Free Disability Peer Support Group — Virtual | Access to Independence

Living with a disability can bring a specific kind of loneliness — the sense that no one around you quite understands the daily negotiations, the fatigue, the small victories that don’t always look like victories to anyone else. Access to Independence, a federally funded Center for Independent Living serving Oʻahu, runs a free monthly Peer Support Group that exists to close that gap. It’s a space built by and for adults with disabilities to talk openly, without having to translate their experience for someone who’s never lived it.

What to Expect
The group meets once a month over video call, making it accessible to people across Oʻahu regardless of mobility or transportation. Conversations are informal and member-driven — participants talk through everyday challenges, celebrate wins big and small, and trade practical resources and ideas with people who genuinely understand what they’re describing. There’s no clinical agenda and no pressure to share more than feels comfortable. It’s coordinated by Access to Independence’s Information & Assistance team, who keep the space welcoming for both longtime members and first-time attendees.

Who This Group Is For
This group is open to adults with disabilities ages 25 and older, whether you’re new to the disability community or you’ve been navigating it for years. Access to Independence’s philosophy is rooted in independent living principles: peer support, not professional treatment, and the belief that people with disabilities are the experts on their own lives. New and ongoing consumers are both welcome, and no diagnosis or referral is required to join.

Why Peer Support Works
There’s a specific kind of relief that comes from being in a room — even a virtual one — with people who don’t need the backstory explained. Peer-led groups like this one give members a chance to be heard by people who’ve faced similar barriers, whether that’s inaccessible housing, benefits navigation, or the everyday work of advocating for yourself. Over time, that kind of consistent, judgment-free connection can ease isolation and build a real sense of community that outside services often can’t replicate.

How to Join
The group is completely free and meets virtually once a month. To register or ask questions, contact Jessel Lopez, Information & Assistance Coordinator, at (808) 369-9521 or jlopez@accesstoindependence.org. Access to Independence’s Honolulu branch is located at 200 N. Vineyard Blvd, Ste 508, Box 4, Honolulu, HI 96817, and all of its Independent Living Skills services — including this group — are offered free of charge to people with disabilities regardless of type or age.