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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Bob Michaels Receives Spirit of ABIL Award

Bob MichaelsMany NCIL members will be familiar with Bob Michaels, who has contributed to our efforts significantly over the years. On March 24, Bob was awarded the Spirit of ABIL Award. You can read all about it at AZ Big Media. A short excerpt appears below. Congratulations, Bob!

“Bob’s style as an advocate is to motivate consumers to participate in public policy advocacy,” said Amina Kruk of ABIL who nominated Michaels for the award. “He makes a difference by training others, believing in the power of individual action and encouraging teamwork, but he does not hesitate to challenge decision makers, policies and programs that fail to promote advocacy and true independence for persons who have disabilities.”

…He also has turned his disability blog into a book, Strong Medicine…A Roadmap for Creating or Improving Your Independent Living Program.

“It’s really a field manual for those who want to start an independent living program,” Michaels said, adding that if he had one message to deliver it would be that “people can live independently. They don’t need to move into institutions. They can live on their own. Everyone should strive to be as free as they can.” Read more at AZ Big Media.