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On Thursday, March 4, staff from The IC joined partner organizations from across Colorado at the State Capitol building in Denver to observe and celebrate Disability Rights Advocacy Day (DRAD).
For the past several years, Disability Rights Advocacy Day has been an opportunity to provide visibility and voice to people with disabilities—and the organizations that represent them—to all levels of government in Colorado.
This year, the event featured disability advocates and organizers as well as several Colorado lawmakers, all of whom outlined upcoming legislation and action being taken to increase accessibility in Colorado.
Upcoming bills related to disability include House Bill 1017, which aims to codify the Supreme Court decision Olmstead v. LC into Colorado law (this decision requires government services for people with disabilities to be integrated into the communities they live in*), and House Bill 1239, which would expand the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to give more options for people who have been discriminated against to seek justice.
*More about the Olmstead Act: https://www.theindependencecenter.org/blog/remembering-the-olmstead-act/
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[Image description: Three people stand inside the State Capitol. From left to right, The IC's Community Outreach Specialist Maria Cordova (a woman with dark hair wearing a mask), The IC's Advocacy Specialist Scott Bartlett (a man with short gray hair and glasses wearing a blue IC t-shirt), and The IC's Director of Independent Living Tamara Trujillo (a woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a blue IC t-shirt).]
To further these goals, The IC's Advocacy Specialist Scott Bartlett was recently appointed to the City of Colorado Springs’ Community Development Advisory Committee. The Committee advises on policy, planning, and priority funding areas for the Housing and Homelessness Response Department, which manages the City’s investment of federal block grant funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related programs.
We're excited to have a voice from The Independence Center on the committee as an advocate for those with disabilities, their families, and the disability community as a whole.
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved gray polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | Colorado passes a new building accessibility law! | | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved gray polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | |
Wednesday, April 2:
The IC offices will close at noon
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The Independence Center will be closing at noon on Wednesday, April 2, for an afternoon of off-site training for our Team. These trainings help us stay informed about community resources and enhance our ability to serve our Consumers.
We will reopen for regular hours at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 3. Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to strengthen our commitment to our community.
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved gray polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | CSDB's ASL Festival is coming up! | | |
[Image description: Over a blue background with several cartoon clouds, text says "Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, ASL Festival, Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Join us for American Sign Language (ASL) activities, games, and entertainment at the CSDB Gym! The festival is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural and linguistic heritage of ASL as part of National Deaf History Month." A list of activities: "Booths, Kids activities, Deaf Mime Workshops (9, 10, and 11 a.m.), Food trucks." The words "Performance at 1 p.m." and "JJ Mime Artist" next to a costumed mime. Near the bottom, the logo of CSDB next to their address and contact information: "33 N. Institute Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Contact jmclellan@csdb.org. For booth registration: Email dbaldiviez@csdb.org"
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, join our friends at CSDB for their American Sign Language (ASL) Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to all, and it's a great way to celebrate Deaf culture as well as the broader cultural heritage of ASL!
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved gray polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month | | |
[Image description: In a blue circle, the words "MS Awareness Month" above a logo of two blue angles with red circles in between the arms of the angles. At the bottom are the blue letters "msaa."]
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), is a neurological disorder currently affecting almost one million Americans. The disease causes the immune system to misidentify and attack part of the body's nervous system.
MS can be an invisible disability for many who have been diagnosed with it. However, it can also affect mobility in very visible ways and cause some to utilize wheelchairs or other assistive devices.
At The Independence Center, we provide resources and information to those with both visible AND non-visible disabilities.
To learn more about MS and how you can observe this month, click the following link:
https://mymsaa.org/about-msaa/ms-awareness-month-2025/
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved gray polo shirt signs in American Sign Language.] | | Developmental Disability Awareness Month | | |
[Image description: Three people hug each other, smiling at the camera. One may look as if they could have a developmental disability. Over the photo, text says "We're Here All Year. Meet Us. Know Us. Involve Us." At the bottom, the logo of the NACDD, which is the name of the organization next to a logo of a C filled in with two Ds, one of which is backwards.]
According to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the theme for this year's Developmental Disabilities Month is "We're Here All Year," in order to emphasize that "community, accessibility, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities should be recognized and championed every day—not just in March."
NACDD's campaign this month is focused on sharing images and stories of people with developmental disabilities participating in their communities, working, going to school, and doing all the things that they do just like everybody else in society. The IC agrees with NACDD that real awareness means a commitment to accessibility and independence all year!
Please visit the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities' website at the following link to learn more about how you can help with this campaign and how you can help make people with developmental disabilities feel Known, Valued, and Included:
https://nacdd.org/ddam2025/
| | [Image description: A man with short brown hair wearing a short-sleeved gray 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"] | | | | |
