Silent No Longer: Advancing the Fight for Disability Rights

by Robert Stack

From one of the nation’s most dedicated advocates for individuals with disabilities, an exposé of the insidious takeover of disability support programs by private equity firms and a clarion call for urgent systemic change in a broken industry that has mistreated millions.

More than 8 million people in the United States have an intellectual or developmental disability, but the US has consistently failed them. Now, a dangerous trend of private equity firms purchasing organizations that support these individuals is threatening their well-being.

Silent No Longer is the story of Robert Stack’s 40-year career in the disability industry, revealing the neglect that persists today and asking why tens of thousands of people are still unnecessarily incarcerated in institutions that fail them. As the founder and CEO of Community Options—one of the largest non-profit organizations supporting persons with disabilities today—Stack offers a firsthand account of the neglect and abuse he has witnessed in his decades of advocacy.

Outlining concrete steps individuals and organizations can take to improve the lives of people with disabilities, Stack identifies 12 calls to action and gives practical guidance for ways funding agencies, policy makers, care providers, states, and more can make a difference.

Part exposé and part call to action, Silent No Longer offers answers and solutions to these unpleasant truths and charts a path forward toward a more compassionate future.

Genres: Disability, Nonfiction, History, Politics

272 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Lacie Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who has spent over a decade working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I was able to relate to the stories contained within Silent No Longer. This book brings to light some of the dark truths that still persist for those who have a disability, where they are not allowed to live a life that is truly free. Robert Stack highlights how people with disabilities continue to be institutionalized, and denied basic rights and even at times subjected to horrific treatment modalities. Robert Stack reveals that there is also a new horror that has developed which is private equity involving themselves in this critical field by purchasing up companies that provide necessary supports and slashing resources to make a profit. The book ends with a Call to Action which allows the reader to walk away with actionable steps to take to make a difference for those with disabilities. Silent No Longer will make you wonder why there aren’t more people outraged over this hidden injustice still gripping our friends and family.

[Marley B · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I was a completely fair reviewer who judged this book on the quality of the informational content alone (and how much I feel I've learned in this area, which I am realizing to be woefully under-discussed), this book would have beenn five stars: it was eye-opening, and prompted deep reflection on not only how we as a society can improve the lives of the developmentally and intellecutally disabled community, but also all vulnerable and marginalized groups. However, I found the author of this book SO INSUFFERABLE that I am coming back to book days after the fact to lower my rating and write a review. Was this self-published? How could any editor have read this book and allowed it to continue in this form, where real serious and important conversations about disability advocacy are watered down by the author's insistence on making himself a main character? There is an entire section of the book based on the author's backstory – WE DO NOT CARE!!! I should not know anything about his marital status, divorce, anything about his wife, etc in a book about disability rights. In the scheme of the rest of the book, which tackles the horrific institutional care system for people with disabilities, these asides to talk about Robert Stack's life feel not only off-topic (self-serving, even) but grossly inappropriate. It honestly felt in some sections like bro would have rather just written a memoir. An entire centerfold section of photos – many of which are just the author smiling side-by-side with high ranking politicans felt more of a flex; one that is both irrelevant and a waste of an opportunity to shed light on the horrific institutions the narrative describes. Charts, tables, and figures from peer-reviewed studies showing the effectiveness of community living on an individual's life-span or well-being (measured by the number of aggressive incidents or quality of life markers) would have been preferable. The way the author centered himself was just so weird and off-putting. I also would have liked the author to show a little bit more empathy when speaking about families of individuals with profound disabilities and the difficult choices they have to make, even if I ultimately agree with his take (it just felt like sometimes he bordered on name-calling?).

[im.booked.on.a.feeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Robert Stack and BenBella Books for the eARC of Silent No Longer: Advancing the Fight for Disability Rights. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As soon as I was presented the opportunity to read this book, I took it. As someone who has seen firsthand the discrimination that individuals with disabilities face, I want to learn everything I can about organizations that are fighting to make sure individuals living with disabilities are given the same rights as every other citizen.

The book is broken up into 3 main sections that outline the harrowing history (and in some cases, the present) of the quality of life of individuals who have been institutionalized, the author’s own story of how his organization, Community Options, came to be, and his vision for the future of disability rights. I especially enjoyed reading the case studies of individuals who thrived after being rescued from a life of institutionalization and placed into homes and meaningful jobs within the community.

Silent No Longer is not a book that imagines what could be. It is a book that gives evidence of the wonderful work that is happening right now and what everyone can do to help further the mission. In fact, the author ends the book with 12 calls to action that individuals, organizations, and politicians can do today to help the fight for disability rights.

Bottom line: If you read one nonfiction book this year, please let it be this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silent No Longer: Advancing the Fight for Disability Rights

I really enjoyed this book!

Robert's four decades in the disability services field shines a light on some of the dark sides attributed with the institutionalizing of people with disabilities in the USA.

The book centers around the increasing role that private equity firms have in performing disability services. A really problematic issue used to profit over the well-being of vulnerable individuals.

Stack exposes how these firms use marketing and smoke screens to disguise substandard care, corner-cutting, and all-in-all reduced quality of life for residents.

I was really upset by a lot of the book, but it was also really inspirational of the help that Stack is doing, and the change he is making.

There is still lots of work to do, but this book will encourage you to bring up issues and improve services for individuals with disabilities.

I would highly recommend checking out this book.

4.5/5

[Selena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely self-congratulatory and insufferable but the topic was interesting

[Aliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone passionate about disability rights, this was a marvelous book. It was great to read about this organization that has done so much to change the lives of many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have been segregated and mistreated for far too long, so it is refreshing to see that there is work that is being done. Robert Stack was able to outline concrete examples of the change he has enacted and the changes that others can impart.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Robert Stack or his organization prior to reading this book. This is the story of how Robert became involved with disability advocacy and how he has devoted his life to improving the quality of life for disabled people. Real change does not come without pushback and the work will never be done. The stories in this book are shocking and painful, and I am thankful there are people like Robert working to change the way the system works and provide alternatives. I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in advocacy or has a loved one with disabilities.