#SharedSupportStories: William Fields
William Fields is a passionate disability rights activist who has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights and equality of people with disabilities. His involvement with Shared Support Maryland (SSMD) began almost 13 years ago, when he brought his Support Broker to SSMD for self-direction. William said once he understood the SSMD model, he never looked back.
“Once you understand that [SSMD’s] thought process is to try to give you, the consumer, as much control as possible, there’s no going back,” he said. “Not everybody does that.”
Today, William sits on the Board of SSMD. It’s from this position that he can continue to advocate for people over bureaucracy.
“The agency system makes you want to pull your hair out,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than leaving it up to bureaucrats to figure out what happens to you.”
When it comes to self-directed services, William wants to dispel the notion that it happens with the flip of a switch. It takes a strong system of employees to make it work.
“Anybody who wants to do self direction, they actually just need to understand what they're getting into,” he explained.I wouldn't be able to do it if I didn't have a support system of employees. If I didn’t have that support in place, I don’t think I’d be doing self-direction, to be honest.”
But, he notes, that’s no reason to not give self-direction a try.
Born with cerebral palsy in a time when it was a less understood disability, he’s had some important people on his side from the start.
“My mother was advised to not bring me home from the hospital. I’m very fortunate that she didn’t listen,” he said.
With his mother’s support, he took to the difficult work of making more of the world open to seeing it her way.
William and ADAPT take their protest to the streets in front of the Capitol Building
“I’m aging myself, but my advocacy actually started back in the 80s with United Cerebral Palsy. Then I spent 15 years on the developmental disabilities council for the State of Maryland. I did four years in the Governor's Office for Disability. So the state and the city, they haven’t been able to get rid of me since.”
William is no stranger to activism, even when he has to put his body on the line. He is also a part of ADAPT, a national grassroots disability rights organization. The group is known for its direct action protests, which have been instrumental in bringing attention to issues that affect people with disabilities. During a protest in response to proposed cuts to Medicaid that would have a devastating impact on people with disabilities, William was arrested and dragged from the Senate offices.
William protesting in front of the White House
The protests garnered national attention and helped to raise awareness about the importance of Medicaid for individuals with disabilities. Ultimately, the proposed cuts were defeated, and protesters like William were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“I was raised in the 60s. I know all about protesting. I’ve lived through it, and there's a correlation between the civil rights movement and the disability rights movement. I don't think some people even see that those two things are connected.”
As a Board member, William is responsible for helping to guide the future of SSMD and ensure that we are staying true to our mission. He works closely with other Board members and the Executive Director to make decisions about the organization's activities and direction. As a lifelong advocate, William is proud to be a part of an organization like SSMD, where he can continue to use his gifts to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
