A Message from Theo Braddy: Little by Little
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Hello again. This is Theo W. Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living, bringing you another message. This one I call “Little by little”.
If you know me, you have probably heard me say this more than once, “little by little”.
I say it a lot because I have lived it.
I have lived those moments when life hits you so hard, and you don’t see a way out.
When the situation feels too big! Too heavy! Too far gone!
I remember going through my first divorce. I truly believed things would never get better.
But they did. Not all at once. Not overnight, but little by little.
I remember finishing my master’s degree, searching for that first job opportunity, wondering if anyone would ever give me a chance.
And then, they did. Not all at once. Not overnight, but little by little.
That’s how life works.
The hard things don’t fall apart all at once. And the good things? They don’t come all at once either.
They come little by little.
And there’s something else I have learned along the way. Movements work the same way.
They don’t start big. They don’t start with millions. They don’t start with everyone.
They start small. With a few people making a decision.
And then they grow.
That’s how the Independent Living Movement started. That’s how NCIL was built.
That’s how we have protected rights for decades.
And that’s exactly where we are right now.
Why am I telling you this? Because this is how I see the Protect IL Campaign.
I’ll be honest with you.
When we launched it, I hoped we would raise what we needed right away. Because the urgency is real.
Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils are being negatively impacted.
Funding is uncertain. Decisions are being made that affect real people, real services, real lives.
I wanted us to respond fast. But what I am realizing is this: This may not happen all at once.
It may happen little by little. And that’s okay, because that’s how movements grow.
Let me tell you what I have already seen.
Leaders stepping up. Not waiting and not hesitating. Just doing something.
Jason Beloungy, Executive Director of Access to Independence and President of NCIL, spear-headed his State Coalition, made up of 8 Centers for Independent Living who gave $100 each and the State Coalition gave $200, with a total of $1,000 donated to the Protect IL Campaign.
That’s $1,000, not millions, but meaningful and it started something.
Another State Association, Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, led by their Executive Director, John S. Herring Sr., and 8 Centers did the same thing and donated $1,750 to the Protect IL Campaign. Centers coming together. Each doing their part.
That’s how this starts. Not with one big check, but with people deciding to act.
Now it’s your turn. This is your challenge.
Not because you must, but because you understand what’s at stake.
This is not just a campaign. This is a movement.
And movements are not built by waiting. They are built by people who say, “I’m in. I’ll do my part.”
I believe this wholeheartedly: We will get to where we need to be. We will have the resources to fight back. To protect what we have built. To stand up for our network.
But we will get there the same way we have always done it.
Together. Little by little.
Support the Protect IL Campaign. Go to ncil.org/donate/protect-il.
This is Theo W. Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. Until we speak again. 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.
