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FRIEDEN: We came from the civil rights movement period and from the women's rights movement period...

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and from the disability rights movement period, from the empowerment period in our history...

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FRIEDEN: and we are going to take those values and beliefs with us to our golden years...

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and I predict that our generation is not going to be accepting of...

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FRIEDEN: what historically has been the solution for care of people with impairments in their older ages.

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So, I think independent living is naturally moving forward into kind of...

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FRIEDEN: a new discovery period where there are a majority of people in the society who are going to understand independent living as we do.

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I think our society has darn well better get ready to change the infrastructure, to build an infrastructure...

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FRIEDEN: that will provide assistance to people in their homes...

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not require them to move to nursing homes or assisted living villages or congregated housing in order to get assistance.

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FRIEDEN: People are going to need assistance as they get older, and they are going to want it in their own homes...

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and the society better adapt before there is a crisis in that regard...

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FRIEDEN: because our generation won't take it laying down. That's what the song says, and I think that's the reality we are looking at.

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The National Council on Disability, I believe, has a responsibility to coach the nation...

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FRIEDEN: and to inform the nation about this pending issue, and to coach the nation on how to deal with it.

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We've demonstrated that we can change the infrastructure. We did that with the transit systems.

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FRIEDEN: Today, all transit systems in the United States are accessible to people with disabilities. Fifteen years ago none were.

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So we can change the infrastructure, if we have the will to do it, and I think we will change the infrastructure, and we darn well better start now...

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FRIEDEN: when it comes to personal assistance in the community.