Independence, Inc.

07/27/2026

"A look at the decades-long struggle for in America..."

07/27/2026

This looks like a fabulous new resource - the Kansas Benefits Guide! Now live online - check it out!

New Resource Available: Kansas IDD Benefits Guide Now Live!

A central guide to education, benefits, healthcare, employment, waivers, and daily living supports for Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Explore the Guide at https://www.kcdd.org/kansas-benefits-guide

[Image description: White and blue banner with text “NEW RESOURCE FROM KCDD Kansas Benefits Guide for Individuals with IDD” above a laptop and mobile phone showing the new benefits guide + text: https://www.kcdd.org/kansas-benefits-guide]

07/27/2026

During , did you know the KU Life Span Institute is home to one of the nation's longest-running studies on and its impact on families? We are working to determine how the needs and challenges of families and individuals living with with Fragile X evolve as children enter adulthood.

Interested in learning more about our work to better understand ? Visit https://fragilexlab.ku.edu

07/27/2026

Yep! Important information for the public to know...

There are many reasons a person may use a wheelchair, and all are equally valid. 🩷

Image description: a colorful educational infographic on a light gray background explains that many wheelchair users can walk. Across the top, large bold pink text reads, “Many wheelchair users can WALK.”

Down the left side are three illustrations:

At the top, an empty teal wheelchair beside a standing person wearing a lavender outfit.

In the middle, a person seated in a wheelchair with one leg raised in the air.

At the bottom, a wheelchair basketball player reaching toward an orange basketball.

The creator’s handle, “,” appears vertically in pink text along the left edge.

Three rounded text boxes with wavy borders provide information:

1. A green box states: “Wheelchair users who have the ability to walk are called ambulatory wheelchair users. 30–40% of all wheelchair users are ambulatory.”

2. A lavender box states: “Just because someone uses a wheelchair does not mean they are paralyzed. In fact, only 10–20% of wheelchair users have paralysis.”

3. A bright pink box states: “Reasons a person may use a wheelchair include not being able to walk, only being able to walk short distances, and to reduce pain and discomfort.”

07/27/2026

07/27/2026

We couldn't agree more! And they make fabulous organizational partners to boot! We love you Kansas City, Kansas Public Library and Lawrence Public Library! Thank you for keeping us cool!

Having just received last month's electric bill, I'm going to start making better use of my local public library's AC...

07/27/2026

Check out this Employment Resource Hub from the ADA National Network! What a fabulous resource for anyone exploring employment options, asking for accommodations, understanding your rights, preparing for transition from education to employment and so much more! If you have a disability and are employed, want to be employed or thinking about employment, you'll want to visit this site!

Did you know the ADA National Network has officially launched our Employment Resource Hub? This hub offers information about disabilities and the workplace at every stage of employment. This resource features new materials and centralizes fact sheets, FAQs materials, and tools with the National Network, making it easy to find answers to all of your questions about employment and the ADA. Explore our Employment Resource Hub today: https://adata.org/employment-resource-hub

07/27/2026

Yes! This hits the mark on so many truths - disability needs representation everywhere, in all media, in all places; attitudes and misconceptions about disability create real barriers to independence and inclusion; children are impressionable - make a good impression!

“’Little Fin’ was inspired by a real experience I had at an aquarium. A young girl and her grandmother came up to me asking questions about my hearing aids, and it wasn't until a few moments later that I realized the little girl was wearing hearing aids too. That interaction stayed with me because it reminded me how many disability experiences are shared across generations and how meaningful representation can be. I wanted to create a story that captured that feeling of curiosity, connection, and seeing yourself reflected in someone else. One of my hopes is that disability becomes something children learn about from a young age with curiosity, empathy, and joy, rather than fear or discomfort.” – Chrissy Marshall, Writer and Director of “Little Fin”

Read our review of “Little Fin” and watch the short film: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/07/little-fin-review/

07/27/2026

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that protects the rights of people with disabilities in all areas of life.

According to 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults have some type of disability. This number continues to grow due to increases in noncommunicable diseases and people living longer, which may increase the likelihood of experiencing disability related to aging.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 10.5 million U.S. adults with disabilities were employed in 2024. Data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) shows that 1 in 4 workers who were age 20 in 2022 are expected to become disabled before reaching retirement age.

Disability is part of being human and is integral to the human experience. People with disabilities are a diverse group, and disability intersects with factors such as s*x, age, religion, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Disability impacts all of us, and anyone can experience a disability at some point in life.

As the ADA turns 36 today, let’s use this milestone to increase awareness of disability and continue learning about the law that protects the rights of people with disabilities. We started our ADA Anniversary social media campaign last month, sharing different resources related to disability and the ADA every week. We compiled this information into a list of resources for you to access and share.
Link: Linktr.ee/ADA36

Share this information, and help us increase awareness of the ADA!

Happy 36th Anniversary to the ADA! Happy 35th Anniversary to the Great Lakes ADA Center!