Disability Futures

It’s Our Story is a national initiative to make disability history public and accessible. Scott Cooper recorded and collected over 1,300 video interviews from disability leaders across the country since 2005. Check out a video uploaded on July 26, 2010:

Fred Fay and Elmer Bartels of Boston, MA speak about bringing independent living into the vocational rehabilitation community, working alongside Ed Roberts, and advocating for Disability Rights.
Fred acquired a spinal cord injury at age 16; he became a leader for disability rights, founded the Boston Center for Independent Living, the Massachusetts Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, and of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities; he worked alongside many others to secure the passage of the ADA.
Elmer broke his neck during a hockey game in college; he soon became a political leader in the disability community and served for 30 years as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, eventually becoming director of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.