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.

10/27/2025

Exploring Career Paths at the Milwaukee County Zoo! 🐘🦓

For Disability Mentoring Day, Independence First joined high school students and their families for a behind-the-scenes look at the many different jobs that make the Zoo such an exciting place to work.

Our Director of Independent Living Services, Gerald Hay, led a tour and shared his own story of working with elephants. Students learned about everything from animal care to education, maintenance, and guest services discovering that there’s more than one path to a meaningful career.

Having a disability is no barrier to joining a wild workplace!Today, Independence First hosted a special event at the M...
10/24/2025

Having a disability is no barrier to joining a wild workplace!

Today, Independence First hosted a special event at the Milwaukee County Zoo as part of Disability Mentoring Month. A group of high school students and their parents/caregivers joined us for a hands-on look at the many different jobs that make the Zoo a vibrant and exciting place to work.

Our Director of Independent Living Services, Gerald Hay, led the group through the Zoo grounds and shared his own story of working with elephants during his time there. Gerald’s wife still works at the Zoo today, caring for primates!

Throughout the morning, participants learned about the many Zoo careers from animal care and education to maintenance, guest services, and more. It was a close-up look at the ‘wild side’ of the working world for students thinking about their futures.

Thank you to the Milwaukee County Zoo for welcoming our group and helping us celebrate the power of inclusion and opportunity during Disability Mentoring Month!

When women have financial knowledge, entire communities grow stronger.Registration is now open for the Women’s Financial...
10/23/2025

When women have financial knowledge, entire communities grow stronger.

Registration is now open for the Women’s Financial Education Series this November at Independence First’s Grafton Office, presented in collaboration with Summit Credit Union.

This free, two-part workshop series helps women and girls build financial confidence, gain practical tools, and connect with resources that support long-term financial wellbeing.

Participants could earn up to $50 toward a Summit Credit Union savings account by attending both sessions, but space is limited, so RSVP today!

Dates and Topics:
Wednesday, November 5 | 12:30–2:00 p.m.
• Money Visions & Goals / Exploring Money Beliefs
• Intro to Financial Institutions, Account Basics, and Comparing Cards

Wednesday, November 12 | 12:30–2:00 p.m.
• The Art of Budgeting / Tools to Manage Your Money / Protect Yourself from Fraud
• Credit Report Basics / Building & Repairing Credit

Location:
Independence First – Grafton Office
2360 Dakota Drive, Grafton, WI 53024
Synergy Conference Room

RSVP is required — seats fill quickly.
To register or request accommodations, contact Tonya Villwock at 414-226-8138 or tvillwock@independencefirst.org.

Don’t miss this chance to invest in yourself, strengthen your financial future, and join a community of women supporting women.

It’s not just “for the birds.” Discover the joy of birding the accessible way!Join us for Adaptive Birding at Havenwoods...
10/23/2025

It’s not just “for the birds.” Discover the joy of birding the accessible way!

Join us for Adaptive Birding at Havenwoods State Forest on Saturday, November 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Enjoy a fun and casual hike through the beautiful fall trails while learning about Wisconsin’s birds and trying adaptive equipment designed to make birding accessible for everyone. This event is open to all skill levels, from first-time birders to experienced enthusiasts.

Location:
Havenwoods State Forest
6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, WI 53209

Transportation is not provided.

Please RSVP to help us plan for everyone’s needs.
To RSVP or request accommodations, contact Nina Gutmanis at 414-226-8106 (V/Relay) or ngutmanis@independencefirst.org

Let’s make the outdoors welcoming and accessible for all.

There’s still time to visit our Accessible Halloween Showcase!Stop by today, Tuesday, October 22, any time between 10:00...
10/22/2025

There’s still time to visit our Accessible Halloween Showcase!

Stop by today, Tuesday, October 22, any time between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Independence First – Ozaukee Office, located inside the Ozaukee Nonprofit Center (2360 Dakota Drive, Suite J1, Grafton, WI).

Learn fun and simple ways to make Halloween more inclusive for everyone. The showcase includes ideas for accessible treats and tips to make Trick-or-Treating easier for people with disabilities.

This is a drop-in event and open to the public.

Let’s make Halloween something everyone can enjoy.

Don’t Let People in with Disabilities in Milwaukee County Get Left Behind.Milwaukee County’s 2026 budget proposal includ...
10/21/2025

Don’t Let People in with Disabilities in Milwaukee County Get Left Behind.

Milwaukee County’s 2026 budget proposal includes major cuts to public transit. It will mean the loss of bus routes, shorter service hours, fare increases, and the end of the same-day paratransit pilot program.

We need your help to stop these cuts. Visit this link for details how:
independencefirst.org/paratransit2025

These cuts would make it harder for many people with disabilities to stay independent and connected.

You can help!

Join Independence First in speaking up before the budget is finalized.

Milwaukee County Budget Hearing
Mitchell Park Domes (524 S. Layton Blvd.)
Monday, October 27 — Doors open at 5:00 p.m., hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
At the hearing, you can share why transit and paratransit matter to you.
Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per person.

You can also register to speak virtually if you can’t attend in person.

Contact your County Supervisor and tell them to support funding for accessible transportation:

If you need help preparing your comments or registering, Independence First can assist you.

Accessibility Note:
If you need an ASL interpreter, captioning, or another accommodation, please contact the Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities at 414-278-3932 (voice) or 711 (TRS) as soon as possible.

Accessible transportation = independence.
Let’s make sure no one gets left behind.

Thank you to Lauren Grudzinski for the graphic art!

Drop in today for some Halloween fun!Our main office in Milwaukee is hosting an inclusive Halloween showcase. Join us to...
10/20/2025

Drop in today for some Halloween fun!

Our main office in Milwaukee is hosting an inclusive Halloween showcase. Join us to learn about different ways to make Halloween accessible to everyone. Learn about alternative treat options and see ideas to make Trick-or-Treating easier for all.

Showcase will run today, Monday October 20th from now until 7:00PM, stop by!

Location: Independence First main office, 540 S. 1st St. Milwaukee, WI 53204

We will also be hosting a Halloween showcase at our Ozaukee office this Wednesday, October 22nd from 10:00AM-7:00PM. Our Independence First Ozaukee office is located inside the Ozaukee Nonprofit Center at 2360 Dakota Drive, Suite J1 in Grafton, WI.

On Sunday, Independence First staff and consumers had a great time enjoying the fall weather at Blue Lotus Center, a nat...
10/13/2025

On Sunday, Independence First staff and consumers had a great time enjoying the fall weather at Blue Lotus Center, a nature retreat in West Bend, WI.

The air was cool and crisp, but the fire — and all the laughter — kept us warm. We spent the day canoeing, paddle boating, fishing, hiking, and just soaking in the beauty around us. Sharing stories and s’mores around the campfire was the perfect way to end the day. It was a much-needed and refreshing break for everyone.

Do you or someone you know need mobility devices or other assistive technology? Today we are giving away free, gently us...
10/10/2025

Do you or someone you know need mobility devices or other assistive technology? Today we are giving away free, gently used equipment. Free tickets are still available! Visit the link and choose a time to come down to the Independence First main office in Milwaukee. Restrictions may apply, no children under 12.

Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adaptive-equipment-giveaway-2025-tickets-1731350549099

We are excited to host the Vision Forward archery class! The first session was a lot of fun and had some talented archer...
10/07/2025

We are excited to host the Vision Forward archery class! The first session was a lot of fun and had some talented archers. Vision Forward serves the visually impaired in the Milwaukee area and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them for this fun program. Check out the video! 🏹
[Video description: An archer at Independence First draws back an arrow and releases it hitting the target to claps and cheers.]

We have a lot of fall and winter fun coming to our Milwaukee and suburban offices! Check out our calendar for all of our...
10/03/2025

We have a lot of fall and winter fun coming to our Milwaukee and suburban offices!

Check out our calendar for all of our FREE workshops, social clubs, and other events.

For example, we'll be hosting a drop-in Halloween inclusive showcase at both our Milwaukee and Grafton offices later this month. Stop by and learn about different treat options and how to make trick-or-treating accessible for everyone. Find more information about these and other workshops here: www.independencefirst.org/events

Are you a woman or know a woman who wants to earn $50 while learning about financial literacy?Independence First is coll...
09/25/2025

Are you a woman or know a woman who wants to earn $50 while learning about financial literacy?

Independence First is collaborating with Summit Credit Union who will teach money managing basics for women. Everything you need to know from setting goals, learning how to set up a checking account, budgeting, fraud protection and more! If you attend both workshops in the series, you could earn $50 to start your new account! The next series is October 2nd & 9th from 10:00AM - 11:30AM. One series will be held at our Milwaukee office and one series will be held at our Waukesha office on the same day, so you can choose the one that's most convenient for you.

To register for the Milwaukee workshops and to learn more, visit:
https://www.independencefirst.org/Events/Financial-Education-Series-for-Women---Milwaukee.htm?Occurrence=2025-10-02T10:00:00

To register for the Waukesha workshops and to learn more, visit:
https://www.independencefirst.org/Events/Financial-Education-Series-for-Women---Waukesha1.htm?Occurrence=2025-10-02T15:00:00

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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