Don’t Worry he won’t amount to anything. He can’t do anything!!

There I was a child with not only rheumatic fever but also with spinal meningitis. Yet I was determined that I would go to school and learn. No I was not the most popular kid on the block but I was able to do things. So I was able to say YES I CAN and not say NO.

Then came adulthood, several attempts at trying to get friendships but not being accepted. Okay I went on attempting to go to college, taking 24 hours and ending up with 6 hours again saying “YES I CAN” and refusing to say NO.

Then came losing an entire family. A big hurdle to jump over but I did. Again refusing to let that be the end but again saying “YES I CAN”.

Then came the onset of epilepsy, depression and severe seizures in addition to several suicide attempts. There I was for 18 months in a nursing home but seizures and depression getting betting and I left and went back into the community refusing to say no but instead saying YES I CAN.

I was not satisfied just moving back into the community but also founding an organization respected all the way from Washington D.C. to state and local elected officials. A website with heavy traffic and giving information to other people with disabilities, again saying “YES I CAN” and refusing to say “NO I CAN’T”.

As this new era emerges not only is it a “TIME FOR CHANGE” but is also slowly becoming a time when people with disabilities are saying “YES I CAN” versus saying “NO I CAN’T”. It is a time to say we are first of all a person and we are holding out our hands and for a change persons are taking our hands and seeing how they can help us.

So remember when you see that person with a disability in that wheelchair or just walking around, sometimes you might not know they are a person with a disability sometimes you can but they do have their hand outstretched and waiting for it to be grasped. The main question is will you be that person who grasps that outstretched hand and experience the enjoyment of a new friend and knowing that you are helping someone who wants the same type things you do?