Independence First Email Format
Individual and Family ServicesWisconsin, United States201-500 Employees
IndependenceFirst is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit in the field of individual and family services dedicated to advancing independent living for people with disabilities. It advocates for rights and access while operating a broad program of direct services in the Milwaukee region and select statewide initiatives, supported by an advocacy footprint at local, regional, state, and national levels. A substantial portion of its leadership and staff, including management and board, have disabilities themselves, reflecting a governance model informed by lived experience. The organization serves people with disabilities across the lifespan, offering in-depth services to thousands annually and providing educational programs to thousands more, while also acting as a primary information and referral resource for disability-related questions and resources. Its headquarters are in Milwaukee, with satellite offices in Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties, reinforcing its regional reach, and it upholds a vision of full community inclusion. In 2020 it partnered on a project to develop a mobile app to track accessibility of restaurants and other businesses in the city, in collaboration with UW-Milwaukee and Access Ratings for Buildings, ahead of the Democratic National Convention.