I have met more people in positions of power at Starkloff with disabilities than anywhere else. Starkloff has empowered me to share my disabilities with others and live my life with autonomy.

Last month we gathered with the Max Starkloff Society and friends to celebrate the impact their support makes in our community.

The Society is dedicated to preserving the legacy of our Founder, Max J. Starkloff, a pioneer in the Disability Rights Movement, through leadership giving.

This is where our roots lie – deep within the Disability Rights and Independent Living Movements of the 1960s and 70s. Our roots connect us to the values that embodied these movements – independence, choice, equal opportunity, respect, and dignity. These roots continue to cultivate great heights.

Max’s legacy lives on at Starkloff Disability Institute, where we build inclusion where we live, learn, work, and play through disability-led programs that advance economic opportunities and transform lives.

Max knew that employment was the key to full liberation, as a job brings dignity, economic opportunity, autonomy, and connection.

Our programs are designed and led by professionals with disabilities. They serve as role models and advocates for our community. They have credibility and are the experts in what we need.

This is how Max’s roots are still cultivating great heights at Starkloff Disability Institute.

Members of the Max Starkloff Society are part of our tree. Through their leadership giving, Society members ensure these critical programs continue to be here for our community.

Together we are helping disabled people thrive in their careers and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us in celebration! We invited guests to share what Starkloff means to them on paper leaves, hanging them on a bare “tree” in the room. By the end the tree was full of colorful leaves and stories, including the quote that began this story.

The annual event took place at the Trolley Room in Forest Park – the perfect backdrop to amplify the theme of “Deep Roots Cultivate Great Heights.” Take a look at the photo gallery below for a peak inside the celebration.