Charlie Carr (born 1953 in

Everett, Massachusetts Everett is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, directly north of Boston, bordering the neighborhood of Charlestown. The population was 49,075 at the time of the 2020 United States census. Everett was the last city in the ...

) is a

disability rights The disability rights movement is a global social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunities and equal rights for all disabled people. It is made up of organizations of disability activists, also known as disability advocates, around ...

activist who became disabled after a diving accident in 1968. He was institutionalized for seven years and then left Middlesex County Hospital in Waltham, MA upon the creation of the Boston Center for

Independent Living Independent living (IL), as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at society and disability, and a worldwide movement of disabled people working for Equal opportunity, equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect. ...

in 1974. He was an early member and went on to start: *The Northeast Independent Living Program in Lawrence, MA in 1980 as the founder and CEO *The National Council on Independent Living in 1983 *The

Disability Policy Consortium Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, s ...

in Massachusetts in 1996 He was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission in 2007 by Gov.

Deval Patrick Deval Laurdine Patrick (born July 31, 1956) is an American politician who served as the 71st governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015. He was the first African Americans, African-American Governor of Massachusetts and the first Democratic Pa ...

, and served for eight years.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Charlie American disability rights activists 1953 births People from Everett, Massachusetts Living people American activists with disabilities