News

  • Accessible parking spots are at a premium during the winter due to snow removal issues. IndependenceFirst's ADA Advocacy team is educating the community via PSAs on the radio. Accessible parking spaces are for people with disabilities only--not their relatives or friends to borrow! Please be respectful of the law and use of accessible parking. For more information contact Diana at dsullivan@independencefirst.org .

    <click here to see the State laws>




  • On December 19th, IndependenceFirst received an early Holiday gift for its Youth Programs and we are SO Grateful! As a "Miracle on Canal Street" Charity, IndependenceFirst received $54,888 at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino "Miracle on Canal Street" Bingo Bash!

    <click here for details>




  • Are you still looking to give this season? Check out our listing at OnMilwaukee.Com to know what's on our wish list!

    <click to see wishlist and scroll down to IndependenceFirst>




  • IndependenceFirst's Accessibility Consultants were brought in to work on the home design for the "Hometown Heroes: Family Edition" in Grafton.

    <Click here to see more on the project>




  • In mid-October, IndependenceFirst matched over 80 high schoolers with disabilities with employers in their career field of interest for job shadowing and career exploration on National Disability Mentoring Day.

    <click here for pictures>




  • IndependenceFirst's own Becca Murray became the youngest female to play on Team USA for Women's Wheelchair Basketball in the Paralympic Games in Bejing, China--and she won the gold medal with the team! To learn more about Becca and see her homecoming (Note:  video NOT captioned)


    click here for more>


Sign up for our free
email newsletter:

Your Name:
Email:
Available Newsletters:
 Action News
 Breaking Away
Employer Update

Select Your Format:
Visual Format
Text-Only Format
(select 'Text-Only' if using a screen-reader)




Using This Site

IndependenceFirst strives to be accessible in all the information we provide to the community. Please select the Display Settings link to view our site in alternative color schemes.
For assistance on using this site or for more information about this site please select Help.
For more information on accessible web site design please visit our Accessibility Resources page.

Happy Holidays from IndependenceFirst!

Please be aware that IndependenceFirst's offices will be closed on Thursday, December 25th and Thursday, January 1st for the holidays. We wish you a Happy and Prosperous 2009! 

And, don't forget that IndependenceFirst can use your charitable donation this year to continue to provide the necessary services we offer to people with disabilities in the four county Metro Milwaukee area. Here's our wish list if you are out shopping and would like to contribute to our programs with a gift:

New set of pots and pans for our Independent Living Training Kitchen 

New set of dishes for our Independent Living Training Kitchen 

New kitchen towels, oven mitts and potholders for our Independent Living Training Kitchen

New trivets for our Independent Living Training Kitchen 

Used personal or business computers for our Computer Recycling Program  

<click here for more criteria info>

Thank you for your friendship and help at this time of year!

click here for pictures of the new building 

Welcome to IndependenceFirst

Since 1979, IndependenceFirst is your primary resource on access and independent living for people with disabilities primarily serving four-county Metro Milwaukee.

Over 51% of IndependenceFirst's onsite staff, managers and Board have disabilities! With our vision for full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of the community, IndependenceFirst is truly consumer-controlled and "walking the talk."

IndependenceFirst provides many services for the community, businesses, people with disabilities and their families. So, bookmark this, link it and check back to stay up to date on IndependenceFirst activities!




 

Spotlight

a celebration of caring coffee table book

Our Book on Caregiving

A Celebration of Caregiving: Portraits & Stories is the our IndependenceFirst book that features 41 inspiring vignettes about the relationships between caregivers and the people they assist, accompanied by striking B/W and color photographs
which illustrate those relationships. It showcases the contributions of caregivers so that the value of the work they perform will be better understood and appreciated by all. For more about the book, please visit www.caregivingbook.org 

To order the book now, see http://www.independencefirst.org/Store/category.asp
 




 



Classes & Events

  • 2/7/2009 Free Tax Preparation and Filing
    at IndependenceFirst
    9:00am-3:00pm


  • 2/2/2009 Free Tax Preparation and Filing
    at IndependenceFirst
    9:00am-5:30pm


  • 1/31/2009 Free Tax Preparation and Filing
    at IndependenceFirst
    9:00am-3:00pm


  • 1/1/2009 Class Syllabus
    More >>




Get Involved

  • Looking to make a tax-deductible contribution to a worthy nonprofit cause? Want to get involved in advocacy efforts? Have extra time you’d like to donate to a nonprofit?
    IndependenceFirst can use your time, talent and treasure!
    Find out how you can help. >