FREED Center for Independent Living

03/20/2026

⚠️ Could you get through a MONTH without power?

Cyber attacks on power grids are a real risk—and long outages can hit people with disabilities the hardest.
Now is the time to prepare.

🔋 Backup power for devices�💊 Plan for medications & medical equipment�📻 Battery radio + emergency contacts�🥫 Easy-to-access food & water�🤝 A support person who can check on you

You don’t have to do it alone—support is available in your community.

# EmergencyPreparedness

Image Description: A nighttime intersection scene with a person in a wheelchair using a headlamp and lantern, illuminating their path. A police officer directs traffic with light wands while traffic lights are out. A full moon and car headlights provide additional light. The FREED logo appears in the bottom right.”

03/13/2026

PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) season is approaching. These planned outages may occur during extreme fire weather to help prevent wildfires. Power may be turned off for several hours or even multiple days, so it’s important to prepare ahead of time.
If you rely on electricity for medical equipment, mobility devices, communication tools, or refrigerated medications, take steps now to get ready:
• Charge phones, backup batteries, and mobility devices�• Keep flashlights and extra batteries in an easy-to-find place�• Plan how medications that require refrigeration will stay cool�• Sign up for PG&E PSPS alerts and local emergency notifications�• Identify a friend, neighbor, or caregiver who can check on you during an outage
Preparing early can help reduce stress and keep you safer during a power shutoff.
# Preparedness

Image Description: A smiling blind woman with blonde hair wearing dark sunglasses packs an emergency preparedness kit at a table. She places a flashlight into a red backpack while sitting beside her husband, a South Asian man who uses a wheelchair, who smiles as he watches. On the table are preparedness supplies including a first aid kit, medication bottles, a phone, charging cables, and a portable battery pack. They sit in a warm, colorful living room with soft lighting, creating a welcoming home environment. The FREED logo with the words “Ability Redefined” appears in the bottom right corner.

03/13/2026

03/12/2026

Last night on we were joined by Kelley Hartman and Mary Pancoast, who shared their journeys with Multiple Sclerosis in honor of MS Awareness Month. Both have shifted their lives to focus on self-care, and encourage advocacy for lowering the astronomical costs of care. Check out the extended replay, get transcripts and subscribe to the podcast at

FREED’s monthly radio show and podcast airing on KVMR 89.5 FM Nevada City, California, United States. Listen live on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to…

03/11/2026

Tonight on our guests share their experiences of life with Multiple Sclerosis and the physical, mental, and financial realities - from retirement to relocation and rearranging life priorities. Tune in at 6:30pm on KVMR 89.5FM & 105.1FM

03/10/2026

Tomorrow night on a show in honor of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Our guests share their journey of diagnosis to acceptance and what they’d like to see change for the future of treatment. Join us on KVMR 89.5FM & 105.1FM Wednesday at 6:30pm

03/06/2026

⚠️ High Wind Alert – Northern California Foothills (East of Sacramento) ⚠️

According to the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, gusty winds are expected to arrive late Friday night and continue through Saturday, with breezy conditions lingering into Sunday as a weather system approaches Northern California.

What to expect:�• Wind gusts 20–35 mph in foothill communities�• Stronger gusts up to 40+ mph in higher terrain�• Possible downed branches and localized power outages.

Prepare now:�• Charge phones and backup batteries�• Secure outdoor items�• Keep flashlights and emergency supplies ready.
Stay informed through NWS alerts and local emergency updates

&E

Image Description: :�A bright red alert graphic with wind-swept edges and motion streaks. Large bold white text reads “High Wind and Power Outage Alert!” The FREED logo with the words “Ability Redefined” appears in the bottom right corner.

03/05/2026

Be a part of a movement too big to ignore. Join advocacy groups across the country on March 5 for the ‘National Call-In Day’ to protect special education and disability civil rights.

Families, self-advocates, educators, and community members are invited to contact their Members of Congress and share why programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and federal special education oversight matter in their daily lives.

This is about lived experience and what is happening in your classrooms, communities, and families as federal support is cut, protections are weakened, and rights are under attack.

You can find your U.S. Senators and Representative online, or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected.

Tips for calling can be found here: https://bit.ly/IDEA-CALLING-TIPS

03/04/2026

Now is the time to prepare your home and property for upcoming Green Waste Events starting in April. Details coming soon! 🍃
Creating defensible space now helps reduce wildfire risk and keeps our community safer.

03/03/2026

03/02/2026

After polio left him paralyzed from the neck down, Ed Roberts spent his life breaking barriers. He fought his high school for a diploma, fought UC Berkeley for admission and led the movement that changed society from institutionalizing people with disabilities to supporting independent living.

On International Wheelchair Day, explore how Ed Roberts and his wheelchair reshaped the fight for disability rights: https://bit.ly/4ucGUJs

📸: Corbis