emergency, all citizens should have equal access to information that potentially affects their lives. That’s why The IC has put such emphasis on emergency…
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Most of us don’t think twice about grabbing the remote to change channels. But for people with mobility disabilities – like those with quadriplegia or ALS…
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It seems like it’s been years since we were able to gather as a group and have an experience together. But it was only a few …
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What do you do when life as you know it comes to a screeching halt? You take a cue from what people with disabilities have always…
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To our consumers, clients, and friends, It’s hard to believe it’s been almost three months since we closed our buildings to outside visitors. We made the…
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Dear friends, Like so many others in our country and across the world, I am horrified by the murder of George Floyd. Even more horrific is…
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To help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the safety of both patients and providers, many dental practices are delaying routine procedures like…
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Dear friends, Starting this week, Colorado is transitioning from the stay-at-home order to the safer-at-home phase. Although residents are no longer ordered to stay at home,…
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Dear friends, We all appreciate the heroes in the health care field who are putting themselves on the front lines for our safety. But unfortunately, some…
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Dear friends, These days, it seems that everywhere we turn, there’s bad news. And because we’re all so connected through our computers, tablets, and phones, it…