For more information about the author, click to view their website: Center for Independence
Independence looks different for everyone.
For some, it means living alone in their own apartment. For others, it means securing meaningful employment, accessing transportation, or learning how to navigate life after an injury.
On Colorado’s Western Slope, where distances are wide and services can be spread out across rural communities, access to disability support isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
The Center for Independence in Grand Junction, led by David Nelson and his team, exists to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the tools, advocacy, and resources they need to live fully integrated lives.
“Disability doesn’t mean inability,” David says. “Our mission is to remove barriers so individuals can define independence on their own terms.”
The Center for Independence is part of a national network of Independent Living Centers (ILCs). These are community-based organizations designed to empower individuals with disabilities — not to direct them, but to support their goals.
Unlike medical facilities, ILCs operate on a peer-based model. Many staff members live with disabilities themselves and understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with navigating life in rural Colorado.
Core services typically include:
Peer support
Advocacy
Independent living skills training
Information and referral
Transition services
This model emphasizes autonomy and self-determination.
The Western Slope spans wide-open landscapes, small towns, and rural counties. Individuals served may include those living in:
Grand Junction
Clifton
Fruita
Palisade
Rural Mesa County
Surrounding communities
Services are available to individuals with:
Physical disabilities
Mobility impairments
Vision or hearing loss
Chronic illness
Traumatic brain injury
Developmental disabilities
In a region where access to specialists may require long travel distances, having a centralized support organization in Grand Junction is invaluable.
Barriers come in many forms.
They may include:
Inaccessible housing
Limited transportation
Employment discrimination
Difficulty accessing healthcare
Lack of adaptive equipment
The Center for Independence works to identify solutions that promote participation in everyday life.
For example:
Connecting individuals with housing resources
Advocating for workplace accommodations
Assisting with transportation planning
Teaching budgeting and life skills
Providing guidance on assistive technology
Independence isn’t about doing everything alone — it’s about having the right supports in place.
Advocacy is a cornerstone of independent living philosophy.
The Center for Independence supports:
Individual advocacy (help navigating services or disputes)
Systems advocacy (improving accessibility policies)
Community education
Whether advocating for ADA compliance or ensuring public transportation remains accessible, the organization plays an active role in strengthening inclusion across the Western Slope.
David emphasizes, “True independence requires community change. We work not only with individuals, but with systems.”
Life transitions can be particularly complex for individuals with disabilities.
The Center for Independence assists with:
Transitioning from nursing facilities back into community living
Youth transitioning from school into adulthood
Navigating new diagnoses or mobility changes
Adjusting after injury
Returning home from institutional care — when possible — restores autonomy and community connection.
In rural Colorado, ensuring those transitions are properly supported can mean the difference between isolation and empowerment.
Meaningful employment is often a key component of independence.
The Center for Independence provides:
Job readiness support
Resume assistance
Interview coaching
Connection to workforce programs
Guidance on workplace accommodations
Employment increases financial stability and strengthens community integration.
For Grand Junction residents eager to contribute to local businesses, workforce support is life-changing.
One of the most powerful aspects of an Independent Living Center is peer mentorship.
When someone newly injured or diagnosed speaks with another person who has navigated similar challenges, the impact is profound.
Peer support fosters:
Emotional resilience
Practical knowledge sharing
Confidence
Community connection
It reminds individuals that independence is possible — even when life looks different than before.
Services are available to individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Eligibility details can be discussed directly with the Center.
No. The Center serves individuals of all ages with disabilities.
Many services are provided at low or no cost, depending on funding and eligibility.
No. The Center focuses on advocacy, skills training, and support — not clinical healthcare.
Yes. Families are welcome to connect for information and referral assistance.
The Western Slope is built on community strength. That same spirit drives the mission of the Center for Independence.
By providing:
Advocacy
Peer support
Skills training
Resource navigation
Transition services
The Center empowers individuals to live integrated, self-directed lives.
Independence is not a destination — it’s a journey supported by community.
When an older adult needs help at home and sees several clinicians, a coverage decision can affect everything from prescription refills to rides. If youre considering TRU PACE in Lafayette, start by asking how enrollment would change the care and coverage you already use. How Medicare and Medicaid Fit Into PACEPACE is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It coordinates healthcare and support for eligible adults who meet a state standard for nursing home-level care and can live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. Applicants must also be 55 or older and live in the programs service area. TRU PACE and Your Current CoveragePhone: 303-665-0115Medicare says people with Medicaid pay no monthly PACE premium. Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid pay premiums for the long-term care portion and Medicare Part D drugs. Medicare also says participants owe no deductible, copayment, or coinsurance for drugs, services, or care approved by their PACE team. Ask TRU PACE for an estimate based on your individual coverage before enrolling. Doctors, Prescriptions, and Existing ServicesTRU PACE says it becomes the participants insurance provider at enrollment. Participants generally receive care through the programs provider network. Bring a list of your doctors, medications, and scheduled services. Ask which providers are in the network and how the team would coordinate any changes. Why This Matters in LafayetteIf you regularly see a clinician near home or have a specialist visit scheduled outside Lafayette, give the enrollment team the names and dates. Ask which appointments can continue and what to do about any refill due around the enrollment date. How to Get Started1. Gather Your Coverage InformationHave your Medicare and Medicaid information, if applicable, along with details of any current plan. List the appointments and prescriptions you rely on most.2. Ask for an Enrollment and Cost ReviewCall TRU PACE and ask for your expected monthly cost, when any coverage change would take effect, and who would help coordinate the transition. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesPACE Adult Day Services Care Management
After a death, families may have to make several decisions in a short time. Others prefer to talk through their wishes ahead of time. In either situation, it helps to separate the practical arrangements from the decisions about how to gather, remember, and say goodbye. What Funeral and Mortuary Services CoverA funeral home can help arrange transportation and care of the person who died, assist with paperwork, and coordinate burial or cremation. A family may also arrange a viewing, funeral, memorial, or private gathering. Ask which decisions need to be made immediately and which can wait. The Natural Funeral in LafayettePhone: 720-515-2344The Natural Funeral lists natural burial, flame cremation, water cremation, and terramation, also called natural organic reduction. Water cremation uses an alkaline water process, and terramation transforms remains into soil. If one of these options interests you, ask what the process involves, how long it typically takes, and what the family receives afterward. Planning a Gathering and Reviewing CostsThe Lafayette funeral home is at 102 W Chester Street in Old Town. Ask what can take place at the Lafayette location and which parts would involve another venue or a cemetery. Request a General Price List and a written breakdown of your choices so you can see which fees cover the funeral homes work and which come from outside providers. Why This Matters in LafayetteIf relatives are coming from out of town or some guests have limited mobility, ask about parking, step-free access, and how many people the gathering space can accommodate. If you plan to hold a service and burial at different locations, check how much time guests will need between them. How to Get Started1. Write Down the Persons WishesLook for written instructions and note any cultural or religious preferences. If youre planning ahead, tell a trusted person where you keep your instructions and whom to call.2. Ask for a Written PlanCall 720-515-2344 and ask what is needed on the first call. Once youve discussed options, request the expected timeline and itemized costs before approving arrangements. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesCounseling Hospice Advance Care Planning
When an older adult spends most weekdays alone, families may need more than a place for them to go. They may also be juggling transportation, appointments, and help at home. TRU PACE in Lafayette offers a day center as part of a program that coordinates those needs for eligible older adults. What Are Adult Day Services?Adult day services offer daytime support outside the home. Depending on the program, participants may spend time with peers, eat a meal, take part in activities, or receive help with daily needs. Some centers accept people directly. The Lafayette TRU PACE center serves people enrolled in its broader Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. TRU PACE in LafayettePhone: 303-665-0115TRU PACEs Lafayette center is at 2593 Park Lane. The program coordinates medical and social services and arranges transportation to the day center and medical visits as needed. Ask the enrollment team what a typical center day includes, how often a participant might attend, and how the team decides what support to arrange at home. Who May QualifyPACE applicants must be at least 55, live in the programs service area, meet the states standard for nursing home-level care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. Ask how enrollment would affect access to current doctors and prescription coverage before making a decision. Why This Matters in LafayetteWhen family members already drive someone to several appointments a week, a coordinated schedule can change who needs to be available and when. Ask how pickup would work at the persons Lafayette address and who to call if a ride or appointment changes. How to Get Started1. Ask for an Eligibility ReviewCall TRU PACE. Have the participants ZIP code, current coverage, and a short list of the help they need. 2. Ask to Visit the CenterFind out what the participant might do on a center day, how transportation works, and what changes to their current care arrangements enrollment would involve. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesCare Management Transportation Respite Care
Center for Independence promotes community solutions and empowers individuals with disabilities to live independently. CFI is governed by people with disabilities and upholds the independent living philosophy that people with disabilities have the right to live their lives independently and with dignity to their fullest potential. CFI provides information to individuals and businesses about the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), accessibility guidelines, and other technical assistance. The Independent Living Philosophy recognizes that; all people with disabilities face many barriers in seeking to achieve personal goals, community acceptance and integration. The goal of the Center for Independence is to help consumers overcome those barriers.
Center for Independence promotes community solutions and empowers individuals with disabilities to live independently. CFI is governed by people with disabilities and upholds the independent living philosophy that people with disabilities have the right to live their lives independently and with dignity to their fullest potential. CFI provides information to individuals and businesses about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accessibility guidelines, and other technical assistance. The Independent Living Philosophy recognizes that; all people with disabilities face many barriers in seeking to achieve personal goals, community acceptance and integration. The goal of the Center for Independence is to help consumers overcome those barriers.