SUCCESS STORIES

After being diagnosed with cerebral palsy when I was 11 months old, I spent much of my childhood falling through the cracks when it came to school. Even though my specific condition really only limits the use of my body and I was in mainstream and honors courses academically I often found the physical demands of these classes to be beyond me; on the other hand, the classes designed for those with disabilities were not the right fit either This made me feel confused as to where I belonged. In high school I was able to take the mainstream curriculum that most students take and placed into some Advanced Placement courses. I went onto study Spanish at Arcadia University, and today I use my fluency to communicate with Spanish speakers on the phone at InspiriTec. I’m sort of the translator here! I’ve always said that I am a person with a disability, not a disabled person. There’s a difference, you see. A disabled person is someone who allows their ailment to control their lives. I’ve chosen to work hard and fight to prove myself every day. The bottom line is that every person out there has problems. At InspiriTec it is made clear that even though we might have problems, we also have each other. If I’m ever late or out of the office for the day, my phone blows up with calls and messages from my coworkers. We all really care about each other. For me, InspiriTec is a place where everyone feels like they belong. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people I’ve met at InspiriTec, especially my case manager. She has made such an impact on my life that in the future I plan to pursue a Masters in Social Work, become a case manager myself and help to change others’ lives just as she has changed mine.

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