For more information, visit our Bridges page. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 565-9000.

Money and Voting

Here is an opportunity to earn some money for yourself and help our community at the same time. TACID’s (Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities), Housing and Employment Link Program (HELP) in partnership with the Center for Independence and Pierce County Auditor’s Office, is offering one-hour workshops to inform and assist people with different disabilities living in Pierce County on various aspects of voting and the electoral process. Our aim is to increase the number of citizens with disabilities in Pierce County who register to vote and use their vote at General Election on November 4, 2008. Click Here for more information.

We will offer Accessible Voting at TACID on Election Day on August 19th from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be election staff on-hand to answer questions and provide assistance upon request, but you must be registered to vote. Be sure to bring identification. Please, check out our Accessible Voting Flyer for further details. You can also read a very nice article from the Tacoma Weekly about Voter Accessibility AND TACID.

2007 Annual Report Published

Our 2007 Annual Report has been printed and is available online for download. Jessica Boone of Rushforth Conctruction designed the report and Columbia Bank donated the printing. The document shows our partners over the last year and gives a nice indication of our successes. Please, take a look.

Good Things Happening

2008 is shaping up to be a good year for TACID. Following up our successes with the yardsale and the dedication will be our High Tea @ TACID on the 30th of April, our board retreat at the University of Puget Sound on May 10th, and our Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Independence Breakfast called Bridges.

What TACID is...

TACID on a field trip.

TACID stands for Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities. Starting in 1980, four disability groups joined together to form what we know today as TACID.   These groups represent people who are deaf, blind, those who have Multiple Sclerosis, and cross-disabilites groups concerned with access issues. With a lot of cooperation from these groups, TACID incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) non profit corporation by the end of 1980. Through many changes and transformations, two of these groups, Tacoma Association of the Deaf and what is now the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities are still active in TACID Today.

The TACID Center was built under Referendum 37. This legislation, approved by the voters of Washington State, allowed $25 million in general state obligation bonds for facilities to train, rehabilitate and care for disabled persons. In TACID’s case, the referendum agreement enabled a new, fully accessible community center to be built at a cost of $1 million on the grounds of Tacoma Community College.

We are still in the same location today at 6315 South 19th in Tacoma, Washington. Our fully accessible facility opened in 1984. Over the years since then, the range of support groups, the number of disability programs, and the list of other services and activities has increased incredibly. Stop in and see who we are and what we have to offer!

TACID BREAKFAST SUCCESS!

The 6th TACID Independence Breakfast on September 18 at the Tacoma Sheraton was the most successful yet! About 260 people attended and sponsorships and donations were the highest we have ever received. The net income to support TACID services will be $36,000: an increase of 35% over 2006. Much of this success is due to the organizing committee of Don Doman, Dave Thomas and Roy Kimble who worked tirelessly on this event. This year's breakfast is called Bridges and is scheduled for September 23rd.

Other sincere thanks for the success are due to our sponsors, particularly the:  

                                   Diamond Sponsors:

and

Sapphire Sponsors:

Venture Bank

Emerald Sponsors:

Absher Construction

Architects BCRA

Harborstone Credit Union

Heritage Bank

Key Foundation

Bruce & Claudia Marley

Multicare Health Systems

Russell Investment Group

Simpson Tacoma Kraft

We also had Miss Washington , drummer Phil Coury and piper Joby Winens from the Tacoma Scots Pipe Band to add color and excitement to our event.

Tausha holding baby Jayden who shared her success story and guest spreaker Debbie Wooten who is also a board member.

TACID’s Breakfast featured two success stories: Tracy a TACID mental health consumer and Tausha and her baby Jayden from TACID’s Supportive Housing Program. Each had gotten their lives together and are succeeding thanks to TACID’s services. The motivational speaker was comedian Debbie Wooten. Debbie is also a TACID success story having attended the Post Polio Support Group to help cope with the return of her polio symptoms that had challenged her in childhood. Debbie is a testament of overcoming adversity and succeeding in life in spite of seemingly impossible odds: and keeping a sense of humor throughout!

TACID would like to thank everyone who supported our 2007 Independence Breakfast. As a special thanks to our supporters and neighbors, we are creating another special event called High Tea At TACID. The event is free of charge and is designed to introduce our friends to the TACID facility. There will be tours, snacks, entertainment and visitors will also be able to meet the speaker for our September Breakfast, Al Foxx, comedian and disability survivor.

SAVE THE DATE: Please add next year’s date to your planner: Tuesday September 23, 2008.