Chuck first started working with the STAGES staff four years ago, at the age of 19. Chuck holds passionate interests in music and technology and aspires to be a computer programmer someday. Born in Germany and raised in three different foster homes in Michigan, Chuck believes that DNMM is the only form of family he's ever had.

When asked about DNMM, Chuck claimed, "being involved in this network enabled me to learn and apply skills that I would not have learned in school. I made friends, best friends. I also found my first girlfriend. I figured out what college was best for me, what jobs were out there for me and how to find them."

Chuck worked with all of the STAGES staff members during the Summer STAGES program and developed an especially positive relationship with Tim. 

"Tim is awesome," said Chuck. "I can talk to someone now and not feel scared that they won't like me. He helped me become proud of who I am." When asked about life skills covered in the program, Chuck mentioned learning about key traits employers desire when hiring. He said Tim emphasized communication and interpersonal skills. 

"Before working with Tim and Disability Network, I had problems with interrupting people. I have a hard time trying to be patient. They taught me the importance of patience and how to interact positively."

Summer STAGES gave Chuck opportunities to work on his social skills by interacting with others his age to share ideas, resolve conflicts, and generate professional and personal bonds during planned social events and educational activities. Along with teaching him social interaction skills and tips on independence, DNMM helped Chuck learn some positive ways to spend his free time. 

"I stay busy now. I am no longer sitting around the house waiting for a friend to call me; I have tons of friends through the Network. We do fun activities together - bike rides, bowling, hang outs, and picnics just to name a few."

"Before I worked with Tim I couldn't perform a simple task such as dialing my own ride with County Connection," said Chuck. "But now I can. I'm so thankful that they taught me to dial my ride and to wait for the bus. I can go wherever I want now. I feel like... free."

"Without Disability Network, I would be very dependent on my foster mom. I like relying on myself and I thank the organization for not only teaching me independence, but introducing me to great people - my friends."

After 40 years on Capitol Hill, a U.S. senator who shaped the Americans with Disabilities Act is leaving his post.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, retired at the close of 2014, after choosing not to seek re-election.

The departure will leave disability advocates without our strongest ally in Congress.

Often inspired by the experiences of his late brother Frank, who was deaf, Harkin has long prioritized the needs of people with disabilities, authoring the landmark ADA and pushing for legislation expanding opportunities for education, independent living, employment and physical accessibility.

"Harkin's passion to create a world where people with disabilities live independently and are assured of basic equal opportunity has created a lasting and positive impact on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities," said Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, who called Harkin the disability community's "number one champion in Congress."

"I do not think anyone will replace Harkin, either in spirit or in actuality. I anticipate that many senators will take up various pieces of the disability agenda, but no one will take up the entire cause," Perriello said.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who worked side-by-side with Harkin on the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee echoed that sentiment.

"Sen. Harkin's legacy is secure," Alexander said. "He is the Senate's champion of Americans with disabilities. It'll be a long time before there's a greater champion of Americans with disabilities in this body and I salute him for that."

Speaking on the Senate floor in December, Harkin urged his colleagues to continue his work.

"We have made significant strides forward in changing America to fulfill two of the four goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. These two are full participation and equal opportunity," Harkin said. "The other two goals - independent living and economic self-sufficiency - need more development."

Specifically, he called on lawmakers to support expanded opportunities for competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities, acknowledging that he hadn't done enough in that realm. And, he said more work is needed to further deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities by providing opportunities for "true independent living with supports."

Harkin also lamented the Senate's failure to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

"I don't think anything has saddened me more in my 30 years here than the failure of the Senate to ratify the CRPD," Harkin said. "I hope the next Senate will take this up and join with the rest of the world in helping make changes globally for people with disabilities."

Noting that he once delivered an entire speech on the Senate floor in sign language, Harkin turned to just one sign to close his time in Congress, pausing to teach those in the chamber the sign for America.

"All of us, interconnected, bound together in a single circle of inclusion with no one left out. This is the ideal America toward which we must always aspire," he said.