On July 26, 1990 flanked by Evan Kemp, Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Justin Dart, Chairman, President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities,  Rev. Harold Wilke and Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on Disability President George H.W. Bush signed the most comprehensive civil rights bill ever for people with disabilities the Americans with Disabilities Act.

On August 9, 1994, a group of local service providers and advocates met at the Greenhouse Café in Minot with the purpose of developing an Independent living Center in Minot. At that meeting, they decided to call the center “Creative Opportunies Resource Center for Independent Living”. Just over a year later, the doors first opened at Independence, Inc.  a Center for Independent Living.

In celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the ADA and the 20^th anniversary of Independence, Inc., we off this collection of essays and stories. These writings provide a small snapshot illustrating the impact of this landmark legislation and Center for Independent Living.

Please take the time to review and read this book. We worked very hard on it and are very proud of it!