MADISON, Wis. -- A local group that helps many in the area with disabilities live independently marked a milestone on Wednesday night.

Access To Independence Inc. is celebrating its 30th anniversary as well as its new office space. The group provides advocacy and community outreach for those living with disabilities.

The group's directors said that south-central Wisconsin has come a long way in terms of helping the disabled since 1978, but still has more work to do, WISC-TV reported.

"(We need to) get people more involved in their communities and reading books about disabilities so other people without disabilities can learn about the disability experience," said Tracy Miller, the group's assistant director.

They said that overall, the Madison community continues to be an accepting and accommodating place for people with disabilities to live and work. It cites accessible public transportation, including lifts on all Madison Metro buses, and curb cuts as examples.