My life in institutions and my way out
By: by Michael Joseph Kennedy in collaboration with Sue Lehr, Janet M. Duncan & Sherry Foehr
Contributors: Lehr, Sue, writer of added text; Duncan, Janet M., writer of added text; Foehr, Sherry, writer of added text
Publisher: Friesen Press
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Victoria, British Columbia
Language: eng
Number of pages: 110
ISBN-13: 9781460225790; 9781460225806
Subjects: People with disabilities; Biography; Civil rights
Description: "This is the story of Michael Kennedy's life. Born in 1960 with significant disabilities, he describes his early experiences living in three different institutions for the mentally retarded and how he had to become his own advocate if he was going to survive. He soon realized that, unlike most of the others in institutions, he could make his voice heard. He had to speak up to help himself and other individuals with developmental disabilities to learn about their rights, and how to prevent themselves from becoming trapped forever within complicated state bureaucracies. After moving out of the last institution into various types of supported living settings, Michael describes how he found new friendships, went to school, got a "real" job, and began to aspire to having full control of his own life. "I want to let people know how the state system used to be and that institutions must never be reopened." This is a book about hard work, resilience, and hope. It is an extraordinary life story, but told by an ordinary man with a clear mission to help others like himself."--[back cover].
Table of contents: title: Acknowledgments; title: Preface; title: Introduction; title: 1. His mother speaks and Michael remembers; title: 2. The early years in Rome; title: 3. Leaving Rome for home sweet home; title: 4. "Wait ... I'm going back? NO!! Not Rome again!!"; title: 5. Another institution; title: moving to Syracuse Developmental Center; title: 6. More new beginnings; title: 7. "I don't let my disability stand in my way."; title: 8. Moving on; title: 9. The love of his life; title: Appendix: the making of ...; title: Endnotes; title: References.