Robert Stack: Silent No Longer: Advancing the Fight for Disability Rights

From a dedicated advocate for those with disabilities, Silent No Longer is an exposé of the insidious takeover of disability supports by private equity firms and a clarion call for urgent systemic change in a broken industry that has mistreated millions.

In 1989, the author, Robert Stack, founded Community Options, a non-profit organization built on the belief that all people with disabilities deserve to live a life of dignity and realize all opportunities available according to the abilities of each individual. This new book is the story of his forty-year career, revealing the horrible neglect that persists today and asking why tens of thousands of people are still unnecessarily incarcerated in institutions that fail them. It is a resource for industry professionals and policymakers alike—and a demand that we restore dignity to those most vulnerable members of our society. We hope you'll join us for this conversation with the author.

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Robert Stack has been a national leader in enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is a pioneer in promoting community-based housing and workforce training, advocating against outdated institutional practices. Starting as a young civil servant in 1980, Stack led efforts to close large institutions and transition individuals to community settings, long before the ADA and Olmstead decision formalized these changes. In 1989, he founded Community Options to provide dignified living and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, which now serves over 5,000 individuals across 12 states. As president and CEO, Stack has continuously advocated for disability rights on national and international stages, addressing issues such as the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on institutionalized individuals and engaging with key government bodies to drive reform. Recently, he was appointed trustee of the Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability.

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