Independence First - The Resource for People with Disabilities

Independence First - The Resource for People with Disabilities THE resource for people with disabilities serving the Greater Milwaukee area. 20+ programs serving youth and adults with disabilities of all kinds.

09/25/2026

What if you could try out assistive technology before deciding whether it’s right for you?

That’s a big part of what Wisconsin’s WisTech program makes possible!

At the 2026 Aging, Disability and Independent Living Network Conference, we caught up with Laura Plummer, Assistive Technology Program Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, at the WisTech Expo.

From adaptive outdoor recreation and all-terrain mobility to gaming, smart home technology, hearing and vision devices, and everyday living equipment, the expo offered a look at just how many ways assistive technology can support independence.

And finding the right technology matters. As Laura explains, just like trying on clothes, people should have an opportunity to try a device and make sure it fits their needs before purchasing it or seeking funding.

Through WisTech Assistive Technology Advisory Council’s partnership with Wisconsin’s eight Independent Living Centers, including Independence First, people can explore and borrow thousands of devices at no cost to find out what works for them.

Check out some of the technology Laura showed us at ADILN! ♿️💻🎮

Video description for accessibility:
Laura Plummer, Assistive Technology Program Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, speaks from the WisTech Expo area at the ADILN Conference. Surrounded by displays of assistive technology.

🎬 Join us at the movies this Saturday!Independence First is proud to join Milwaukee Film as a Community Partner for a sp...
09/24/2026

🎬 Join us at the movies this Saturday!

Independence First is proud to join Milwaukee Film as a Community Partner for a special screening of KIDS LIKE ME during the 3rd annual Dialogues Documentary Festival.

KIDS LIKE ME introduces us to Oliver, a 12-year-old murder-mystery enthusiast with a vivid imagination and a rare genetic condition. Inspired by his love of mysteries, Oliver sets out to bring one of his own to the screen, with some help from his friends.

The documentary offers an intimate look at growing up with a disability, friendship, creativity and the power of community while celebrating what becomes possible when people have the support to pursue their dreams.

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 11:00 a.m.
📍 Downer Theatre, Milwaukee

And stick around after the film! The screening will be followed by a talkback with the Odwazny-Beebe family, the film’s protagonists. Independence First’s Community Relations and Social Media Coordinator Andrew Levinson and Independent Living Coordinator Andi Minster will also participate in the conversation.

Stop by the Independence First table before or after the screening and say hello!

The Dialogues Documentary Festival runs September 24–27 at the Oriental and Downer theaters and features more than 30 documentaries exploring a wide range of stories and subjects.

🎥 We hope to see you Saturday for KIDS LIKE ME!

Did you know there are more than 300 different sign languages used around the world?Today, September 23, is Internationa...
09/23/2026

Did you know there are more than 300 different sign languages used around the world?

Today, September 23, is International Day of Sign Languages. 🤟

This year’s theme from the World Federation of the Deaf Ry, “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights,” is a reminder that communication access is a human right. Deaf and Hard of Hearing people deserve full and equal access to information, services, education, employment, health care and participation in their communities.

International Day of Sign Languages is also part of International Week of Deaf People, observed September 21–27 this year.

At Independence First, we recognize the importance of accessibility, inclusion and the right of people to communicate in the language that works for them.

Today and every day, sign language access is a human right. 💙

09/23/2026

“We are all aging, and disability will impact all of us at one point in our lives.”

That’s one of the reasons bringing the aging, disability and Independent Living communities together matters.

At the 2026 Aging, Disability and Independent Living Network Conference, we caught up with Autumn Nordall, Director of Outreach and Advocacy at Options for Independent Living in Green Bay.

Autumn started out as a consumer of Independent Living services and today works to meet people where they are and help them navigate the barriers they face.
For her, gatherings like ADILN are about representation, connection and recognizing that there is always more we can learn from one another.

Because aging and disability aren’t experiences happening to “other” people. They are part of the human experience, and the work we do to build more accessible, inclusive communities has the potential to benefit all of us.

Video description for accessibility:
Autumn Nordall, Director of Outreach and Advocacy at Options for Independent Living, speaks from a hallway at the ADILN Conference. Autumn, a wheelchair user, talks about the importance of representation, learning from others and bringing the aging and disability communities together. She explains that aging is something we all experience and that disability can affect anyone during their lifetime.

Better together. 💙That idea has been at the heart of this week’s Aging, Disability and Independent Living Network Confer...
09/23/2026

Better together. 💙

That idea has been at the heart of this week’s Aging, Disability and Independent Living Network Conference in Wisconsin Dells.

The conference brought together hundreds of people working with and advocating alongside older adults and people with disabilities across Wisconsin. Through workshops, presentations, conversations and plenty of opportunities to connect, we explored what our different networks can learn from one another, and what becomes possible when we work together.

The experiences of aging and disability intersect in countless ways. So do many of the barriers people encounter in accessing their communities, maintaining independence and having control over how and where they live.

Bringing these networks together gives us an opportunity to share knowledge, challenge the ways we think and talk about aging and disability, and combine our advocacy power to create stronger, more inclusive communities for all of us.

We’re bringing plenty of ideas and new connections home from the 2026 ADILN Conference!

Thank you to Wisconsin Department of Health Services and keynote speakers Theo Braddy, Allison Gilbert, Dr. Tracey Gendron, and Allison Barkoff for pointing us all in the best direction, forward together!

09/22/2026

What happens when nearly 400 people working across Wisconsin’s aging, disability and Independent Living networks come together in one place?

You find the places where our work connects. 💙

We’re at the Aging, Disability and Independent Living Network Conference in Wisconsin Dells this week, learning, sharing ideas and connecting with people from across the state.

Carrie Molke, Director of the Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources at Wisconsin Department of Health Services, spoke with us about why bringing these different networks together matters, and the opportunity to break down silos and build systems that work better for older adults and people with disabilities.

As Carrie put it, we all have the opportunity to be agents of change.

We’re looking forward to more conversations, connections and learning throughout the conference!

Video description for accessibility:
Carrie Molke, Director of the Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, speaks from a large banquet hall at the ADILN Conference in Wisconsin Dells. Conference attendees are seated at tables behind her as she discusses bringing Wisconsin’s aging, disability and Independent Living networks together, breaking down silos and creating positive change for older adults and people with disabilities.

The rain may have tried to crash the party, but it didn’t stop this crew! 🌧️➡️🌿Independence First consumers and staff sp...
09/21/2026

The rain may have tried to crash the party, but it didn’t stop this crew! 🌧️➡️🌿

Independence First consumers and staff spent Sunday enjoying a day outdoors at the Blue Lotus Center in West Bend.

The 64-acre nature retreat gave participants the chance to try some new accessible outdoor activities. The day included fishing, paddle boating, hiking, biking, outdoor games, exploring a wildflower labyrinth, relaxing on an accessible swing and sharing stories around a campfire. 🎣🚲🛶🔥

A rainy morning turned into a pretty fantastic day. 💙

Could adaptive phone equipment help you communicate more independently? 📞Independence First is hosting two TEPP Adaptive...
09/18/2026

Could adaptive phone equipment help you communicate more independently? 📞

Independence First is hosting two TEPP Adaptive Phone Equipment Open Houses where you can explore equipment, learn about the Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program (TEPP), and find out whether the program may be able to help pay for equipment that meets your communication needs.

📍 WAUKESHA
Tuesday, September 22 | 10 AM–12 PM
Independence First – Waukesha County Office
2607 N. Grandview Blvd., Suite 100, Waukesha

📍 GRAFTON
Monday, October 5 | 9 AM–12 PM
Independence First – Ozaukee County Office
2360 Dakota Dr., Grafton

TEPP is available to eligible Wisconsin residents who are Hard of Hearing, Deaf, have a Speech Disability, or have a Mobility/Motion Disability and need specialized equipment to communicate.

Stop in. Explore the equipment. Learn more.

Questions about the Waukesha open house? Contact Calli Niemi at 414-852-0606 or [email protected].

Questions about the Grafton open house? Contact Nina Gutmanis at 414-226-8106 or [email protected].

09/17/2026

📚 What are you reading this fall?

For Logan Edmonds, reading is a chance to experience different perspectives, learn about the world around us, or just escape into a really good story for a while.

This fall, Logan is bringing that love of reading to Fall Book Club at Independence First! 🍂

Starting Monday, October 5, join us for a relaxed hour of quiet reading, conversation and plenty of cozy fall vibes. Bring whatever you want to read, or borrow a book from us. Print books, eBooks, audiobooks, graphic novels and comics are all welcome.

☕ And yes, there will be snacks and hot chocolate!

📅 Mondays: October 5, 12, 19 & 26 and November 2
⏰ 4:30–5:30 p.m.
📍 Independence First, 540 S. 1st St., Milwaukee

Bring a book, get comfortable and spend some dedicated time reading with us. 🍁📖

Interested in joining? Contact Logan Edmonds to sign up:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (414) 226-8173

Video description: Logan Edmonds sits in Independence First’s quiet reading room, surrounded by bookshelves, and talks about their love of reading and the upcoming Fall Book Club. Logan explains how the club will combine quiet reading with conversation, snacks and hot chocolate, and welcomes books in all formats, including audiobooks, eBooks, graphic novels and comics.

Five years in a row! 🎉Independence First is proud to once again be recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as one o...
09/17/2026

Five years in a row! 🎉

Independence First is proud to once again be recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as one of the region’s Best Places to Work, marking our fifth consecutive year receiving this honor!

Members of our leadership team joined fellow honorees yesterday to celebrate organizations throughout the Milwaukee area that are building strong, engaging and supportive workplaces.

What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that Best Places to Work honorees are determined through employee feedback. It reflects the experiences of the people who come to work each day committed to our mission of empowering people with disabilities to live independently in their communities.

Five straight years is a milestone worth celebrating, and we’re grateful to every member of the Independence First team who helps make this a great place to work. 💙

Congratulations to our staff. This recognition belongs to all of you! 🏆

Address

540 S 1st Street
Milwaukee, WI
53204

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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