Do you take your independence for granted? Living freely is a gift we all enjoy. What if you lost you free will?
Dancing on Our Disabilities
aka NSI & DOOD Radio
interviews
Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is a role model to others and changing the lives of others
Johnson is the Director of Programs at CIL Broward helping others discover the joy of living independently
Click here to listen to Brian’s Interview
Living independently is something most of us practice throughout life without giving it a second thought. We make choices as to a profession, whether we will be active physically and have a busy social life. Some choices are major such as deciding to have a family or not. We make detailed choices throughout each day. We eat, sleep, speak by choice. T Where we wish to live is also a personal choice. It was a decision I made to write this blog. It is up to you whether you wish to read it or not. Life is a series of decisions. What if all those daily choices disappeared? The fastest growing minority is the disability community. It is a minority that anyone can becaome a part of at any second.
Disabilities can limit you from living independently
What if you had limitations that controlled your choices? Would life then become stifling? In reality, we all have a certain amount of limitations we manage. We all live within guidelines set by society and Individual circumstances which can vary from person to person. Our ethnicity is determined by birth. We do not get to choose our parents. Our physical attributes and features are inherited. We can not choose where and when we are born either. As we become adults just about everything else is something we choose independently for ourselves. However, what if you were suddenly physically dependent? How would you learn about all the options that can assist you to continue living independently?
Can CIL Broward aid you in living independently?
A life of living Independently
People with disabilities will have to adapt to their circumstances and learn how to live alone because of various impairments. In many cases, it may be a challenging task requiring the support and advice of professionals. The ideal goal is to allow individuals to live as independently and freely as possible. The Center for Independent Living , also known as CIL Broward, is a great resource along with other assistive agencies all over the United States. The center can refer you to other local centers in your state or city.
NSI & DOOD Radio is happy to introduce you to Brian Johnson. Brian has devoted his life’s work to helping other people find a way to live a more successful and independent life. He knows firsthand what it’s like to deal with the mobility challenges of everyday life as a man with a spinal cord injury. He has learned the art of living independently, and how to keep his self-respect and dignity intact. He is a leader with lots of information to share with the public.
living Independentlyand about the man
For the past 18 years Brian has been involved in the disability advocacy field. His objective is providing assistance to individuals with disabilities who are trying to become more independent in their community. It is his mission to inform clients how to access services that they are entitled to, and may not even be aware exist. He has served as a volunteer surrogate parent for foster children with disabilities, conducts independent living assessments, training in independent living skills, assistive technology, employment assistance, housing assistance, and advocacy (ADA and IDEA).
Brian lives the life he as he chooses
Johnson is a person with a disability (a spinal cord injury), and has a Bachelors Degree in Education and Philosophy from the University of Miami. Brian wears two hats. He is a role model on the job. However, he is a devoted family man at home. Twelve years ago he married his high school sweetheart. They have been together for over 20+ years. Brian is a proud father of two young kids, a six-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. Proudly, he states he views his family as his greatest accomplishment.
About the CIL Broward
Source CIL website
What is CIL
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1978, Congress established the Center for Independent Living in response to individuals with disabilities need for core services focused on independent living skills training, peer support, information and referral, and advocacy. Since 1991, The Center for Independent Living of Broward (CILB), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, has served more than 60,000 individuals with disabilities in fulfilling their goals of independence and self-sufficiency. CILB strives to enhance the lives of people with disabilities, regardless of age, in Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. The focus of CIL is on providing individuals with disabilities an accessible link to achieving their life’s goals.
The Independent Living Philosophy
The organization empowered people with disabilities to control the direction of their own lives. This means choosing their goals, plotting their course, and taking responsibility for their actions and the results. People with disabilities have the right to make their own choices and decisions and the right to make mistakes and learn/benefit from those mistakes. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) foster independence, help people with disabilities to develop networks and supports, promote self-reliance, and advocate for the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life.
4800 N State Road 7, # F102
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33319
(954) 722-6400 Ext. 130 Direct: (954) 368-5067 Fax (954) 735-1958
Message from Myra
