Independence First Consumer Advocacy Teams 2023
The Consumer Advocacy Teams are groups consisting of people with disabilities, staff, board members, and interested community members who are committed to being involved as a group in work that makes positive changes in our communities. The Consumer Advocacy Teams meet approximately once a month to work on a variety of issues affecting people with disabilities in our communities. Meetings currently are held through Zoom videoconferencing platform, which has a call-in option. When able to, meetings will resume on location at Independence First. Contact the staff for each team to be added to the group to receive the monthly agenda and Zoom links.
The Independence First ADA Consumer Advocacy Team is committed to improving the accessibility of business, government entities, and services for people with disabilities in the Metro Milwaukee area by promoting compliance to the American with Disabilities Act, and other disability rights laws through education, advocacy, and community outreach. The meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 PM to 3:30 PM. In 2023, the meetings will be in a hybrid format, both on-site and virtual. For more information, contact Calli Niemi at 414-226-8367 or e-mail: cniemi@independencefirst.org.
The Long Term Healthcare Consumer Advocacy Team provides opportunities for education and advocacy relating to how one can change the system and improve long-term care services on state and federal levels. The LTC Team provides opportunities for consumers to voice their opinions about various long-term care issues such as: Changes in managed care, accessible housing rules, and other issues. The meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. For more information, contact Julie Alexander at 414-226-8378 or e-mail: jalexander@independencefirst.org.
The mission of the Transportation Consumer Advocacy Team is to expand and sustain the accessibility, access, and quality of the public transportation system for people with disabilities through consumer input. The meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. For more information, contact Emily Cadman at 414-226-8197 or e-mail: ecadman@independencefirst.org.
Join the Accessible Housing Advocacy Team for accessible housing education, advocacy skill building, and making positive changes in local housing. This new advocacy team will focus on increasing the supply of accessible housing in the metro-Milwaukee area as well as sharing information on where people can find them. The meetings are held onf the 1st Tuesday of the month from 3:30PM to 4:30PM. For more information, contact Rebecca Rabatin at 414-226-8307 or rrabatin@independencefirst.org.
For General Information, contact Independence First 414-291-7520 V/TTY/Relay
Disability Rights
Do you know your rights and responsibilities related to your disability or access? Think you have been discriminated against or have an access complaint? We can help!
People with disabilities have rights but they also have responsibilities to self-advocate, provide and participate in their own decision-making. Issues related to access, legal, employment, landlord/tenant, fair housing, voting, medical access and more can be confusing.Our staff are experts on the ADA, transportation, long-term care and fair housing among other access and disability rights issues.
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