Independence: 'Everyone has a plan, until you get punched in the mouth'

Independence: Something very valuable that the disabled person does not want to lose. In this episode Steve and Chris discuss the topic of independence, and how Steve adapts being a disabled person. While Steve does live on his own, his independence is a little unique; because he is 100% blind and, in a wheelchair, he cannot necessarily leave his apartment on his own for his own safety. In the earlier time after Steve had the medical emergency that rendered him disabled, Steve had to relearn a lot of the day-to-day activities he used to perform as an abled bodied person. His self-esteem was quite affected, because he became reliant on other people to do just about anything. However, it is important to set up systems in place to assist a disabled person, depending on what their needs and limitations are. Steve has also benefitted from having the CSIL program (Choices in Supports for Independent Living). The technology that Steve uses also gives him independence - from Alexa, Siri, You Tube, audiobooks, and podcasts.