“I’ve done a lot of sports events, and I-Ride is the best event I’ve done,” Adam Rose, 15, says. A competitive hand-cyclist since the age of 12, Adam has a lot to compare it to. Over his tenure as a… Read more ›
Brock
“When I’m in Michigan Stadium, I feel like I’m a part of a huge family,” Brock Mealer, 25, says. “For three hours every Saturday, life’s worries go on hold.” For Brock, who’s father and family friend passed away two years… Read more ›
Mark
Three years ago, Mark Long was laid off from his job on the assembly line at Chrysler. For months he looked for another factory job, but with the rough economy of Southeast Michigan taking its toll, he kept hearing “no.” … Read more ›
Ashley
Ashley Faucher is showing that finding the right career is worth the challenging journey it can sometimes be. Now a successful stylist at Reflections Salon and Spa in Brighton, three years ago Ashley was a senior at Howell High School… Read more ›
Joel
“Before I came to the CIL, I had never thought of my depression as part of the disability community, and I didn’t identify with the CIL,” Joel Reinstein, 22, says. “When I heard the word, ‘disability,’ wheelchairs came to mind. … Read more ›
Stacey
Stacey Boyd is a photographer who gets noticed. His striking posters and commissioned photography projects grace the walls of churches, private businesses, and family homes. And his services are in high demand. But Stacey’s road to professional success was far… Read more ›
Karly
For as long as she can remember, Karly Stanislovaitis, 18, has been determined to make it on her own. Now a journalism major at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, Karly is doing just that. “Being independent is awesome. … Read more ›
Doug
Doug Peterson is an avid tennis player, and it shows on the court. “Tennis is really fun,” he says. “It’s good exercise.” Doug, who has Downs Syndrome, has been participating in the Ann Arbor CIL’s tennis program for four years. … Read more ›
Ann Arbor Public Schools
This year, Nazarena Acosta-Miranda went to middle school for the first time. For many young people her age, going to middle school, where classes change every hour and hallways are bustling thoroughfares of activity, can be an intimidating transition. For… Read more ›
Patrick
“You have no idea how much this ramp means to me,” Patrick Redmond, 51, says. Through advocacy efforts of the Monroe CIL, Patrick recently received a ramp which helps him enter and exit his house with ease.
Before getting the… Read more ›
Linda
“It is what it is, and it’s all good,” Linda Owczarzack, 55, says. “That’s my saying, and that’s the summary.” Linda, through dry wit and unwavering determination, is showing that life really can be reinvented.
“One of the hardest parts
Julia
Julia Moore is a woman who fights for what she wants. After she retired in 2007, when she found herself unable to afford necessary medications, she didn’t know what to do. A former middle school teacher for the Ann Arbor… Read more ›
Katie
This summer, Katie Koval, 18, moved out on her own. Though a typical rite of passage for many young adults, it was a significant turning point for Katie.
When Katie was 15, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. After going through… Read more ›
Norman
Four years ago, Norman LaFleur was living in the back room of his sister’s house when the cold temperatures and damp air caused him to get pneumonia and complications related to his diabetes. After initial treatment in the hospital, a… Read more ›
Bryan
Bryan Burhart knows first-hand what it’s like to have a hard time with the job-search. Born with cerebral palsy, Bryan cannot speak and has limited movement in his arms and hands. As a result, he communicates using a laptop that… Read more ›
Mia
At 10 years old and 50 pounds, Mia Lewis is a powerhouse basketball player. As she moves quickly around the court, passing balls to her teammates and making baskets, her skills more resemble a seasoned adult player than a… Read more ›
David
“To be able to run and be on my two feet is amazing to me now,” says David Moilanen, 22. “The fresh air, the physical exertion, there’s nothing like it. I feel so lucky to be able to be out… Read more ›
Gardy
As five o’clock in the afternoon approached on January 12, 2010, Pierre “Gardy” Boncoeur was just beginning to relax and close up shop for the day. Business had gone well that day, and he was just going outside to collect… Read more ›