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[Image description: Underneath a photo of the Colorado State Capitol, a colorful graphic says Disability Rights Advocacy Day. Next to it, the logo and name of Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. Below, text says "Save the date for D-RAD 2026. Disability Rights Advocacy Day. Registration will open January first and close January thirty first."]
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition invites everyone to register for this year's Disability Rights Advocacy Day (DRAD)! Held annually at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, this free event is on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Registration includes a free lunch!
DRAD is an amazing opportunity to meet up with other people who are passionate about disability rights and hear speakers who are directly involved with the fight to make our communities and our state more accessible and welcoming to all people regardless of disability.
Tickets are limited, so if you plan to go, register at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/disability-rights-advocacy-day-2026-d-rad-tickets-1978999741500?aff=oddtdtcreator
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Disability Justice | | |
[Image description: A black and white photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior speaking at a podium to a large crowd of people.]
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrated this year on January 19, is a day to look back on the movement for civil rights in the United States and its achievements, and reflect on the goals of the movement that have not yet been reached. For the disability community, Dr. King’s life and work can serve as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale.
The fight for Black equality is still unfinished, but through the bravery of countless people throughout the last century, our country has come closer to Dr. King’s dream. Similarly, the fight for equality for people with disabilities and a world where everyone can be Known, Valued, and Included continues.
When Rev. Dr. King said that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere,” he summed up his beliefs about how to organize for change. Central to this is the idea of solidarity: standing with a person or group that you yourself may not be a part of or from which you may not benefit. Dr. King’s focus in his life was on the civil, legal, and economic rights of Black Americans, but over and over he reached out to, and formed coalitions with, other groups that had different stated goals, such as sanitation workers on strike in Memphis, the American Jewish community, and indigenous people in the United States.
By helping other groups take steps towards their own goals, the civil rights movement shows us that all of these struggles are shared and come from a common source. As Dr. King said, “It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.”
The disability community is unique because a person with a disability can be any race, gender, age, or sexuality. “Person with a disability” is the only group that anybody can join at any time, which is one reason it is so important for everyone to make sure that people with disabilities have equal access, treatment, and opportunities.
When a person with a disability is also a racial minority or a member of some other marginalized group, their struggle can be even more complicated. By making sure that people with disabilities have equal rights and treatment, we can help the social movement towards the equal rights and treatment of all people. Dr. King’s life and work are inspirational to anyone struggling for justice!
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | IC CEO Indy Frazee Graduates from the 2025 Mayor's Civic Leaders Fellowship | | |
[Image description: The IC's CEO Indy Frazee smiles for the camera holding up a Certificate of Fellowship. Also holding the certificate is Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. He is smiling and wears a blue suit with a green tie.]
The Independence Center is proud to celebrate our CEO, Indy Frazee, who graduated in December 2025 as a member of the 2025 cohort of the Colorado Springs Mayor’s Civic Leaders Fellowship. The year-long program brings together professionals from across the community to deepen their understanding of city operations, strengthen civic leadership, and collaborate on projects that address real challenges facing Colorado Springs.
Throughout 2025, she participated in monthly seminars, on-site learning experiences, and hands-on engagement with City departments, all designed to provide Fellows with a clearer, more nuanced understanding of how municipal systems function and how community voices can influence meaningful change.
“It was incredibly important the disability community had a seat in this cohort,” Indy Frazee shared. “Too often, decisions get made without fully understanding how they affect people with disabilities. Being part of the Fellowship meant I could help elevate those voices and ensure that accessibility, inclusion, and independence were part of the conversation. I’m thankful to Mayor Mobolade for recognizing the value of including our community in this work.”
As the leader of an organization rooted in disability rights and inclusion, Indy brought forward the lived experiences of people with disabilities, emphasizing accessibility, equity, and the importance of inclusive and accessible design.
This perspective enriched the Fellowship cohort’s conversations and helped broaden the program’s understanding of how City decisions impact residents with disabilities.
“This experience has been an incredible opportunity to deepen our work and strengthen collaboration across our community. I’m especially grateful for the meaningful connections I was able to build with the Fellows and City leaders throughout this experience,” Frazee continues. “Their perspectives and dedication have inspired me, and I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned back to The IC as we continue building a culture where everyone feels Known, Valued, and Included.”
We are deeply appreciative of Mayor Mobolade’s commitment to welcoming diverse perspectives into the Fellowship. Indy’s participation not only strengthened her connection with City leadership but also positions The IC to make an even greater impact moving forward. By building relationships, sharing expertise, and advocating for accessibility at the municipal level, Indy has opened new pathways for collaboration that will benefit the disability community for years to come.
Please join us in congratulating Indy Frazee on this milestone achievement and in celebrating the important step it represents for disability inclusion in Colorado Springs.
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | Visit Colorado Springs:
Neuro-Inclusive Activities for the Whole Family | | |
[Image description: A person in a wheelchair looks at a display at the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum front of a display case full of various torches. Photo provided by Visit COS.]
Colorado Springs thrives when everyone has the opportunity to experience it fully and authentically.
Our partners and friends at Visit Colorado Springs (Visit COS) are leading ongoing efforts to make our city more accessible and welcoming for residents and visitors alike. If you or someone you know is neurodivergent, you know large events and attractions can be overwhelming. But did you know a lot of local Colorado Springs businesses offer inclusive experiences for visitors with sensory needs, autism spectrum disorder, and more?
Whether you’re planning a quieter day out, prefer stair‑free spaces, or benefit from resources like sensory kits and clearly marked “headphone zones,” local attractions are putting inclusion into everyday practice.
Below are a few favorites from Visit COS that make it easier for every family to explore with confidence. Together, we’re helping create a community where everyone is Known, Valued, and Included.
Here are some of our favorites:
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Not only is the entire USOPM stair-free, they also offer sensory kits at the front desk for all patrons. Visitors can also request low-sensory versions of exhibits throughout!
We Rock the Spectrum
This sensory-friendly indoor playground puts inclusion at the forefront. Everything in the gym, including play equipment, events, and classes, is designed with children on the autism spectrum in mind.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Zoo offers Kulture City sensory bags that contain noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, and more. Patrons will also see signage for “headphone zones,” parts of the zoo that may be louder or require headphones.
Learn more and explore itineraries, blog posts, and more at https://www.visitcos.com/travel-tools/accessible-cos/.
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | New Hours for The IC Offices | | |
We’re making a small adjustment to our office hours.
Beginning next month, 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!
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | Upcoming Community Workshops, Special Events, Recreation Events, and Support Groups | |
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"] | | | | |
