"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

That's what it says in America's Declaration of Independence, written in 1776. And that's a very important part of what all Americans celebrate every Independence Day.

Equality of opportunity is a fundamental principle of America's cultural heritage, and one of the major foundations of our prosperity.

The concept of equality is burned into the hearts and minds of every American from birth, and learned by each wave of new Americans as they arrive on our shores:

"All men are created equal." And yes, that concept of equality includes women too.

And people of all colors, and all races, and all ethnicities, and all ages, and all sexes, and all national origins, and all religious beliefs.

And that even includes people with disabilities.

We may each have our "special" needs ...

... but that doesn't mean that we expect "special" treatment. Just equal treatment.

So how do you get that?

On the final page of this Section, we're going to briefly mention some of the methods people have used in their quest for equal treatment.

And then we're going to give you some practical advice to help you get a greater measure of what you want out of life – right now!