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

Celebrating Black History Month

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Each February, we commemorate Black History Month to honor the invaluable contributions made by Black individuals to our nation's history. This observance also serves to illuminate overlooked or silenced histories and voices. The Disability Rights and Civil Rights movements are intricately connected, and this intersectionality continues today.

Black History Month was first officially recognized in 1976 by then-President Gerald Ford, who urged Americans "to seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

The formal observance of "National Black History Month" began after Congress passed it into law in 1986. The legislation aimed to foster awareness about the ongoing struggle for freedom and equal opportunity. The passage of this law was a long-awaited acknowledgement and recognition of the hard-fought Black Civil Rights battles that occurred on both the national stage, and communities throughout the country.

Drawing inspiration from the Black Civil Rights movement, the Disability Rights movement adopted similar peaceful protest strategies in their pursuit of equal rights. Notably, this influence was seen during the “504 Sit-In” in April 1977, when disabled activists staged multiple day-long sit-ins and occupied federal buildings in San Francisco, demanding greater accessibility and accommodations for people with disabilities. The Black Panther Party played a supportive role by providing hot meals and assistance to the demonstrators throughout the protest.

It is impossible to speak about the history of America without acknowledging the significant contribution of Black Americans to that story. As former President Barack Obama has said, "It's about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America."

We invite you to explore the link below to learn more about several individuals who were not only pivotal to Black History in America, but who also happened to be people with disabilities.

https://www.theindependencecenter.org/honoring-the-stories-of-black-americans-with-disabilities/

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The IC Welcomes

New Board Members

The IC is excited to welcome three new members of our Board of Directors to help us continue our mission of working with people with disabilities, their families, and the community to create independence so that all may thrive.

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Tamrin Apaydin brings deep financial and governance expertise to The IC's Board with more than two decades of leadership experience across nonprofit, housing, healthcare, and property management sectors. She served for 23 years on the Board of Greccio Housing and spent approximately eight years as Chief Financial Officer at Rocky Mountain Health Care Services.

Most recently, Tamrin served as Chief Financial Officer for ProTerra Properties, a role she held for seven years before retiring. A Certified Public Official Accountant (CPOA), she is passionate about giving back to the community and supporting organizations through strategic planning, operational excellence, and sound financial stewardship.

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Jason Crowe joins The IC Board with a long history of accessibility, public service, and community leadership. He currently serves as the Title II ADA Coordinator for the City of Colorado Springs, where he specializes in facility evaluations, transition planning, and ADA compliance, including investigating complaints and providing technical assistance. 

His career includes more than 13 years with the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and earlier work with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, with a focus on employment, outreach, and disability inclusion. Jason is deeply committed to advancing access, equity, and community impact.

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Dr. Corey Winn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with more than 15 years of clinical experience supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries, progressive neurological conditions, and complex mobility needs. She is the founder and CEO of The Carl Edward Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing critical gaps in care by providing funding for essential equipment, home modifications, and resources not covered by insurance.

In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Dr. Winn serves as President and CEO of HER Quantum Rise, a coaching and consulting firm supporting women leaders in healthcare, business, and entrepreneurship. She brings a deep commitment to dignity, access, and opportunity for people with disabilities, along with clinical insight, advocacy experience, and strategic leadership to her role on the Board of Directors.

We're thrilled for all three of these outstanding leaders in our community to join The IC in helping to create a world where everyone is Known, Valued, and Included!

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Colorado's New Disability Assistance Credit Provides Tax Relief for People with Disabilities

The Colorado Department of Revenue is rolling out the Disability Assistance Credit (DAC) program for the 2025 tax year! This is a refundable income tax credit for people with disabilities who meet these criteria:

• Were a Colorado resident throughout 2025.
• Have been unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to medical reasons for the entire year of 2025.
• Have qualified for full benefits from January 1 to December 31, 2025, through a legitimate public or private source, based solely on disability.
• Have a federal adjusted gross income of $20,000 or less for single filers or $32,000 or less for joint filers.

To find out more about the program and its eligibility requirements, go to this link:

https://tax.colorado.gov/dac

With tax season coming up, the Department of Revenue has made a list of community organizations which can help with filing your taxes. 

Follow this link to see what options are available: 
https://tax.colorado.gov/community-tax-help

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Visit Colorado Springs: Experience our Region with the Wellness Pass

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The Colorado Springs Wellness Pass is a free digital pass designed to help people explore wellness experiences throughout the Pikes Peak Region over the course of the year. Developed by Visit Colorado Springs, the pass brings together a variety of local wellness offerings in one convenient place, making it easier to discover opportunities supporting well-being.

The pass includes discounts and special promotions from wellness-focused businesses across the region. Available experiences vary, but may include offerings such as sound baths, yoga classes, and other restorative or movement-based activities.

The Wellness Pass is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing participants to explore experiences as they choose throughout the year. There is no cost to sign up, and the pass can be used at any point during its validity period.

The Colorado Springs Wellness Pass is available at this link: https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/spas-wellness/

To learn more about the accessible attractions and activities available throughout our city, visit this link: https://www.visitcos.com/travel-tools/accessible-cos/

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New Hours for The IC Offices

We’ve made a small adjustment to our office hours.

Our offices will close at 2:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. This allows our entire Team to fully participate in All-Team meetings and trainings.


Our offices will reopen at 8:00 a.m., the following day (Thursday) with our normal opening hours.


We appreciate your understanding. We’re excited to use this dedicated time to learn, grow, and strengthen our skills, all so we can better serve our Consumers, Clients, Caregivers, Veterans, and our entire community!

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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/

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