Independent Living

Links to all of our videos are on this page. We interviewed people with disabilities who live and celebrate the independent living lifestyle. They are each remarkable in their accomplishments and their normalcy.

Independent Living is defined as as “the ability to live independently and productively in the community and to live with the same freedom of choice as a non-disabled person. So it’s not that you are living on your own but that you control where you live and have the same range of choices as a non-disabled person. (Jill Weiss) ” from an article by Dr. Adolf Ratzka, 1992.

Each person who was interviewed has had to face barriers and challenges to independence. Each has found a path to a good life. And each has helped reduce barriers for others with disabilities.

Civil Rights Movement and Disability Rights – Paul Spooner

"July 26th is my 4th of July!" As an early proponent of the Independent Living movement, Paul Spooner was a ...

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My Mom Was Not the One to Quit – Carmen Rosado

Carmen Rosado's spinal cord tumor led to the loss of movement in her legs and arms, as well doctors telling ...

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There Was Never Any Doubt – Joe Bellil and Linda Long-Bellil

Growing up pre-ADA, both Joe and Linda's parents had high expectations that each would be independent. Joe contracted polio at ...

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The Sandy Houghton Story

MetroWest Center for Independent Living did not make this film, and it is 41 minutes long. Sandy's story is more ...

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How Far We’ve Come – Dan Greany

Dan Greany has lived through changes brought by the ADA. He remembers when there was no PCA program in western ...

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Any Time a Person with a Disability Goes Outside, It’s a Political Statement – Karen Schneiderman

Karen Schneiderman describes her growth as she learned about the wide range of disabilities, the commonalities of wanting to stay ...

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What is Independent Living? – Michael Muehe

Michael speaks about his journey since his injury in 1976. He has been a key member of the Boston Center ...

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Don’t Let the Pity Party Last Too Long – Jini Fairley

Jini Fairley developed retinitis pigmentosa (rp) as an adult. As her vision progressively diminished, she made changes to her life ...

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Nothing Can Stop You – Filomena Tripp

Filomena Tripp was born in the Azores, and moved to the U.S. in 1968 (before the ADA!). She was tutored ...

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Disability is Normal – Desi Forte

While some advocates focus on inclusion, Desi's path to independence has been through the disabiity community. She credits finding role ...

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My Freedom Means Everything to Me – Anne Fracht

After many years living with her family and later in a group home, Anne was able to get her own ...

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Still More Work to be Done – Jennifer Lee

Advocacy and the removal of barriers for people with disabilities is Jennifer's calling. As chair of the MA https://www.masilc.org/mainStatewide Independent ...

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Essentially… It’s Just Living – Keith Jones

Keith Jones has a pragmatic and joyful view of independent living. He first learned of IL in 1985 from Boston ...

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Perspective of an Executive Director – Jim Kruideneir

As executive director of STAVROS, the independent living center in Amherst and Springfield, Jim has played an important role in ...

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I Had No Clue – Tom Filiault

"The IL Movement is strong... It's the right thing to do." Tom learned about independent living from his job at ...

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