(Hosted & Produced by Marlon “Shymar” Molinos)

The View From Chair Level is a talk show that discusses various topics from the viewpoint of Marlon Molinos an individual living with Cerebral Palsy since birth. The goal of this show is to inspire everyone to look past your limitations and find creative ways to accomplish your daily goals. A free mind is limitless and you are the only one that sets your own limits. 

Featured Song: MKTO - American Dream

Many people with cerebral palsy find that the condition’s effects are lessened when they remain independent in their communities. If completely independent living isn’t an option, consider in home care. A caregiver can help with essential tasks like driving, dressing, and cooking, while helping you stay comfortably in your own home.

Living independently is definitely a great dream to have and for those who were able to achieve it, kudos to you.  I feel that Independent living doesn’t mean moving out of your childhood home and finding your own place. You can still live where you grew up and be independent.

I still live in my childhood home and despite that, I consider myself an independent person. Look at the benefits of living at home, there’s no rent, yes you pay for utilities but that’s what you do as an independent person. Leaching off on family to do everything for you including paying bills is not being independent, but living at home while you contribute to the bills, now that’s living independently. 

For me, being fully independent is getting an accessible vehicle and driving myself around. I do use the transit system and I’m grateful for it, but again it’s the fact that I have to depend on others to get me around instead of depending on myself.

The dream of driving may be one of those dreams that won’t come true, but for the most part I still consider myself an independent person.  Again it’s all about perception and how you see your situation. For example, if I were to just focus on the fact that I don’t drive as the reason why I don’t consider myself an independent person, then the mindset of not being independent will remain and hold me back, but if I focused on the other things in life that I do like going out and being involved in the community on my own then I can definitely say I’m living independently.

 Hearing negative thoughts are great to hear, so you can stay grounded and connected to your friends and family, but limit how much negative things you take in so you are still able to reach your dreams. If your goal is to live independently then change your mindset and start thinking that you are independent and do things on your own that you thought you weren’t able to do before like doing simple chores around the house. Start small and work your way up. Believe me, it took me years to get to the level of independence that I’m at today. It took a lot of time and patience for me to prove to my family and friends how independent I can be that I’ve been able to go out on my own to accomplish my goals of finishing college and establishing myself in my community.

Marlon Molinos – "it doesn't matter how a disability or situation is acquired. What matters is how you overcome, survive, and thrive with it."