Access to Independence

06/23/2026

06/22/2026

We had such a great time at this year's Juneteenth celebration presented by Kujichagulia-Madison Center for Self Determination! It was a great opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Juneteenth through musical performances, speakers, delicious food, community resources, and more! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about our services and play on some adaptive video game equipment. 🧡

06/18/2026

⭐ Are you passionate about disability rights, organizational leadership, and creating meaningful change? Access to Independence is seeking dedicated individuals to join our Board of Directors.

Because we are a disability-led organization, we are especially interested in connecting with people with disabilities to serve on our board. We also welcome family members, advocates, professionals, and community leaders who are committed to advancing disability justice and independent living.

If you're looking for a meaningful way to create lasting change for folks in south-central Wisconsin, we'd love to hear from you 🧡

Learn more by visiting us at https://www.accesstoind.org/jointheboard or email [email protected] for more information!

06/15/2026

Henry Vilas Zoo is offering a Sensory-Friendly Mini Camp

It looks like there are just a couple of spots remaining in Session 1: Enrichment Engineers

This Saturday, June 20th
8:00 - 11:00 AM

This program is designed for neuro-divergent campers entering 4th through 10th grades.

All campers must have an adult accompany them for the camp day.

This program is offered free-of-charge to participants.

Pre-registration required: https://henryvilaszoo.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?orgkey=4303&activitykey=3142342,3142341

06/14/2026

Research Opportunity: Disabled Family Engagement

A study called Disabled Family Engagement in ECE: Explorations Using Educational Journey Mapping is recruiting participants.

The study is about the school experiences of Disabled adults and how these experiences inform their engagement with their child’s early childhood education.

Research activities include creating an educational journey map (an arts-based diagram) and a 90 minute follow-up interview. Eligible participants must have a disability, have at least one child between the ages of birth and 8 years old, and reside in the United States.

If you are interested in participating, or would like additional information, please email Christina Ihnen at [email protected]

06/13/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the artists, volunteers, sponsors, and community members who helped make Artists Beyond Boundaries such a meaningful celebration of creativity, disability culture, and artistic expression over the years.

While the annual Artists Beyond Boundaries event is coming to a close, our commitment to fostering creativity, connection, and community remains strong. We invite you to join us for an Arts Community Open House, where you'll learn about disability arts opportunities offered by local organizations, connect with fellow artists, and help shape future artist-centered programming at Access to Independence.

📅 Thursday, July 16th
⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Access to Independence

We're excited to invite ARTWORKING Arts for All Wisconsin and Communication to the event to share more about their programs and events!

Whether you've participated in ABB before, or are simply interested in connecting with other artists and learning more about arts organizations in Dane county, we'd love to see you there!

06/12/2026

New Youth Opportunity!

Youth ages 12-17 in CLTS or CCOP are invited to join us for a new Career Discovery Series at Access to Independence!

A 6-week interactive series designed for youth with disabilities to build confidence, develop self-advocacy skills, explore personal strengths and interests, and connect with peers in a supportive environment.

Through discussion, activities, and hands-on experiences, participants will learn about themselves, discover strategies that support success, and gain practical skills that can help youth navigate everyday challenges and future opportunities in work, life, and school.

To register or learn more, contact our Youth Services Specialist, Tara, at 608-242-8484 or email [email protected]

06/11/2026

Due to the weather forecast this afternoon, our staff will be working remote starting at 12:30 this afternoon. We'll still be available by phone or email at 608-242-8484 or [email protected].
Stay safe!

https://www.channel3000.com/weather/forecast/

06/11/2026

After thoughtful planning and evaluation of our programs, Access to Independence has made the difficult decision to discontinue Artists Beyond Boundaries as an annual event.

We are incredibly grateful to the artists, volunteers, sponsors, and community members who helped make the event such a meaningful celebration of creativity, disability culture, and artistic expression over the years.

While Artists Beyond Boundaries is coming to a close, our commitment to fostering creativity, connection, and community remains strong. We invite you to join us for an Arts Community Open House, where you'll learn about disability arts opportunities offered by local organizations, connect with fellow artists, and help shape future artist-centered programming at Access to Independence.

📅 Thursday, July 16th
⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Access to Independence

Learn more about this decision, register for the Arts Open House event, and learn more about other opportunities on our website: https://www.accesstoind.org/artistsbeyondboundaries

Thank you for being a part of the Artists Beyond Boundaries story.

We hope you'll join us as we begin imagining what comes next together.