Building a world where everyone is Known, Valued, & Included

The IC Fund Supports Accessibility in Our Community

[Image description: Eight people, including The IC's CEO Indy Frazee, stand in front of a banner with The IC's logos while smiling for the camera.]

For many years, The Independence Center has used The IC Fund to invest in nonprofit organizations across the Pikes Peak region, supporting projects which promote independence and expand accessibility for people with disabilities. In 2026, we were proud to award $100,000 in grant funding to local organizations advancing this important work in our community.

This year's The IC Fund grant recipients include:

Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

The Resource Exchange

Cheyenne Village

The Carl Edward Foundation

StableStrides

Silver Key Senior Services

Night Lights

We're excited to partner with these community- and disability-focused organizations and watch the exciting and innovative ways they use these funds to help build a world where everyone is Known, Valued, and Included!

[Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short sleeved black shirt signs in American Sign Language.]

April is National Deaf History Month

From The IC's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist Ben Chittenden:

"April is Deaf History month. People in the Deaf world take this month to look back on their rich history and culture. One of the most honored quotes in Deaf history is 'Deaf people can do anything except hear' which was famously quoted by I. King Jordan. He was the first Deaf President of Gallaudet University, the world’s only liberal arts college designed specifically for the Deaf. 

Those in the Deaf community work to share their history and culture with the world, and also continue to tear down barriers the mainstream world places in their way. This month, events around the country will bring attention to Deaf experience, their language, and their history."

This month, you can support local and national Deaf organizations and learn how you can celebrate the rich history of Deaf culture in both Colorado and across the United States. The link below, from the American Society for Deaf Children, has several examples as well as an additional explanation on the importance of Deaf History month:

https://deafchildren.org/2023/04/the-importance-of-national-deaf-history-month-a-word-from-our-executive-director/

[Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short sleeved black shirt signs in American Sign Language.]

Building Independence With

Map My Path

[Image description: The monitor of a video camera showing The IC's Skills Specialist Edgar Morales being filmed in the kitchen where he teaches Independent Living Skills classes.]

Earlier this month, The Independence Center was excited to welcome videographers from Utah State University’s Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice, who are producing videos to highlight Centers for Independent Living (CILs) as part of the Map My Path Initiative.


The initiative is supported by a highly competitive federal grant designed to connect students with disabilities to resources, support, and training as they transition to independent adult lives.



As part of the filming, the crew spoke with several IC Team members and Consumers, and captured footage from Independent Living Skills Specialist Edgar Morales’ Life Skills Cooking class, held here at The IC.

We’re honored to be part of this effort to raise awareness of CILs and the many resources available to young people with disabilities which support independence.

To learn more about the Map My Path program, please visit this link: sites.google.com/state.co.us/mapmypath

[Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short sleeved black shirt signs in American Sign Language.]

The El Paso County Veterans Expo is June 10, 2026

[Image description: Over a blue image of a waving U.S. flag, white text says "El Paso County Colorado Veterans Expo." There are white stars underneath the text and within the shape of a shield topped with mountains containing the U.S. flag.]

The 2026 El Paso County Veterans Expo will be held on Wednesday, June 10 at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, located at 190 S. Cascade Ave., in downtown Colorado Springs. This free, full-day event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., connecting Veterans and their families with community resources.

The Independence Center's Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program will be in attendance, and we invite you to stop by our table to learn more about our programs and how we support Veterans in building independence.

For more information about the Expo, please visit this link: https://www.elpasoco.com/veterans-expo/

If you, a friend, or a family member is a Veteran and would like to speak with someone from our Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program, call us at 719‑471‑8181 or email info@the‑ic.org.

We hope to see you at the Expo!

[Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short sleeved black shirt signs in American Sign Language.]

April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month

[Image description: Graphic with text that says "Show Us Your 40!" above text that says "#LLLDAM 2026" and "April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month."]

More than two million people in the United States live with limb loss or limb difference, according to the Amputee Coalition. As a result, we observe this month to raise awareness about the causes of limb loss, the barriers to access it can prompt, and the ways we can support and encourage people who live with limb loss or limb difference.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Amputee Coalition, and their goal for this year is to make it a month of "empowerment, awareness, storytelling, and connection."

For more information about this month as well as information about how you can participate, please visit this link: https://40years.amputee-coalition.org/

[Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short sleeved black shirt signs in American Sign Language.]

Peer Support Calendar

Classes and events at The IC provide opportunities to learn new skills, meet new people, and try new things in a supportive environment! An up-to-date listing of classes and events can always be found on our website's event calendar:

https://www.theindependencecenter.org/

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