When the world screams, "give up," hope whispers, "try it one more time!"
We all need a little nudge from time to time to remind us that life is only what we make of it. Often times that nudge comes in the form of a story; a story from a fellow citizen with a disability that proves success isn’t simply found, but earned, through hard work and tireless perseverance!
L. Vance Taylor is a successful husband, father, and highly esteemed homeland and environmental security consultant in Washington, D.C. He also happens to have Muscular Dystrophy.
Despite the rather grim predictions of his childhood doctors that he would never graduate high school, he went on to earn a master’s degree in homeland security and become a policy expert, trusted advisor, and co-owner of a government affairs and business development firm in D.C.
In a recent blog post on Disability.gov, Mr. Taylor reflected on his journey, saying:
“Mine is a story of success. I studied diligently, worked exceptionally hard and fought with every fiber of my being to “prove” I deserved the same opportunities afforded to the non-disabled. Once I entered the workforce, I put the pedal to the metal and have never stopped pushing forward. That I could do so is wonderful; that I had to is tragic.”
Mr. Taylor goes on to describe a disastrous early interview, during which an ill-informed hiring manager grilled him about his disability, and how an un-paid internship allowed him to shine.
It is an exceptional story that should be read by all. Visit The Fight to Work to read about Mr. Taylor's journey.
For more light-hearted inspiration, visit Mr. Taylor’s personal blog at rollingperspective.blogspot.com.
“Patience & perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear & obstacles vanish.” ~ John Quincy Adams
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Give and gain through volunteering
You’d be surprised at the variety of valuable work and social experiences volunteering can bring into your life. Volunteering can bring friendships, enhance work skills and create confidence.
Even if you cannot work full time due to a disability, consider giving a few hours each week to your favorite charity. Chances are they are looking for compassionate, hard working volunteers to help them carry out their mission.
Don’t know where to start?
First, find your passion. Is it animals, children, older adults, the environment, music, art?
Second, find an organization that works in support of this passion.
There are certainly dozens of non-profits organizations that serve your community.
If you don’t have one in mind, contact your local chamber of commerce or non-profit/volunteer center. You could also use the phone book to find local organizations.
If you have access to the Internet, Volunteer Match is a great resource to locate volunteer opportunities. You can search by location and keyword so that only the most appealing opportunities are listed. Visit volunteermatch.org to find an opportunity that fits your interests.
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Smart phone app makes communities more accessible
You can help ensure that more people with disabilities are able to access and enjoy their communities!
Access Together is a new smart phone app that relies on "crowd-sourcing" to identify accessible venues, such as grocery stores, restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and more, in your community.
Visit accesstogether.org on your smart phone to share your accessibility experience with venues in your area.
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