Monthly Archives: April 2015

Alvin Laws Differently-Able

Differently-Able, Inspirational

In early March, 2015 I had a chance to attend a National Speaker Association presentation in Dallas, TX with a unique human being, Mr. Alvin Laws. What makes him unique is how he does not allow his differently-able abilities to define him or limit his capacities and lifestyle. You see Alvin’s disability was a result of a drug called thalidomide and the children of the mothers who took this drug were born with all sort of defects. In Alvin’s case he was born without any arms and as a consequence he had to survive in a world which had deemed him a pariah with a hopeless future.

He tells a riveting story about the difficulties he faced in his life being born without any arms. The challenges he faced existing in a world were arms and hands were necessary to survive, but somehow he manage to train his brain to find an alternative way to complete everyday task. Being giving up for adoption at birth, Alvin’s foster-mom Hilda, realized at early infancy his ability to adapt when she looked in and witnessed Alvin holding his baby bottle using only his feet. In amazement she called to her husband to witness this extraordinary feat (pun attended lol). His mom never allowed him to feel sorry for himself and assigned him daily choirs ranging from vacuuming to washing the dishes—with his feet!I was proud to give him a true “sole-Brother” hand shake at the end of his presentation.

Today Alvin does everything for himself from dressing to driving an automobile he does not allow anything to hold him back.  Alvin takes doing things a step further by being able to play musical instruments such as the trombone, drums, and keyboard—-with his feet! He executes an impressive drum roll that any average drummer with two arms would find it very difficult to do. And his keyboarding skills are equivalent to a cool jazz player in a smoky jazz joint in Harlem, NY. His presence just goes to show us that the human mind combined with will and faith can reach many heights.

Although we are amazed when an individual such as Alvin comes along and astonishes us with what seems impossible, he only reminds us of qualities which formulate us as human beings like creativity and determination. [W]e are some of the frailest creatures on the planet physically, but our cunningness and resourcefulness sets us apart in the animal kingdom. People like Alvin Law reminds us that just about all obstacles we encounter can be altered or adapted in alternative ways. And that ingenuity with determination can make the impossible, very possible. Alvin Law truly embodies the concept of being differently-able.

Thanks Alvin for sharing your energy/spirit, from one Sole-Brother to another keep doing you’re your doing…….raising the consciousness!

Change

J. E. Corbin

 

Lack of Job Opportunities for the Disabled!

Uncategorized

On the week of February 19, 2015 I took the liberty to attend the Dallas Abilities Job Expo, at the Hyatt Regencies suites. The event was advertised as a huge gathering of more than 100 employers looking to meet qualified job candidates who had a disability, as well as the opportunity to network with other people who shared similar experiences within the Dallas, TX, area. Once I arrived at the event I made my way through the corridor after signing in. I expected to see a complementary amount of companies looking to participate in the event as advertised but found less otherwise. I did not find any companies within the non-for profit sector there at the time, which is my particular field of study and interest. Also, I did not see many individuals using assistive-technology like a walker or wheel-chair other than myself during my brief visit. Although the job scene at the expo looked bleak with very few employer participants I decided to stay and make rounds to see  what other employment opportunities were being offered at the time and by which companies. This took just about a solid half-hour and that was mostly from me talking extensively to the company’s representatives who gave excellent job leads pertaining to the positions which they were hiring for at the time of the expo.

I applaud the efforts of the event coordinator and companies who participated in the Dallas ability Job Expo, it was very well organized and crafted to present a welcoming atmosphere especially for individuals such as myself who use a wheelchair or walker. My only regret is that more companies would have partake in such events and help to open up more opportunity for the disabled. Being considered handicapped does not mean we do  not have anything to offer towards a company’s growth and development. Sadly to say this lack of participation on the part of companies seem to be a reoccurring theme at a lot of these type of job expos for the disabled.  I’m not sure who or what is the blame in terms of prejudice or discrimination on the part of company’s officers or human resource department but I am sure that bringing more awareness to the situation is the key to changing the lack of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

 

-James C.