Access to Independence
Access to Independence is a Madison, Wisconsin nonprofit Independent Living Center, founded in 1977, providing free disability-led advocacy, assistive technology loans, skills training, and peer support to people with disabilities across four south-central Wisconsin counties, alongside fee-for-service business accessibility consulting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Access to Independence does
Access to Independence, Inc. is a Wisconsin-based, disability-led nonprofit Independent Living Center founded in 1977 and headquartered at 3810 Milwaukee Street, Madison. It delivers free core services — advocacy, information and referral, assistive technology loans and demonstrations (over 1,000 devices available for up to three-week loans), accessibility assessments, skills training, peer support, transition services, and youth services up to age 30 — to people with disabilities across Columbia, Dane, Dodge, and Green counties. It also administers the statewide WisLoan and Telework low-interest loan programs (loan range $500-$80,000) for assistive technology and self-employment equipment.
The organization operates two additional business lines. The first is a fee-for-service Accessibility Consulting practice covering web accessibility (WCAG, ADA, Section 508, EAA), event accessibility, one-hour disability inclusion training, and on-site ADA compliance evaluations, with quote-based pricing and free initial consultations. The second is a community engagement and fundraising layer that includes the Adaptive Gaming Expo (annual free event), the now-discontinued Artists Beyond Boundaries art show (June 2026 discontinuation, transitioning to smaller community arts formats), and a year-end calendar fundraiser featuring work by Wisconsin artists with disabilities.
The business model is grant-dependent at the core: federal and state government funders (Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, WisTech, Administration for Community Living) underwrite most operations, supplemented by individual and organizational donations, the calendar fundraiser, modest earned revenue from consulting and WisLoan administration, and in-kind equipment donations. Access to Independence is one of eight ILCs in Wisconsin and part of a nationwide network of over 400, with leadership (Executive Director Jason Beloungy, Assistant Director Chelsey Myhre Foster) and a majority-disability board consistent with the Independent Living philosophy.
Access to Independence firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Access to Independence
- Legal name
- Access to Independence, Inc.
- Website
- https://accesstoind.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Access to Independence is a Madison, Wisconsin nonprofit Independent Living Center, founded in 1977, providing free disability-led advocacy, assistive technology loans, skills training, and peer support to people with disabilities across four south-central Wisconsin counties, alongside fee-for-service business accessibility consulting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Access to Independence industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Services and Independent Living Support
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), AT Funding, Procurement & Compliance Support (IEP/504 Documentation) (EDAKAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Access to Independence is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Access to Independence business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts monetary donations from individuals and organizations to support programs, events, and services. Donations are used to fund the various independent living services provided to people with disabilities.
- Calendar Fundraiser: Annual year-end calendar sales featuring artwork from artists with disabilities. Proceeds support the organization's mission of empowering people with disabilities to achieve independent living goals.
- Government Grants and Funding: Funded by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Wistech Assistive Technology Program, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and Administration for Community Living. These public funding sources support the core operational costs of providing independent living services.
- WisLoan Program Administration: Statewide alternative loan program administered through the organization that allows Wisconsin residents with disabilities to finance assistive technology. The program generates administrative fees for processing loans ranging from $500 to $80,000.
- Business Accessibility Consulting Services: Fee-for-service accessibility consulting and training provided to businesses and organizations seeking to improve workplace, event, and digital accessibility. Includes web accessibility audits, event accessibility planning, disability inclusion training, and on-site ADA compliance evaluations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Independent Living Services |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | WisLoan Assistive Technology Loans |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Business Accessibility Consulting |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Access to Independence product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Access to Independence provides free Independent Living Services to people with disabilities, including advocacy, information and referral, assistive technology loans from a 1,000+ device inventory, accessibility assessments, skills training, peer support, transition services, and youth services up to age 30. It also administers the statewide WisLoan and Telework low-interest loan programs (loans from $500 to $80,000) for assistive technology and self-employment equipment, and delivers fee-based business accessibility consulting covering web accessibility, event accessibility, disability inclusion training, and on-site ADA compliance evaluations.
Product overview
Access to Independence operates as a disability-led organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of independent living services and business accessibility consulting. The core offering consists of free Independent Living Services including advocacy, assistive technology loans (1,000+ devices), accessibility assessments, skills training, peer support, transition services, and youth services. The WisLoan and Telework programs provide low-interest loans ($500-$80,000) for assistive technology and self-employment equipment. Business-facing services include Web Accessibility, Event Accessibility, Disability Inclusion Training, and On-Site Accessibility Evaluations. Community engagement programs include the Adaptive Gaming Expo and the now-discontinued Artists Beyond Boundaries annual art event. The organization also publishes The Opendoor e-newsletter and runs an annual calendar fundraiser featuring artists with disabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Independent Living Services A comprehensive suite of free services for people with disabilities including advocacy support, information and referral, assistive technology loans and demonstrations, home accessibility assessments, skills training, peer support, transition services, and youth services up to age 30. Provided at no cost to people with disabilities in Columbia, Dane, Dodge, and Green counties.
- WisLoan Program Statewide alternative loan program allowing Wisconsin residents with disabilities to finance assistive technology or equipment needed for independent living. Loan amounts range from $500 to $80,000 with low interest rates; the program generates administrative fees for processing loans.
- Telework Program Statewide program providing low-interest loans for people with disabilities to purchase equipment needed to start a business or become self-employed.
- Web Accessibility Services Digital accessibility consultations and evaluations to help businesses meet WCAG, ADA, Section 508, and EAA compliance goals with hands-on guidance. Offered as a paid service to businesses and organizations.
- Event Accessibility Services Event accessibility solutions including layout tips, signage, communication tools, and practical recommendations for creating inclusive, accessible events for businesses and event organizers.
- Disability Inclusion Training Expert-led 1-hour training sessions to help teams break down misconceptions about disabilities, build inclusive communication skills, and foster welcoming workplaces. Topics include assistive technology, ableism 101, and accessible event planning.
- On-Site Accessibility Evaluations ADA compliance consulting with practical recommendations for indoor and outdoor spaces, building plan reviews, and visual documentation of accessibility improvements for businesses and organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 assistive technology devices available for loan up to 3 weeks
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Access to Independence
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Access to Independence technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Access to Independence partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- EQT by DesigncoreLocal organization partnered with Access to Independence five years ago to identify areas for improvement in serving diverse disability communities. Worked together on inclusion initiatives to ensure the organization is truly inclusive of all people with disabilities and embraces various disability identities.
- WisTech Assistive Technology Advisory CouncilcorePartnership enables Access to Independence to maintain over 1,000 pieces of assistive technology available for loan to people with disabilities. The partnership allows individuals to try assistive technology devices for up to three weeks before purchasing.
- Administration for Community LivingmajorFederal agency providing funding and support for the WisLoan assistive technology loan program. Works in partnership with state-level programs to expand access to assistive technology for people with disabilities nationwide.
- Public Service Commission of WisconsinmajorState government agency that provides funding to Access to Independence as one of eight Independent Living Centers in Wisconsin. Part of the statewide network supporting independent living services.
- Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesmajorState government agency providing funding support to Access to Independence. Works with the organization on health and disability-related programs and services.
- Independent Living CouncilminorStatewide council supporting the network of eight Independent Living Centers in Wisconsin. Provides coordination and advocacy for independent living services across the state.
- Wisconsin Independent Living Network (IL-WIS)coreStatewide network connecting all eight Independent Living Centers in Wisconsin. Helps individuals outside Access to Independence's service region find the ILC that serves their county.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Access to Independence competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IndependenceFirst: Milwaukee-based Independent Living Center serving southeastern Wisconsin with the same ILC mandate (advocacy, AT, peer support, transition, youth services). Direct ILC peer with overlapping service lines, including business accessibility consulting and assistive technology programs.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries of Wisconsin: Statewide nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, employment services, and disability-related programs. Overlaps with Access to Independence's vocational/employment and Pre-ETS transition work for people with disabilities.
- Level Access: Enterprise digital accessibility firm offering WCAG/ADA auditing, training, and managed accessibility services. Direct overlap with Access to Independence's web accessibility consulting line, but at national enterprise scale versus the regional nonprofit model.
- Easterseals Wisconsin: Established statewide disability services nonprofit offering disability employment, AT, and community living services. Overlapping mission on independent living and assistive technology but operates a broader portfolio of programs across Wisconsin.
- The Arc Wisconsin: Statewide disability advocacy and services organization focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities, with family support, advocacy, and case management. Comparable nonprofit disability services peer in Wisconsin with similar advocacy and community-based support work.
- Vispero (Pac](/iello Group): Major accessibility technology and services company combining AT products with consulting and compliance services. Comparable through the intersection of assistive technology offerings and accessibility consulting services sold to enterprises.
Regional players
- Disability Rights Wisconsin: Wisconsin's designated Protection & Advocacy system providing legal advocacy and disability rights services. Comparable as a regional disability-led advocacy organization, with overlapping beneficiary base but a distinct legal-advocacy mission versus service delivery.
Others
- Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities: Wisconsin state agency funding disability advocacy and systems change. Adjacent as a state-level disability policy and funding entity that channels resources to community-based organizations including ILCs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Access to Independence social profiles
Digital presenceAccess to Independence compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Access to Independence financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Access to Independence leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Access to Independence funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Access to Independence M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Access to Independence
What does Access to Independence do?
Access to Independence provides free Independent Living Services to people with disabilities, including advocacy, information and referral, assistive technology loans from a 1,000+ device inventory, accessibility assessments, skills training, peer support, transition services, and youth services up to age 30. It also administers the statewide WisLoan and Telework low-interest loan programs (loans from $500 to $80,000) for assistive technology and self-employment equipment, and delivers fee-based business accessibility consulting covering web accessibility, event accessibility, disability inclusion training, and on-site ADA compliance evaluations.
Is Access to Independence a public or private company?
Access to Independence is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Access to Independence founded?
Access to Independence was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Access to Independence based?
Access to Independence is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Access to Independence make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are calendar Fundraiser, government Grants and Funding, wisLoan Program Administration and business Accessibility Consulting Services.
Who are Access to Independence's main competitors?
IndependenceFirst is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Goodwill Industries of Wisconsin, Level Access, Easterseals Wisconsin, The Arc Wisconsin and Vispero (Pac](/iello Group). Disability Rights Wisconsin is listed as a regional player. Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities is listed as an others.
Does Access to Independence have an API?
No public API is recorded for Access to Independence.
What industry is Access to Independence in?
Access to Independence's product category is Disability Services and Independent Living Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.