Preview In Their Own Words - the fifth estate

Landon Webb still remembers the banging, screaming, and fighting inside the halls of one of Nova Scotia's six institutions for mentally and physically disabled people. It got so bad, he says, he had to run away.

Landon Webb is 25 years old, but his parents say he has the mental capacity of 12-year-old and needs to be protected. Six years ago his parents got guardianship over Landon under Nova Scotia's Incompetent Persons Act. It meant among other things that Landon lost the right to lease an apartment, to vote, or even to get a library card.

Webb, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, is taking on the government and his parents to regain control over his life. With the help of a lawyer, Landon is challenging the Nova Scotia law – and that has sparked others to speak out about their struggles to live on their own.

Parents and their children tell their story of pain, hardship and love, in their own words.

Tune into In Their Own Words Friday March 18th at 9 PM on CBC Television.

»»» Subscribe to CBC News to watch more videos

Connect with CBC News Online:

For breaking news, video, audio and indepth coverage

Find CBC News on Facebook

Follow CBC News on Twitter

For breaking news on Twitter

Follow CBC News on Google+

Follow CBC News on Instagram

Follow CBC News on Pinterest

Follow CBC News on Tumblr

»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

For more than 75 years, CBC News has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians.