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Business Services

 

Three images of an accessible workplace. A meeting that includes a participant in a wheelchair. A young woman with a limb difference meets with a woman at a table. A woman in a wheelchair leaves a glass office door.

 

Build an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming organization.


Independence First partners with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to build accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environments for everyone. Whether you serve the public, operate community programs, or run a business, we can help you strengthen accessibility, compliance, and inclusion across every aspect of your organization. 

 

Our Services 

 

We collaborate with organizations of all sizes, from city departments and schools to local nonprofits and small businesses providing practical, affordable solutions tailored to your mission and community. 

Accessibility Assessments 

Whether you're planning a renovation, responding to a complaint, or working to create a more welcoming environment, we offer customized assessments for businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and community organizations. 

Our team can: 

  • Conduct walkthroughs to quickly note potential barriers 
  • Provide easy, cost-effective steps to improve accessibility 
  • Deliver detailed accessibility audits with code references and recommended remedies
  • Review blueprints for new construction or remodeling projects
  • Help you understand ADA, Fair Housing, and building code requirements 

 

Training & Education 

Facilitated by members of the ADA Trainer Leadership Network 

We provide interactive, practical trainings tailored to your industry. These sessions help staff, managers, and leadership teams build the skills needed to serve all customers and create an inclusive workplace. 

Training topics include: 

  • ADA basics and compliance (Titles I, II & III) 
  • In-person or virtual 
  • Disability etiquette and inclusive customer service 
  • Understanding visible and invisible disabilities 
  • Accessible digital communication 
  • Inclusive hiring and employment practices 
  • Customized workshops for retail, hospitality, healthcare, government, and more 

A man with a grey goatee and brown shirt poses for a photograph

All trainings are developed and facilitated by Brian Peters, a member of the nationally recognized ADA Trainer Leadership Network. 
 

Policy & Planning Support 

We can also help your organization: 

  • Develop accessibility policies and procedures 
  • Respond to or reduce access complaints 
  • Create long-term accessibility improvement plans 
  • Incorporate universal design principles into operations 
  • Understand your obligations and opportunities under the ADA 

 

Why Work with Independence First? 

As a federally designated Center for Independent Living, we bring a community-based perspective rooted in lived experience. Our guidance is practical, cost-effective, and focused on helping your organization meet real-world needs.  

  • Nearly 50 years of experience advancing disability rights 
  • Experienced trainers who have supported local governments, businesses, and nonprofits. 
  • Staff with lived experience who understand barriers firsthand 
  • Guidance grounded in the ADA and not the sale of ramps, lifts, or equipment
  • Trusted relationships with thousands of consumers, families, and partners 
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network professionals on staff 

We are committed to helping businesses create welcoming, barrier-free environments that support both legal compliance and community inclusion. 

 

Contact Us 

Brian Peters 
Advocacy & Accessibility Services Specialist 
414-937-5912 (VP/Relay) 
bpeters@independencefirst.org