To the Editor:

My name is Chad Sinanian, and I’m a gung ho, dedicated, hard-charging advocate for individuals with disabilities like myself, always pushing to improve our daily lives, to convince everyone else that we are equal human beings, just like everyone else, and that we work hard every day to be accepted by others.

On May 29, Ability Beyond, where I have worked as a Consumer Satisfaction Advocate since January 26, 1994, presented me with a 25 Years of Service certificate, and I’m extremely proud and honored to have received that award.

I work hard as an advocate for us individuals with disabilities every day, not only at Ability Beyond. I serve on the Arc of Connecticut board, I’ve been on the board of People First of Connecticut since 2001, and I help WECAHR, and serve on the Danbury Commission on Disabilities with John Gentile.

I have a dream and a vision that us individuals with disabilities will be treated and accepted as equal human beings, despite our limitations.

I hope that one day, all of us will be gainfully employed at competitive employment for equal wages and taught advanced job skills.

I have a dream that someday, people will stop labeling us, shunning us, ostracizing us, underestimating our intelligence and capabilities, and want to interact and socialize with us.

We are equal human beings, and we have the right to be educated, to be taught skills so we can live independently and successfully in our communities. We want to be allowed to make our own decisions about our daily lives, to learn from our mistakes, to be fully integrated and included in everyday life in society.

I ask that everyone who supports and advocates for us individuals with disabilities please write your state and federal lawmakers asking for increased funding for job training programs, community placement programs, affordable housing, so we can be contributing members of our communities.

Chad Sinanian

52 Main Street, Danbury         June 25, 2019