Independence Now, Inc.

05/12/2026

THIS THURSDAY!

The Maryland Disability Forum is hosting voter education workshops across the state—designed specifically for individuals with disabilities. Learn about your voting rights, accessible voting options, and how to confidently participate in elections.

These sessions are a great opportunity to build knowledge, connect with others, and strengthen your voice in your community.

Don't miss these sessions close to our region:

May 14, 2026
1:00 PM
SEEC
Silver Spring, MD 20910

May 14, 2026
5:30 PM
SEEC
Silver Spring, MD 20910

👉 Find a location near you and register: https://buff.ly/lXwvylT

If you need assistance registering or would like support attending, Independence Now is here to help. Call us at 301-277-2839.

05/11/2026

Thank you to The Image Center for People with Disabilities for sharing this meaningful research opportunity. Efforts like this help amplify lived experiences and deepen understanding of self-advocacy within the disability community. We encourage eligible individuals across the Mid-Atlantic region to consider participating and lending their voices to this important work.

📣 Research Study Opportunity for Black Individuals with Disabilities 📣

The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, in collaboration with New Mexico State University, is conducting a research study to better understand the experiences, challenges, and benefits of self-advocacy among Black individuals with disabilities.

✅ Eligibility Requirements:• Self-identify as Black• Have a documented disability• Be 18 years or older• Be English-speaking• Live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.

💵 Participants can receive compensation for each phase completed in the study.

Link : https://hest.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9SkP3lPsxVoBkbA

This important research aims to amplify lived experiences and support greater understanding and advocacy within the disability community.

For more information or questions, please contact the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center:📧 [email protected]📞 (800) 949-4232

Please share with anyone who may be interested or eligible! 💙

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Independence Now and our staff!

This year, we were excited to host our very first Mother’s Day Movie Night, bringing together mothers, daughters, family, and friends for an evening full of laughter, love, and unforgettable memories while watching Mother’s Day.

One of the highlights was everyone suddenly broke out singing “The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground from 1990! The room was filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness a moment we will never forget.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this event so special. And special thanks also to BLUE DREAMS USA in Frederick for their donation of an elegant evening bag that was a raffle prize.

Wishing all mothers, caregivers, and mother figures a beautiful and Happy Mother’s Day!

IMAGE: A group of adults gathers around tables during Independence Now’s Mother’s Day Movie Night in a community room with blue walls and wood floors. The photo is decorated with a soft pink floral border, watercolor flowers, and falling flower petals. Large pink script text at the top reads “Happy Mother’s Day.” Attendees smile and socialize while seated together, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Independence Now logo appears in the bottom right corner.

05/09/2026

I WANT MY LIFE BACK

Are you or someone you know living in a nursing facility and wanting to transition back into the community? Join I Want My Life Back, a supportive group created to provide information, resources, and hope for individuals ready to regain their independence and reconnect with community living.

⭐️ Next virtual session is Tuesday, May 19 at 1:00 pm
👉️ Register: https://buff.ly/EbZGhEs

This group is for:
✔️ Consumers in nursing facilities
✔️ Family members & caregivers
✔️ Support staff & social workers
✔️ Anyone wanting to learn more about transitioning back into the community

Hear from our consumer speaker, Ms. Barbara, as she shares her journey of transitioning from a nursing facility back into the community with the support of Independence Now and her support system.

Learn:
- How community transitions work
- Why community living matters
- Available resources and supports
- Steps to regain independence and choice

If you’re ready to learn how to “get your life back,” this conversation is for you.

IMAGES: Black-and-white two-sided Independence Now flyer promoting the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. The front features photos of participants and staff, the headline “I Want My Life Back,” information about transitioning from nursing facilities to community living, and dates for 2026 monthly Zoom seminars with registration details and a QR code. The back explains MFP eligibility, application assistance, available community-based supports and services, additional program information, and contact details for Independence Now MFP staff members.

05/09/2026

Join Independence Now for Lighting Your Path – Community Tour on May 13 from 1:00–3:00 PM.

We’re excited to partner with the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington® for a guided tour of their newly renovated, accessible facility. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the space and provide valuable feedback on accessibility enhancements.

Reasonable accommodations, including sign language interpreters and auxiliary aids/services, are available upon request with two weeks’ notice.

To register or request accommodations, contact Rochelle Harrod at [email protected] or 240-898-2184.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/F3VJdbg

We’re excited to partner with the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington for a guided tour of their newly renovated, accessible facility.

05/08/2026

Join the Maryland Independent Living community for the next I AM session!

I AM Session 7: Maryland SILC Updates, IL Table Talk Launch, and the CUP Campaign
DATE: Monday, May 18, 2026
TIME: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Zoom

Register for I AM: https://buff.ly/SA0RT1Z
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council (Maryland SILC) has been busy working to “work smarter, not harder” to better serve our community. Join us for a warm and inviting session where we’ll pull back the curtain on what the Council is up to and how you can get involved.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS REQUESTS: If you wish to request an ASL interpreter or other reasonable accommodation, please email your request by May 4, 2026 to [email protected].

Register for I AM: https://buff.ly/SA0RT1Z

IMAGE: Graphic with bold red background reading “I AM” in large distressed white text. Below, white text says “Maryland SILC Updates, IL Table Talk Launch, and the CUP Campaign.” Event details read “Monday, May 18, 2:00–3:30 pm.” To the right is the Maryland SILC circular logo overlaid on a Maryland state flag design.

05/08/2026

IN THIS WEEK'S ROUNDUP: Young leaders took the spotlight at our inaugural Youth Leadership Forum Junior in partnership with Charles County Public Schools! 🌟

PLUS:
✅ Board member recruitment
✅ Upcoming workshops & events
✅ Accessible sailing with CRAB
✅ Research & community opportunities
✅ Last chance to share your Independence Now story

Read the full newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/1b380be14477/05082026

05/07/2026

Serve. Lead. Change.

Independence Now is now recruiting Board Members ready to make a meaningful impact in the disability community across Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.

If you have experience in fundraising, HR, technology—or a passion for advancing independence and inclusion—we invite you to bring your voice to the table.

Learn more and express interest: https://buff.ly/NADzqpT

Or reach out to Diane Palmer at [email protected]

IMAGE: Four adults, including a wheelchair user and a person with a cane, sit around a conference table in a meeting; graphic text reads “Serve, Lead, Change – Now Recruiting Board Members” with Independence Now logo.

05/06/2026

Independence Now is proud to recognize Independent Living Day in Maryland and celebrate the impact of the Independent Living movement across our state.

Independent living means having choice, control, and equal access to the supports and opportunities that allow people with disabilities to fully participate in community life. Through peer support, advocacy, information and referral, and independent living skills training, Centers for Independent Living help empower people to live life on their own terms.

We’re honored to stand alongside Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council and our fellow CILs in continuing the work toward a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable Maryland for all.

🎉 Maryland Proclaims May 5, 2026 as Independent Living Day!

The Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council (Maryland SILC) is proud to share that Governor Wes Moore has officially proclaimed May 5, 2026, as Independent Living Day in Maryland! 🦀✨

This proclamation honors the vision that every Marylander with a disability should have the information, choices, and control over the supports they need to participate fully in all aspects of society.

At the heart of this movement is the Independent Living philosophy:

Consumer Control: Services designed and operated by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities.
Peer Support & Advocacy: Empowering one another to break down barriers.
Equal Access: Ensuring no one is left behind in our pursuit of opportunity and choice.
Today, we celebrate the vital work of our Centers for Independent Living (CILs)—the community-based hubs that model "Nothing About Us Without Us" every single day.

Join us in celebrating independence, self-determination, and a Maryland that is accessible to all! 🗽♿️

05/06/2026

Last month, Independence Now teamed up with Charles County Public Schools to host an inaugural Youth Leadership Forum Junior (YLF Jr.) in La Plata, MD. Sixteen energetic and dynamic students ages 10-13 participated in the day-long forum that is associated with the Maryland Pathways to Partnerships Initiative (MPPI).

YLF Jr. facilitators included Independence Now's Danielle Bustos, Youth Leadership Forum Coordinator; Kelvin Hawkins, Youth Independence Living Specialist; and Shannon Minnick, Deputy Director. Session topics addressed self-awareness, advocacy, and disability history. MPPI is designed to improve the transition of students with disabilities ages 10-21 from school to adult life.

We were delighted to partner with Career Navigators Glenn Casiero and Dakota Hinely from Charles County Public Schools and express sincere thanks to the Maryland DORS whose funding made this extraordinary gathering possible through an MPPI grant.

On another YLF note, time is running out for rising junior and senior high school students who are interested in attending the 26th annual Maryland Youth Leadership Forum (MD YLF) from June 25-27 at Towson University. Don't miss the chance to meet other students with disabilities from across Maryland, obtain advocacy and life transition skills, and spend a weekend on a college campus!

Learn more and apply here: https://www.innow.org/mdylf/

IMAGES: Fourteen photos from a youth leadership and community-building program showing students participating in classroom discussions, outdoor team-building activities, collaborative art projects, and group photos with staff and speakers, including several wheelchair users and students with disabilities interacting together on a campus setting. Alt text embedded in individual images.

05/05/2026

DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY!

As we prepare for our upcoming Annual Meeting, we’re inviting our incredible consumers to share a photo and a short story about:

- How Independence Now has supported you
- What independence truly means to you

Your story can inspire others, strengthen our community, and highlight the power of lived experience.

Submission deadline: May 8, 2026

Whether it’s a few sentences or a heartfelt reflection, your voice makes a difference. Thank you for being part of our community and helping us amplify the voices that matter most.

Submit your photo and story to: [email protected]

IMAGE: Teal promotional graphic from Independence Now inviting consumers to “Share Your Story.” The graphic features three photos show community members: one person smiling while eating, another engaged in conversation at a table, and a third smiling at an event.