People First Wisconsin is a statewide self-advocacy organization run by and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Executive Director, Cindy Bentley is the first person with an intellectual disability to run the organization. In June 2024, Cindy celebrated 40 years of living in the community after being in foster care and then institutionalized at Southern Wisconsin Center until the age of 26. In this video, Cindy shares what is possible when people are included in their communities and have the home and community-based services and support they need to grow.

Cindy’s story shows how we are more alike than we are different. She wants many of the things we all want: an interesting job, a home of our own, friends, the right to make choices, to be loved, and the right to live our life out in the community. Like all of us, she had to learn life skills and work her way up the career ladder. As she says, “I had to work hard to get to where I am.” “I need to be able to fall down and pick myself back up like everybody else. We are regular people.” “Given the opportunity and the right supports, we can do more than anyone ever dreamed we could do.”