Climbing Together Pt. 1 | Mountain Climbers Podcast

What happens when a parent's personal experience becomes a call for systems change?In Part 1 of the Mountain Climbers season finale, Dana Hooper reflects on the experience that first changed the way he understood the disability system—and how it led him into more than two decades of advocacy.Dana is a parent, social entrepreneur, longtime disability advocate, and Executive Director of Life Services Alternatives. His work has focused on advancing quality, non-institutional services and creating inclusive housing where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live, grow, and remain connected to their communities.In this conversation, Dana shares how his son's diagnosis shaped his perspective, why housing is a critical civil rights issue, and what he has learned from years of working alongside families, self-advocates, service providers, and policymakers.As we close out the season, Dana's story brings together many of the themes we've explored throughout Mountain Climbers: family, identity, advocacy, responsibility, belonging, and the question of what kind of future we're willing to build together.This is Part 1 of our two-part season finale. In Part 2, we'll look ahead—at the future of inclusive housing, the challenges that remain, and what it will take for communities to create lasting change.Walk with us.🎙️ Subscribe to Mountain Climbers so you never miss a story: https://linktr.ee/lifeservicesalternatives🤝 Learn more about Life Services Alternatives: https://lsahomes.org💛 Support our mission: https://lsahomes.org/donate