Since Disability Pride Month is almost over, I thought I'd share my journey to independence. When I was younger, I remember wondering if I'd ever live independently, go to college, secure competitive integrated employment. I remember years ago, a Vocational Rehab counselor telling me that I'd never work a competitive integrated job. I remember this because I felt discouraged and maddened by this news and phrase. I was going through the service intake process to help me secure employment once I completed the Project SEARCH program. After high school, I knew I wanted to live independently but I experienced the fact that there is a lack of housing options for people with disabilities so I lived with my parents for a few years and started receiving habilitation services through Arion Care Solutions and had a provider work with me on independent living related goals in areas like budgeting and financial awareness, meal planning and cleaning...