Millions of people all over America who experience disabilities have established lives of independence. They fulfill all kinds of roles in their communities, from employers to employees to marriage partners to parents to students to athletes to politicians to taxpayers - an unlimited list. In most cases, the barriers facing them haven't been removed, but these individuals have been successful in overcoming or at least dealing with them. Independent living should not be defined in terms of living on one's own, being employed in a job fitting one's capabilities and interests, or having an active social life. These are aspects of living independently.
Independent living has to do with self-determination.
It is having the right and the opportunity to pursue a course of action. There are, of course, individuals who have certain mental impairments which may affect their abilities to make complicated decisions or pursue complex activities. For these individuals, independent living means having every opportunity to be as self-sufficient as possible. It isn't easy, and it can be risky. But millions of people with disabilities rate it higher than a life of dependency and narrow opportunities and unfulfilled expectations.