Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
A Lifelong Advocate For Inclusion and Accessibility
Keith Williams is a life-long wheelchair user. Born with arthrogryposis, a grouping of conditions that cause joint stiffness, Keith’s mother fought for his inclusion in the general student population, into which he was “mainstreamed” when he was 15 years old. In his work at the Center for Independent Living, and as a proactive and caring member of his community, Keith advocates for increased accessibility and programs for people with varying disabilities, noting that not all disabilities are visible.
Helping young people and families dealing with disabilities to understand their rights and responsibilities gives him particular satisfaction. Keith also gets joy from his volunteer work with the ACLU advocating for civil rights issues across the board. Knowing how invaluable it is to be part of the movement towards a more truly inclusive and accessible world, Keith encourages communities to ensure that members of the disability community are at the table where city planning decisions happen. “It takes a village to build a ramp!”
