A Message from Theo Braddy: A Bright Sunny Day

November 28, 2023

Theo Braddy – A black man with a bald head, a salt and pepper full beard wearing eyeglasses, sitting in a wheelchair. Theo smiles toward the camera during a 2023 speaking event.

Theo Braddy – A Black man with a bald head, a salt and pepper full beard wearing eyeglasses, sitting in a wheelchair. Theo smiles toward the camera during a 2023 speaking event.

This is Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living, bringing you another message. This one I am calling “A Bright Sunny Day”.

It was a bright, sunny day! I always look forward to bright, sunny days.

As many of you know, I am a C-4 quadriplegic, and like most quadriplegics, we love to feel the sun on our faces. Our faces are not adversely affected by the spinal cord injury, and the sun feels wonderful on it.

So, on this bright sunny day, I was coming out of Kmart and decided to sit and sun gaze as I do so often. Right outside Kmart, I stopped momentarily, looking up at the sun.

Out the corner of my eye, I noticed a lady in her 40s with a little boy, probably 6 or 7 years old. They were about 50 yards away from me. I wouldn’t have given it another thought, but I noticed the youngster pointing at me and saying something to who I assumed was his mother. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy: We Must Be Stronger!

October 17, 2023

Listen to the audio version of this message (https://bit.ly/45IqY4g)

I recall watching the powerful film “Malcolm X,” many years ago, featuring Denzel Washington’s iconic portrayal of the civil rights leader. It holds a place in my personal top ten movies.

I have watched it many times. It doesn’t matter how often I watch it, I come away thinking about the same thing.

Sadly, internal strife, rumors, and other unfortunate events collapsed the movement. This instance is one among many; even the illustrious Martin Luther King Jr. grappled with divisive moments within his legacy. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy: You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’

September 5, 2023

Hello everyone, this is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL, with another message I entitled, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.

This life-changing song, sung by the Righteous Brothers, goes like this,

“You lost that lovin’ feelin’. Whoa, that lovin’ feelin’. You lost that lovin’ feelin’

Now it’s gone, gone, gone.”

These words resonate with me, and I’ve chosen to incorporate them into this message for a specific reason. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy: Unfinished Work

Greetings once again,

This is Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. My message today is called Unfinished Work.

Not long ago, a colleague approached me requesting insight regarding the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, she sought a concise statement summarizing its significance. Here’s my response:

“The ADA is a giant step in the right direction for people with all types of disabilities to be included based on the elimination of physical barriers and discrimination; however, there is still much work to do to eliminate attitudinal barriers.”

My response reflects the ADA’s unfinished work. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy: We Gather!

July 22, 2023

Greetings once again,

I’m Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living, reaching out to you with another important message. I am thrilled to provide this message before the start of our IL conference. I entitled it, “We Gather.”

We gather on July 24th, this Monday, where more than 500 individuals, both with and without disabilities, will assemble at the prestigious Grand Hyatt Hotel on H Street in Washington, D.C.

The reason for this gathering is NCIL’s 2023 Annual Conference on Independent Living. This year’s theme is “Indivisible,” meaning impossible to be divided or separated. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy: An Invitation to Join NCIL’s March and Rally on July 26!

Greetings once again,

I’m Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living, reaching out to you with an important message.

Today, I extend to you an open invitation that holds great significance. I invite individuals and organizations alike to join us in NCIL’s March and Rally, taking place on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The March will commence at the Grand Hyatt Washington from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by the Rally at the Capitol from 11:00 am to 12:00 Noon. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

May 16, 2023

This is another message from Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living.

Today’s topic is on DEIA. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy: Why We Are Stuck

April 14, 2023

Hi, this is Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). I wanted to share a few things with you that have been on my mind and I’m calling this “Why we are stuck”. [Read more…]

A Brief Message from Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL: 5 for 5 Campaign

February 24, 2023

A few days ago, during the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)’s quarterly board meeting, NCIL launched its 5 for 5 Campaign (5for5campaign.com). This campaign primarily focuses on increasing funding for Centers for Independent Living, whose work invests in community living and independence for people with disabilities.

What is so unique about this campaign is that it involves for the first time three national organizations working together to increase funding for Centers for Independent Living. [Read more…]

A Message from Theo Braddy, New Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living

February 2, 2023

The theme for the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) 2023 Annual Conference on Independent Living is Indivisible! What a perfect choice of a word that defines what should be the most crucial goal of our movement. [Read more…]