Independence

This weekend we celebrate Independence Day, the holiday honoring the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, our nation’s birth. The United States was born out of a desire for freedom. Along the path to independence, people who believed in our right to be free worked and fought side by side to gain that independence.

The word “independence'' conjures several meanings for me such as freedom, choice, self-determination, and self-reliance. As I reflect on this freedom, I cannot help but think of the LifeBridge Partnership mission:

Empowering people with disabilities to develop skills for independence and to actively participate in the community.

People with disabilities can and want to make decisions. A disability should not be perceived as a barrier to independence but as an opportunity to work together to follow paths of choice. We walk these paths with people so they can learn how to navigate the many great opportunities our community has to offer, develop healthy relationships with people who have common interests, and advocate for themselves.

Many thanks to LifeBridge Partnership staff members, volunteers, and the partner agencies who support people with disabilities to realize freedom of choice and to pursue a fulfilling community life.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend!

Karen Schuster, CEO