A Message from Theo Braddy: The Tomorrow We See

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This is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living, bringing you a new message. This one I am calling “The Tomorrow We See”.

There is no tomorrow without a today.

So, today we see:

Many of us are still being institutionalized.

Many of us are still locked into poverty — asset limits prevent us from creating savings and even getting married to the ones we love.

Many of us are still being left behind during a disaster, forgotten about and facing a fiery death or our life-sustaining equipment is destroyed.

Many of us, during a pandemic, are determined less valuable than our nondisabled citizens and we are not treated with life-sustaining medical treatment. Instead, it is given to the nondisabled person who, as the professionals put it, contributes more to the good of society.

Many of us are not hired for jobs because we are believed to be incapable of quality work.

Many of us are paid subminimum wages because we are considered less deserving.

Many of us do not get the medical care we need from doctors and medical providers because we are not seen or heard. 

Many of us even see ourselves how society sees us — we internalize the negative perceptions of us. 

But tomorrow, we see:

Freedom to live wherever we choose!

Tomorrow, we see potential! We see growth and yes, even wealth.

We see marriage and love — to whomever we choose.

Tomorrow, we see life and safety — we see our importance.

We see jobs, not just any jobs, but careers that impact the well-being of society.

We see worth and wages based on our results, not pre-conceived notions. 

We see quality medical equity and fair treatment regardless of who we are.

Tomorrow, we see people with all types of disabilities, from all backgrounds and identities, young and old, coming together in a collective voice – that is what we see.

Tomorrow, we see older leaders with disabilities and young leaders with disabilities changing the world together. 

Tomorrow, we see allies without disabilities fighting with us, and in return, we fight with them.

Tomorrow, we see an end to ableism.

So, yes, there is no tomorrow without a today!

But we know this to be true — tomorrow will come!

This is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. Be well. Bye bye now.

Theo Braddy

Executive Director

National Council on Independent Living

About NCIL

NCIL is the longest-running national cross-disability grassroots organization, driven by and dedicated to people with disabilities. Since its founding in 1982, NCIL has represented thousands of organizations and individuals, advocating tirelessly for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities across the United States.