Smart content from trusted sources, carefully chosen for you. Not our words, but ones worth sharing: In their own words: Disabled storytellers share what ‘home’ means to them

Four people, two women and two men, are gathered around a laptop on a white coffee table, waving and smiling at someone on a video call. The background shows a living room with a blue textured wall and shelves.

The Center for Public Integrity held an event on July 26 — the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act — called “What is Home?” that explored the challenges of finding safe homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

At the event, there were four storytellers with disabilities who shared what “home” means to them. Here is what they had to say:

 
Paul Costantini shares what home means to him during Public Integrity’s “What is home? Storytelling and conversation with the disability community” virtual event.

Paul Costantini is an actor with Detour Company Theatre, which provides theater training  for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.

Leah Mapstead shares what home means to her during Public Integrity’s “What is home? Storytelling and conversation with the disability community” virtual event.

Leah Mapstead, a Detour actor who also volunteers at the Phoenix Herpetological Society.

Hailey Simon shares what home means to her during Public Integrity’s “What is home? Storytelling and conversation with the disability community” virtual event.

Hailey Simon is a life-long storyteller who is Deaf. 

Sophie Stern shares what home means to her during Public Integrity’s “What is home? Storytelling and conversation with the disability community” virtual event.

Sophie Stern is a dancer at Glendale Community College and an actor in Detour Company Theatre.