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This book was written for all people who know, work, help, are friends with, or who are engaged in any way with people that we label with developmental disabilities. It is about and for people whose lives and agency get constructed by others who hold more power. The stories of Scott and Pat presented in this book are written to illuminate some struggles, successes, and ordinary moments in the lives of two individuals who live in homes with some level of institutionalized support. Scott lives in a residential house with constant staff supervision, while Pat lives in her own apartment with a housemate and social service providers. While these places are beautiful, clean, and with only a handful of housemates or staff, in many ways they resemble total institutions with a lot of restrictions and restraints. These stories have one purpose: to open the eyes of families, staff workers, administrators, and broader society to see the injustice that occurs on an everyday basis just because someone has a disability label. I hope that these stories enlighten, and allow people to see that attitudes are our real disability.

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Jitka Sinecka received her Ph.D. in Disability Studies from Syracuse University, USA. She has conducted research on d/Deaf issues, deinstitutionalisation of people labeled with developmental disabilities and autism. Her commitments include teaching and educating others about ableism and handicappism. Contact: sineckaj@gmail.com

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