At the Edge of Independence

Part of Independence, understood. — a long-form series on dignity, clarity, and the future of independence for the IDD community.

Independence, understood. / Part 1

Key takeaways
  • Independence has been historically denied — and progress should not stop at “not institutionalized.”
  • Families deserve calm clarity, not constant vigilance or surveillance.
  • The next era of support must be built around dignity, context, and continuity.

There was a time when people born with disabilities were institutionalized by default — separated from community, underestimated, and hidden away. We have come a long way. And we still have a long way to go.

Because while institutions closed, the underlying assumption often didn’t: that safety requires control, that independence is fragile, and that the only way to protect someone is to watch them.

Then and now: the shift from institutional facilities to modern residential homes supporting independence
We moved people out of institutions — but the work of building true independence is still unfinished.

What the IDD community deserves

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the same thing every human being deserves: dignity, belonging, and a life that feels like their own.

And families deserve something too — not just resources, not just programs, but a kind of peace that doesn’t require constant vigilance. A system that helps life make sense over time.

We are fighting systems of old

Old systems were built for compliance, containment, and documentation. They were not built for confidence. They were not built for the quiet complexity of real life — the routines, the subtle shifts, the slow changes that matter.

When systems only react to “events,” they miss the story. And families live inside that gap — wondering if a change is nothing… or the beginning of something.

Why LIViQ exists

LIViQ is being built from a simple conviction: independence should not require surveillance, and safety should not require sacrificing dignity.

We believe the future of support looks like understanding patterns — not obsessing over moments. It looks like context — not constant alerts. It looks like confidence — because people are steady, supported, and seen.

At the edge of something monumental

I believe we are standing at the edge of something monumental for this vulnerable, extraordinary community — if we have the courage to build the next era differently.

Not louder. Not more invasive. Not more data for data’s sake. Better understanding. Better boundaries. Better dignity.

Elizabeth Olsen
Founder, LIViQ