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

Celebrating the ADA: Mini-Mixer with the Downtown Partnership

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On July 23, The Independence Center had the honor of hosting a Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership Mini-Mixer. The Downtown Partnership connects businesses and organizations that are invested in creating a thriving, welcoming downtown for everyone. By bringing partners together in different locations throughout the year, these gatherings encourage collaboration, spark new relationships, and provide opportunities to learn more about the people and organizations that make our community stronger.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and every year around the end of July, The IC celebrates this occasion by commemorating the law's passage and educating about its continued importance. This year, our celebration was with our friends and partners at the Downtown Partnership!

Over coffee and donuts, attendees had the opportunity to connect, share stories, and build new relationships with fellow community partners. During the event, CEO Indy Frazee introduced The Independence Center's mission, reflected on the history and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and highlighted the many ways we are working alongside our community to advance disability rights and inclusion. Guests were then invited to tour our building and explore its accessibility features, sparking meaningful conversations about how we can work together to make Downtown Colorado Springs a more accessible and welcoming place for everyone.

We were grateful for the opportunity to share The IC's mission with our downtown neighbors and community partners. Events like this remind us that creating a more accessible and inclusive community takes all of us working together. We look forward to building on these connections as we continue advancing a future where everyone, regardless of ability, is Known, Valued, and Included.

Learn more about the Downtown Partnership at their website: https://www.downtowncs.com/

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Newly-Renovated Office Space Available at 711 South Tejon

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The IC is offering newly-renovated, fully-accessible office space for lease at our downtown Colorado Springs campus! Located at 711 South Tejon Street, this renovated space meets ADA standards to support organizations that value inclusion, accessibility, and community impact, while providing a professional, modern workspace.

We've hosted Prism Community Collective in this building since 2024, and we're excited to partner with other organizations and businesses that are making an impact on our community and region. 

To learn more about our available office space and current leasing opportunities, please visit our website:

https://www.theindependencecenter.org/711-south-tejon-street/

If your organization needs a new home in a fully-accessible, community-minded space with direct access to downtown Colorado Springs, please contact:

Scott Howard, Independence Center Director of Finance and Business Services
Phone: 719-471-8181 ext. 174 
Email: showard@the-ic.org 


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Summer Experience Camp Wrap-Up: Thanks for the Memories!

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This summer, The IC's Independent Living Team hosted an exciting camp for youth and young adults to learn leadership skills, find support, hear from guest speakers, participate in workshops, and enjoy other fun activities!

Over the course of the camp, nearly a hundred Consumers had a dance party, competed in cornhole, threw water balloons at each other to cool off, met animals visiting from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and created elaborate crafts. It was a delight to help so many Consumers make the summer of 2026 one to remember!

We will be hosting the Summer Experience Camp again next summer, so if you or someone you know would enjoy participating next year, mark your calendars! We're excited to see the growth of this event and to see what ways it will become even better in the future.

To get involved with The IC's Independent Living program and participate in our ongoing classes, Peer Support groups, and experience accessible activities, contact us by calling 
719-471-8181 or sending an email to info@the-ic.org.

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

Democracy in Action:

The 2026 NCIL Annual Conference in Washington, DC

Photo courtesy of the National Council on Independent Living

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"Attending the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. was one of the most inspiring experiences of my advocacy career.

Surrounded by hundreds of disability advocates, representatives of the many Centers for Independent Living (CILs), and community leaders from across the country, I was reminded that meaningful change happens when people come together with a shared purpose.

One of the conference's defining moments was marching to the U.S. Capitol alongside Senator Tom Harkin, the legendary disability rights champion and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Walking beside someone whose leadership helped transform the lives of millions was a powerful reminder of how far the disability rights movement has come, and how much work remains.

At the Capitol, advocates from every corner of the nation gathered for a rally calling on Congress to protect and strengthen federal funding for independent living, home and community-based services, and programs that expand economic opportunity for people with disabilities.

This was a critical message for our Congressional Representatives as they began the appropriations process. The energy was unmistakable: people with lived experience, advocates, and allies united to ensure the disability community's voice was impossible to ignore.

Our advocacy continued with meetings on Capitol Hill; the Colorado delegation met with each one of our Congressional Offices. We urged members of Congress to support several critical pieces of legislation.

These included H.R. 8540, the HCBS Access Act, which would reduce institutional bias and strengthen home and community-based services; H.R. 2598, to strengthen the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and ensure every child has access to a free appropriate public education tailored to their needs; and H.R. 2540, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would modernize outdated asset limits and finally account for inflation.

More than anything, the conference reinforced the power of community. Seeing so many passionate advocates from across the country stand together in pursuit of equity, inclusion, and independence was deeply motivating. The NCIL Annual Conference wasn't just an advocacy event, it was democracy in action, and I was honored to be part of it."

Frank Santana

Legislative Advocacy Specialist

The Independence Center

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

The IC Offices Will Be Closed for Labor Day

The IC will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. We will re-open our doors on Tuesday, September 8 at 8:00 a.m.

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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/

[Image description: The logo of The IC next to a QR code. Below, the words "We're hiring" and "Scan to apply! Or visit the-ic.org/employment"]