BOSTON -- Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common childhood form of muscular dystrophy. It mostly affects boys, and those who have the disease often don't live past their 20s.

Scott Bennett is one man who is defying the odds and living a long, prosperous life.

Young people dream of growing up, having a good job, owning a car and home of their own. But for a person diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, those dreams can sometimes feel out of reach.

"The doctor had told my parents at the time that, while he thought it was nice I was going to college, he felt that I shouldn't. And they shouldn't be surprised if I didn't survive to finish college," Bennett said.

Not only did Bennett survive, he thrived.

"I did go to college -- UMass Boston -- and have a Bachelor of Science degree. I have been working for the last 16 years as a software engineer at the Mitre Corp. in Bedford," Bennett said.

Today, Bennett is 42, owns his own home, hires someone to drive him to work in his own van and lives as independently as possible.

"Scott runs his own home. He manages his own bills, he calls the plumber when we need him, he does all the managing, and I do the physical part of it," said Joan Correira, Bennett's personal care attendant.

Correira said she is inspired by the way Bennett lives his life.

"Scott's never down, never sad, never mad at his disease . He's accepted it and has decided its not going to rule how he lives, and he goes on every day," she said.

Bennett does not set limits for himself.

"I've probably done a whole lot more with my life because of him. He wanted to go on a cruise, we went on a cruise. We go skiing and his family goes skiing, I take him skiing. There's nothing we haven't participated in over the years," Correira said.

Bennett's busy schedule includes finding time to write articles for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Quest magazine. He said it's his way of giving back for all the help the MDA has provided him through the years.

"I've really been able to get a lot of information, a lot of help through the services of the MDA," Bennett said.

Bennett said he doesn't consider himself a role model, but his life serves as an example to others with disabilities.

"I think that's an important message for people to know that you don't have to be completely dependent on the state or other people. You can become independent. You can have a career and own a home and everything else," he said.