WEBVTT

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The goal for all young people with disabilities

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is to learn the necessary skills so they can live
as independently as possible.

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Steps include exploring ways to live
on your own, such as getting care at home

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adapting your home to meet your needs

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and knowing how you'll get from place to place.

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Listen to what these young people
have to say about independent living

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and what they did to prepare for it.

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I think independence

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to me it means being able to be

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self-sufficient in whatever I can.

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It's about your life decisions
and it's about what's best for you.

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Or how you want to be successful in life.

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How do you choose to live your life?

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When I was young my idea of independence was

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complete and utter self-reliance
and self-sufficiency.

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As I've gotten older I've realized that

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independence is partially relying on yourself
and being self-sufficient.

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But it's also

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knowing yourself well enough

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to be able to ask for assistance when you need it.

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To me independence means you are
able to live your own life as you want o

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and you are able to make your own decisions

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and make your own choices.

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Independence means

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paying all my college education bills on time.

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Finding a permanent job
that suits my dream career.

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Having a place of my own to live.

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Right next to some railroad tracks
in a safe neighborhood.

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Getting around the Twin Cities on my own.

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Getting my degree in engineering.

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Having a family of my own

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if I choose to have one.

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I think Camilo could live independently.

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I think he has the skill set
to live independently.

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And now it's just a matter of

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his desire to live more on his own.

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I do have plans to live independently.

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It's a goal that I'm working towards.

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Right now I'm kind of doing more

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household chores and

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being responsible for like my own space,

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like my bedroom

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and learning how to be smarter financially as well.

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I think that's a big part of living independently.

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Yeah, I just moved into my own apartment last week.

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I currently live in an apartment.

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It is ideal because I'm still close to

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family, friends and I can still

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stay involved in the community activities
that I'm involved in.

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Sam currently lives in an apartment
with her PCA Claire.

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They have, maybe I should leave Sam that.

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But they have lots of things
in their apartment.

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Yeah.

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I have two birds.

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Claire has two birds.

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She just got like two fish.

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She has a dog that's a support dog.

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I've got plants everywhere.

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Growing things is really important to me.

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But it's been a new experience
a new part of my journey

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and I'm looking forward
to getting used to it.

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It's been very interesting.

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I don't have any roommates anymore.

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I'm completely on my own.

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In my own place. I can invite people over

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and I've had my siblings over to my apartment

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and my family has come to visit
and that's been great.

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I am preparing to move into my apartment

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by paying for rent and utilities

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and also learning cooking skills

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and budgeting skills
with my independent living services.

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And you also practice with your friend, right?

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Hang out with Mark and go shopping
and make some meals.

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What did you make last week in cooking class?

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Pasta.

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Right now for transportation.

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I mainly get rides from my family and my friends.

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Or if it's close I'll walk somewhere or ride my bike.

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Some steps I've taken to become more independent.

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Include just driving more
and getting more comfortable with

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driving on highways and at higher speeds.

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And for longer distances.

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Because eventually I do want to have
my own car someday too.

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Independent living is different for different people.

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Many of the young people in this video
talked about preparing for living independently

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by learning and practicing skills

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before they needed to do them on their own.

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Learning new life skills can help you

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become more independent.

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With the right skills

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you can feel confident and in control.

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Hannah said that it's about doing what you can

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but also knowing yourself well enough
to ask for help when you need it.

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That's important to keep in mind.

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Everyone needs help
with certain things in life.

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You can still be independent
and make your own decisions

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even if you need help along the way.