Our Mission
To advocate for all people with disabilities to be a meaningful part of an integrated community of their choice.
About Us
No one is a better expert on your own life than you are. Our core philosophy is this: people with disabilities should have just as much say in and control over their lives as their non-disabled peers. To that end, Independent Living is dedicated to providing individuals with disabilities the skills and support tho achieve what others take for granted. Independent Living means that you get to choose what you do, where you go, what you eat, and what help and healthcare you receive. It means that your informed consent is most important when it comes to your care and your life.
Atlantis Community has been a local fixture for other forty years. With the help of volunteers, dedicated staff (of which over 70 percent are disabled themselves), and generous donors, we have been fortunate enough to make a difference in many lives over the years.
What is Independent Living?
Independent Living is living by your own rules and making your own choices about all aspects of your life – where you go, where you live, how you support yourself, how you receive health care, how you manage any help you might need to do these things.
Independent Living is at the heart of what we do here at Atlantis. We offer a variety of support groups and assistance services to help you become independent on your own terms. Whether you would like to learn how to cook and do laundry, practice basic math and reading comprehension skills, or learn how to manage a budget and negotiate with service providers, we can help!
Our Values
Response to White House Statement with Call to Action
Atlantis Equity Statement
Atlantis Equity Statement: Atlantis Community, Inc. is committed to building equity and disrupting all forms of racism and ableism from the systems level down to individual relationships.
Atlantis Community’s Statement Against Police Brutality
Not six years after Eric Garner uttered “I can’t breathe,” George Floyd said the same three words while being choked to death by a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25th, 2020.
Who We Are
With a dynamic history and promising future, Atlantis Community, Inc. has proudly served the Denver community for over forty years. After touching countless lives, we are excited to work with you and our partners to continue to provide quality services and support to the disabled community. Check out our History Page for a detailed description of the struggles and successes of years past.
Atlantis has also had a long and productive partnership with ADAPT, American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation or also known as American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today. Please see our page on ADAPT to learn more about their programs.
Interested in learning more about Atlantis Community? Check out the Take the Tour page to get a closer look at our fantastic facility and learn more about our fascinating history!
History of Atlantis/ADAPT
Atlantis Community, Inc. was founded on the belief that people with disabilities deserve the same rights, choices, and opportunities as their non-disabled peers. In the early 1970s, a group of disabled advocates and allies began challenging the inhumane conditions faced by young people with disabilities who were confined to nursing homes. Led by Reverend Wade Blank, they created an alternative to institutional living by launching the Atlantis Early Action Project in 1975. This initiative provided accessible housing and support services that allowed individuals to live independently and pursue personal goals in education, employment, and community life.
Since its founding, Atlantis has remained committed to the principle of self-determination and community integration. The organization was created to dismantle systems that segregate and stigmatize disabled people, and to empower individuals to define and direct their own lives. From its first residents moving out of nursing homes and into accessible apartments in Denver, to its continued advocacy and services today, Atlantis has been a pioneer in promoting disability rights, inclusion, and independence.
ADAPT, a longtime ally of Atlantis Community, Inc., is a national disability rights organization founded in 1983, originally known as American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit. Through powerful direct actions like protests and civil disobedience, ADAPT was instrumental in making public transit accessible—starting in Denver—and played a key role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Today, ADAPT continues to fight for disability justice, focusing on accessible housing and reducing reliance on institutional care. To learn more or get involved, visit their website at www.ADAPT.org.