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.

The Wisconsin Spring Election is just three weeks away on April 7th!If you're a voter with a disability, we created a si...
03/16/2026

The Wisconsin Spring Election is just three weeks away on April 7th!

If you're a voter with a disability, we created a simple guide that explains what’s on the ballot and how to vote. This information comes our friends at the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition.

Learn how to check your registration, find your polling place, and make a plan to vote.

Read the guide linked in the comments.

This morning we welcomed our Blind Archery group back to Independence First! 🏹The group meets once a week in partnership...
03/14/2026

This morning we welcomed our Blind Archery group back to Independence First! 🏹

The group meets once a week in partnership with our friends at Vision Forward in Milwaukee to spend some time having fun, trying something new, and letting loose together. With guidance from sighted volunteers and some clever assistive technology, participants are able to experience archery, an activity many people might assume isn’t possible for someone who is blind or visually impaired.

A special shout-out to Janelle, an intern here at Independence First and member of the archery group, who excelled at the activity today, even though it was her very first time shooting an arrow. Way to go, Janelle! 🎯

It was a very windy Friday morning, so we’re especially grateful for the volunteers from iCare and the staff members at ...
03/13/2026

It was a very windy Friday morning, so we’re especially grateful for the volunteers from iCare and the staff members at Independence First who helped make today’s Senior Food Distribution another success in partnership with our friends at Task Force, Inc.

With their help, we served 52 seniors at today’s distribution. This event is part of the Senior Stockbox Program, also known as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides free monthly boxes of healthy food to low-income seniors aged 60 and older.

Each 35-pound box contains nutritious staples like rice, cereal, juice, canned meats, vegetables, and Wisconsin cheese—helping ensure seniors in our community have reliable access to healthy food each month.

Thank you to everyone who braved the wind to help make it happen! 🌬️📦

Thank you to the Waukesha County Transition Advisory Council for hosting last night’s Transition Fair at Waukesha County...
03/12/2026

Thank you to the Waukesha County Transition Advisory Council for hosting last night’s Transition Fair at Waukesha County Technical College!

Our Independent Living Services Branch Office Supervisor Calli Niemi represented Independence First at the event, connecting with students, families, and educators preparing for life after high school.

Thank you for including Independence First in this valuable community event!

03/12/2026

Thirty-six years ago today, disability rights activists gathered at the steps of the U.S. Capitol and did something the world could not ignore.

Video description:
Andrew from Independence First stands on the Grand Staircase of Lake Park, a historic stone staircase overlooking Lake Michigan, to tell the story of the Capitol Crawl. He explains how, on March 12, 1990, disability rights activists gathered at the steps of the U.S. Capitol, left their wheelchairs and mobility devices behind, and crawled up the staircase to demand equal rights and accessibility.

The video highlights the story of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, an eight-year-old with cerebral palsy who participated in the protest and became a powerful symbol of the movement. The demonstration drew national attention and helped build momentum for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which was signed into law later that year by George H. W. Bush

Want to help make our community more accessible and inclusive?Independence First’s Advocacy Teams bring together people ...
03/11/2026

Want to help make our community more accessible and inclusive?

Independence First’s Advocacy Teams bring together people with disabilities, advocates, and community members who want to work toward equal access in Milwaukee and beyond.

We now have three advocacy teams, each focused on a different area:

♿ Community Access Advocacy Team
Help identify and remove barriers in buildings, programs, and services.

🚌 Transportation Advocacy Team
Advocate for accessible and reliable transit and paratransit.

🏠 Community Living Advocacy Team
Support housing, long-term care programs, and services that help people live independently.

All teams meet once a month in a hybrid format, so you can join in person at Independence First or on Zoom.

Interested in getting involved?
Contact Brian Peters, Advocacy Program Manager:
EMAIL: bpeters@independencefirst.org

Together, we can work toward equal access and opportunity for people with disabilities in our community.

03/11/2026

Another power wheelchair is ready to go to someone who needs it.

This Invacare Pronto M41 power chair was generously donated by Tudor Oaks Senior Living Community in Muskego, and our own Tim Kiley refurbished it so it can get back out into the community. Now we’re hoping it can help someone regain mobility and independence.

We’re giving the chair away completely free. The only things we ask are that the recipient purchase the U1 batteries it uses (typically $100–$150) and be able to pick it up from our Milwaukee office. The chair comes with a charger and normally sells for around $2,900.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this chair, please call our Assistive Technology team at (414) 226-8385.

And please consider sharing this post so it can reach someone who needs it. ♿

Video description:
A staff member stands inside Independence First’s reuse closet demonstrating a refurbished Invacare Pronto M41 power wheelchair. The video explains that the chair was donated by Tudor Oaks, refurbished by technician Tim Kiley, and is being offered free to someone in the community who needs it, with the only requirement being that the recipient purchase the batteries and pick up the chair in Milwaukee.

A newly refurbished power wheelchair is ready for someone who needs it. ♿This Invacare Pronto M41 power chair was donate...
03/10/2026

A newly refurbished power wheelchair is ready for someone who needs it. ♿

This Invacare Pronto M41 power chair was donated by Tudor Oaks Senior Living Community in Muskego and carefully refurbished by our Assistive Technology Specialist Tim Kiley. Thanks to donations like this and a lot of technical expertise we’re able to give mobility equipment a second life and help someone in our community regain independence.

We are offering this chair completely free. The person receiving it will just need to purchase the U1 batteries it uses (typically $100–$150) and be able to pick it up from our Milwaukee office. The chair comes with a charger and typically costs around $2,900 new.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this chair, please call our Assistive Technology department at (414) 226-8385.

Please feel free to share this post so it can reach someone who needs it.

03/09/2026

On International Women’s Day, something pretty special was happening in our workshop at Independence First. 💜

Tim Kiley was putting the finishing touches on a pink Permobil F3 power wheelchair that had been donated through our partners at Team Up With Families and Katy's Kloset in Waukesha. After restoring it and listing it on our eBay store, the chair found its way to a woman in Missouri who needed a more supportive chair.

Through reuse and refurbishment, this chair is heading to someone who can truly benefit from it, and for much less than many pay just for an insurance deductible.

Video Description:
Tim Kiley stands in the Independence First workshop showing a pink Permobil F3 power wheelchair that has been refurbished and sold to a woman in Missouri. He demonstrates the chair’s features, including the seat elevation, tilt, recline, adjustable leg rests, USB charging port, and cup holder, while explaining how the chair was donated through Katy’s Kloset and restored through Independence First’s reuse program before being shipped to its new owner.

03/06/2026

♿ Free Power Wheelchair Available!

We recently received a donated Pride Jazzy Elite ES power chair, and we’re looking for the right person in our community who could benefit from it. The chair is free, but it does need U1-style batteries (about $150). If purchased and shipped to us, our team will install the batteries at no cost.

If this chair could help you or someone you know, please call us at (414) 226-8385. The chair must be picked up at our Milwaukee location, and you’ll need a vehicle large enough to transport it.

Video description:
Andrew from Independence First introduces a donated red Pride Jazzy Elite ES power wheelchair that the organization is giving away for free. Senior Assistive Technology Specialist Cindi Pichler explains the chair’s features, including the reclining seat and adjustable joystick, and notes that the chair only needs new batteries to be ready for use.

♿ Free Power Wheelchair AvailableIndependence First has a Jazzy Elite E3 power wheelchair available to give away to some...
03/05/2026

♿ Free Power Wheelchair Available

Independence First has a Jazzy Elite E3 power wheelchair available to give away to someone in our community. This chair has a bright red base, front-wheel drive, and is in great condition.

The chair does need new U1-style batteries, which typically cost around $150. The recipient can purchase the batteries online and have them shipped directly to Independence First, and our team will install them at no cost. Once ready, this model of chair typically sells for $3,000–$4,000, making this a great opportunity for someone who needs a power chair.

Important details:
• The chair must be picked up at our Milwaukee office
• The recipient must have a vehicle capable of transporting it
• The recipient will need to purchase the batteries

If you or someone you know could benefit from this chair, please call 📞 (414) 226-8385.

Please feel free to share this post so we can find the right person who needs it.

03/05/2026

Milwaukee County is making decisions right now that could shape transportation, housing, health services, and other programs for years to come.

This week, representatives from the Milwaukee County Office of Equity visited Independence First to hear directly from our staff about what’s working and what still needs improvement. They were here to explain the County’s Future State Project and why community feedback is so important.

If you rely on County services from buses to parks to public buildings your voice matters. Milwaukee County is hosting community listening sessions across the county, and residents are encouraged to attend.

Learn more and find a session near you via the link in the comments.



Video description:
Andrew from Independence First sits at a bus stop outside the organization’s Milwaukee office and introduces Milwaukee County’s Future State Project. The video then features interview clips with Milwaukee County Project Manager Erin Perkins and Community Outreach Director Kyle Ashley explaining the project and inviting residents to attend community listening sessions. Drone footage of downtown Milwaukee is used as background visuals while they discuss how the County is reviewing transportation, public services, and other programs to improve how they serve residents. Andrew closes by encouraging viewers to share their feedback during the upcoming listening sessions.

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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