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Cindy Bentley Overcomes Abuse, Institutionalization, Intellectual Disabilities, & Autism, a Champion
In this guest interview episode, Donna Brendel was privileged to spend an afternoon with Cindy Bentley. Cindy graciously, openly, and honestly shares her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood in foster care and institutions to becoming a world-renowned Special Olympics athlete and advocate for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. She discusses the importance of love, support, and faith in overcoming adversity, as well as the need for community engagement and resources for people with disabilities. Cindy emphasizes the significance of listening to children, treating everyone with respect, and the power of personal growth through sports and education.
Cindy knows the meaning of I Should Say That Out Loud's 2025 word of the year, "Pro'ject," and shouts it loud and clear through her life as well as her words, "I'm gonna be my own person at the end of the day."
Poignant quotes from Cindy:
"Young people need to have a voice."
"By the grace of God I've lived through this."
"I wanted to be challenged."
"What's an alarm?" (first day in her own place.)
"There's so many myths...I love reading, and people think people with intellectual disabilities don't even know how to read either."
"Get out of the fishbowl and get a job."
"I have my struggles. Every day I get up and thank God."
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background of Special Guest, Cindy Bentley
02:02 - Beginning of Interview with Cindy Bentley
03:34 - Surviving Abuse and Trauma
06:43 - Institutionalized - It Was a Very Horrible Place
08:15 - Finding Faith and Overcoming Anger
09:50 - Growing Up in an Institution - I Didn't Have a Voice
10:53 - Teachers: Believe in Us, Challenge Us
14:26 - Moving from the Institution to a Group Home
18:19 - World Travel and White House Visits
24:03 - Cindy's Athletic Achievements and the Power of Forgiveness
26:09 - Autism and Intellectual Disability
28:34 - Group Homes and Community Services
31:03 - Her Own Apartment, With Cats, No Roommates!
35:28 - Discovering a Talent for Running and Joining Special Olympics
37:20 - "My Faith Saved Me Too"
39:14 - Emotional Therapy for People with Disabilities
40:53 - Cindy's Dedication to Prayer and Serving Others
46:33 - Overcoming Childhood Struggles Through Athletics
50:21 - Circle of Friends
52:07 - I'm Here to Teach (Until God is Ready for Me)
55:00 - The Good and Bad of Foster Care
01:01:44 - Cindy's Career Path
01:12:21 - Volunteering to Build Skills and Land Jobs
01:18:00 - I'm Not a Person Who Sits in the House
01:19:35 - So Many People Are Lost
01:24:00 - I'm Gonna Be My Own Person at the End of the Day
01:27:30 - Celebrating 40th Anniversary Out of the Center (De-Institutionalized)
01:30:02 - "Young People Need to Have a Voice"
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By Donna Brendel
5
55 ratings
In this guest interview episode, Donna Brendel was privileged to spend an afternoon with Cindy Bentley. Cindy graciously, openly, and honestly shares her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood in foster care and institutions to becoming a world-renowned Special Olympics athlete and advocate for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. She discusses the importance of love, support, and faith in overcoming adversity, as well as the need for community engagement and resources for people with disabilities. Cindy emphasizes the significance of listening to children, treating everyone with respect, and the power of personal growth through sports and education.
Cindy knows the meaning of I Should Say That Out Loud's 2025 word of the year, "Pro'ject," and shouts it loud and clear through her life as well as her words, "I'm gonna be my own person at the end of the day."
Poignant quotes from Cindy:
"Young people need to have a voice."
"By the grace of God I've lived through this."
"I wanted to be challenged."
"What's an alarm?" (first day in her own place.)
"There's so many myths...I love reading, and people think people with intellectual disabilities don't even know how to read either."
"Get out of the fishbowl and get a job."
"I have my struggles. Every day I get up and thank God."
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background of Special Guest, Cindy Bentley
02:02 - Beginning of Interview with Cindy Bentley
03:34 - Surviving Abuse and Trauma
06:43 - Institutionalized - It Was a Very Horrible Place
08:15 - Finding Faith and Overcoming Anger
09:50 - Growing Up in an Institution - I Didn't Have a Voice
10:53 - Teachers: Believe in Us, Challenge Us
14:26 - Moving from the Institution to a Group Home
18:19 - World Travel and White House Visits
24:03 - Cindy's Athletic Achievements and the Power of Forgiveness
26:09 - Autism and Intellectual Disability
28:34 - Group Homes and Community Services
31:03 - Her Own Apartment, With Cats, No Roommates!
35:28 - Discovering a Talent for Running and Joining Special Olympics
37:20 - "My Faith Saved Me Too"
39:14 - Emotional Therapy for People with Disabilities
40:53 - Cindy's Dedication to Prayer and Serving Others
46:33 - Overcoming Childhood Struggles Through Athletics
50:21 - Circle of Friends
52:07 - I'm Here to Teach (Until God is Ready for Me)
55:00 - The Good and Bad of Foster Care
01:01:44 - Cindy's Career Path
01:12:21 - Volunteering to Build Skills and Land Jobs
01:18:00 - I'm Not a Person Who Sits in the House
01:19:35 - So Many People Are Lost
01:24:00 - I'm Gonna Be My Own Person at the End of the Day
01:27:30 - Celebrating 40th Anniversary Out of the Center (De-Institutionalized)
01:30:02 - "Young People Need to Have a Voice"