Regular education with supports, gives me the same education as my non-disabled peers. Because of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 people with disabilities can exercise our civil rights and can contribute to society, by living, learning and working in the community. But again, there is still a lot of work to be done. Inaccessible buildings are still being built. Movie stars, like Clint Eastwood testify to Congress because they are sued for breaking the law.
Businesses discriminate against disabled employees.
Too often people like myself are at a much greater risk of institutionalization because of the higher level of care we need to remain independent. I'm lucky because my parents learned about federal laws to help me. They learned early that professionals didn't have high expectations for me, and decided that high expectations were the only way I would get anywhere in this world. They made sure, after a doctor recommended that I live in a crippled children's hospital, that I get the same opportunities that my brothers, Jason and Nigel. I'm not safe though.