Organization’s Description

Through individualized counseling, advocacy efforts, skill-building classes, recreation, gardening and arts programming, and more, we help individuals with disabilities to build their skills, advocate for what they need, find friends, and feel at home. Each year, we impact the lives of over 4,000 people throughout Southeast Michigan, including people with disabilities, their families and friends, and members of the business community.

As part of its inclusive Sports and Recreation department, the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living has  the only completely free, accessible, inclusive and organic community garden in Washtenaw County!  Our garden space consists of 13 wheelchair accessible beds, 4 ground beds, and a wheelchair accessible tool shed. Furthermore, the majority of our gardening space rests on completely paved ground, to ensure maximum accessibility.  Everyone is welcome to garden in our space, regardless of skill, ability, or income level.  In addition, the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living’s community garden offers a community gardening program that consists of a variety of educational workshops and activities like nutrition, beginning gardening, mindfulness, rain barrel workshops and more!  Finally, our community garden staff does community outreach, helping individuals and other community gardens learn how to make their space more accessible and inclusive.

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