About Us
We work alongside people with disabilities as they seek to lead self-directed lives and we advocate for accessible and welcoming communities.
Who We Are
At Disability Advocates, we work alongside people with disabilities as they lead lives on their own terms. Whether you're looking for support, resources, or someone in your corner, we're here to help. Our team includes many people with lived experience of disability, which shapes everything we do—from one-on-one services to systems-level advocacy.
We work every day to make our community more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming. That means listening to your needs, working with local and state partners, and pushing for changes that remove barriers and open up opportunities for everyone.
We’re proud to be a trusted resource in our community for accessibility, Universal Design, transit advocacy, and education. And we’re honored to be invited to the table—whether it’s helping shape policy or guiding new building projects—to make sure disability inclusion is always part of the conversation.
Our Why
More and more people are recognizing how important it is to create spaces that are accessible and welcoming to everyone. Whether it’s aging adults, people newly navigating life with a disability, or long-time advocates pushing for change—there’s a growing understanding that barriers still exist, and they affect us all.
At Disability Advocates, we’re here to help break down those barriers. We believe everyone should be able to live, work, and participate fully in their community—no exceptions. That’s why we offer education, guidance, and hands-on support to improve accessibility and bring Universal Design into everyday spaces.
Because when our community works for people of all abilities, it works better for everyone.
Our History
Disability Advocates of Kent County was founded in 1981 by people with disabilities seeking to help themselves and other people with disabilities gain control over their own lives.
We began as the Grand Rapids Center for Independent Living, a title used by other such emerging efforts around the country. The term “center for independent living” is defined by federal law as a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agency that is designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provides an array of independent living services.
In 2002, we changed our name to Disability Advocates of Kent County to more accurately describe the role we play in our community and to better define our geographic reach. Throughout our history, we have maintained our status as a federally and state-recognized “center for independent living”, as defined in the Rehabilitation Act.
