Liberty Launch

residents putting on bracelets
Participants receive their institution bracelets in Alton. The bracelets read,"Property of Illinois."

resident receives medicine
"Institutional aide" gives a "resident" her medicine in Moline.

discussing the drama
Participant discusses the impact Liberty Launch had on her in Springfield.

signing letters
Volunteers collect letters to the Governor in Joliet.

Liberty Launch logo

Liberty Launch was an opportunity for Illinois residents to join forces with others to create meaningful systemic change in the way Illinois serves its citizens with disabilities.

Through a drama, individuals experienced the controlled institutional life compared with the freedom and choice of life in the community. Many people shared their experiences in institutions and nursing homes, including:

Frusteration about not being able to get a tattoo
Feeling a complete loss of control
The inability to choose what to eat
The lack of dignity that comes with being seen as a second-class citizen by staff

Thankfully, the day did not end there. Instead, Lester Pritchard inspired us with these words:

"Instead of quietly accepting our plight, we are beginning to stand up and demand real equality. Real equality is founded upon the principle that “all are created equal.” Real equality serves as the basis for all other inalienable rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution. Real equality is not achieved, not granted. Real equality does not depend upon the goodwill of others. People with disabilities in Illinois are beginning are beginning to assert their real equality. They are beginning to demand something new in Illinois.

That’s why the Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois is here today…to give you the opportunity to participate in this movement for something new in our state. We call it our Liberty Launch…

a launch for freedom from the control of others,
a launch for freedom from the captivity and confinement of institutions,
and a launch for the power to act, speak and live according to choice…a launch for liberty!

With those words ringing in our ears, we wrote letters to the Governor, telling him about the lives we wanted to live - lives full of freedom and choice.