The Black Family Magazine - October Special Disability Awareness Edition

ABOUT

The Black Family Magazine is the first publication of magazines in the field of personal and professional development, wealth building, African American empowerment, and challenging predefined narratives applied to the African American community.

VISION

Our new platform is dedicated to bringing solutions to families in the black community. The platform is designed to expand your awareness, uncover truth, redefine life, renew strength, and help you to build a new legacy of health and wealth for families with intentions of changing the narrative one family at a time.

MISSION

Our mission is to break generational cycles and healing from generational hurts, and building generational wealth through personal and professional development. www.BlackFamilyMagazine.com Facebook: @TheBlackFamilyMagazine Instagram: @TheBlackFamilyMagazine

Terry

Erica

Helga

DeAnna

Helen

Norma

DR. YVETTE PEGUES

Guest Editor in Chief

DR. YVETTE PEGUES

I have always had a passion for giving a voice to individuals who, more than likely, may not have had the opportunity to amplify their stories. I believe everyone has a message that deserves to be heard, especially those who look like me. When I say that, it means more to me in multiple ways. As a black woman who is also a part of the disability community, amplifying my messages and those of others is extremely important.

When I was tapped for the opportunity to serve as the guest editor-in-chief for Black Family Magazine, to say how excited I was would truly take more time to express than you’d probably have to spend with me. So, I share this with you:

The incredible individuals that are highlighted in this special issue are phenomenal. October 2022 is National Disability Employment Awareness month. I am excited to share the stories of brilliant innovators, thought leaders, trailblazers, and

creatives leading the charge in shifting the lens of how the world encounters disability awareness. While building out this issue with my team and realizing the Disability Champions whose stories are being highlighted, we beamed at the realization of the opportunity to be instrumental in sharing powerful stories. Many could share their work and resources while highlighting their business without leaving out the real challenges and misconceptions of the largest people group in the world.

The October 2022 issue will celebrate “National Disability Employment Awareness Month” and how people with disabilities work! It will demystify the misconceptions of old and provide the business case for disability employment and the necessary cultivation of workplace culture.

Representing this issue as Guest Editor-in-Chief has been a terrifying surprise! So many people had their hand in this issue’s success, from our esteemed Chief Marketing Officer, Norma Stanley of EEE Marketing Group,

to Kay Campfield, gifted journalist extraordinaire, and the countless experts at Black Family Magazine. We delicately handled this precious issue with the intent to deliver a masterpiece that looks inside the challenges that a group of people face and does not always have the opportunity to put

those challenges, as well as highlight their winning contributions in spite of, on an uplifting platform. Many thanks to the brilliant minds that came forward to make this issue a rousing success. We hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as we enjoyed producing it.

TERRY MOORER

Terry Moorer, acclaimed publicist and music business consultant, recalls a time when the art was potent, artists were expressive, and the music and entertainment industry was still young. And he was on the scene.

“I worked at Billboard magazine and worked at two different record labels: Tommy Boy Records in

the Dance Music Report department and First Priority Music as VP of Publicity,” he said, referencing the multiple hats that he has worn, and to an extent, still does in the industry. He was among the movers and shakers who tied together the acts and images of legendary artists we still speak of today, including MC Lyte, Audio Two, and Naughty By Nature.

Moorer was a pioneer in the movement, not only in the work he accomplished but also for the community he represented. Moorer, who has cerebral palsy, proved that the stigma around disabled people was just that, a stigma. In many cases, like his, a misconception.

“Some people don’t realize how independent people with disabilities are,” he said. “Social Media is changing that perception.”

The late 80s and early 90s had a vibe. We know because there is iconic music to prove it and because entertainment pioneer Terry Moorer told us so.

Forbes Contributor Caroline Casey penned a think-piece around the notion that Social Media is transforming how the world perceives disabled individuals. She highlighted multiple individuals who identify with a visible or invisible disability who are not simply viral sensations but purposeful contributors to the respective platforms with a message and large following.

Moorer, before social media, simply being himself was a living message of purpose and passion.

“The music industry in the late 80s was not where you saw a lot of people with disabilities,” he recalled before continuing. “It was Dave Funken Klein and me. He worked for Hollywood records.”

Klein was a music executive and notable writer for Source Magazine. He and Moorer started in the industry before President H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in July 1990. Moorer recalled how he and Klein, for their respective companies, were at the helm of some of the era’s best

artists. Many still are active today. He also recollects that despite the world’s consensus about disabled individuals, his career environment was quite the opposite. His surroundings included individuals who made a genuine effort to be accommodating.

“Everyone was welcoming and did not treat me like I had a disability,” he said.

Even more importantly, Moorer never allowed himself to feel incapable of being the best version of himself. His confidence and self-belief allowed him a career in entertainment that has spanned two decades and still counting. Moorer is responsible for awardwinning work in the music and sports entertainment industries. He held platinum and gold album awards and was recognized for his work for NBA entertainment and the National Black Golfers Association. Present day, he maintains this same tenacity and self-expectations.

His tenacity to be excellent in his career is still strong. While Terry has retired from his primary connections to the music industry, he still

has a hand somewhat in the business as a consultant. Yet, primarily today, he spends his days as a speaker and legal advocate for disabled individuals.

“I can’t run or stand for a long time,” he says, sharing that he uses the podium for support when he has speaking engagements that require extended periods before an audience. He doesn’t force or put overbearing pressure on his body and recognizes when enough is enough.

“We are doing a lot more above and beyond what the people expect or hear about,” he said referring to public belief.

Moorer showcases how much more he is doing as a Legal Shield representative. He is advocating for legal boundaries with individuals who identify as disabled or may be raising a child who does.

“I am a LegalShield Independent Consultant,” he said. Everyone who identifies as a disabled individual needs legal access, and I help protect parents of disabled children.”

Earlier this year, Cincinnati professor, Kara Ayers, found herself at the helm of a legal conversation surrounding parental custody. What started as a conversation with a store employee evolved into an inappropriate pry. The employee questioned her about the labor and delivery process of her kids. As a disabled woman dependent on a wheelchair, it escalated quickly. In an interview with the Columbia Dispatch, the Ohio mom shared that the primary reason legislature and custody proceedings fail disabled individuals is ‘because of [their] differences.

“It’s not my disability that has been detrimental to my kids,” Ayers said. “It’s our society’s disbelief about my disability.”

The unfolding of her story highlighted similar and even worse instances where individuals with disabilities faced legal battles that many couldn’t handle.

Moorer explained that while this phase of his life is a commitment to filling in the legal access gap for those within the community, he has not strayed too far from his

musical roots.

Moorer, along with business partner, MC Lyte, continues to be an educational resource on the music business through their platform, LearnTheMusicBusiness. com. He also is the author of two related books written to chronicle success in the entertainment business through his eyes.

Website: www.terrymoorer.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ terry.moorer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ terry_moorer/

Breaking Generational Cycles

ERICA JONES

It’s common to hear the masses scream about what should be done, but it is admirable when a missionary sets out on the journey to actually do it. Erica Jones is the missionary of change that the world has needed for quite some time.

Jones is the founder of the Vivian Neily Project, an

initiative created to invoke the true nature of domestic abuse and educate the masses on Aids and HIV. She credits the inspiration for the startup to two significant relatives whose life impacted hers.

Personal life experiences intertwined with abusive relationships were the catalyst for launching a

project that could help bring down domestic abuse. However, it was the death of her grandfather and cousin, both of whom succumbed to AIDS-related complications, that was the factor that added AIDS and HIV education and prevention to the conversation.

Jones shared that a domestic

Jones suffered a brutal attack that resulted in a spinal cord injury, leaving her paralyzed. Still determined not to be defeated, she not only decided to break the cycle in her life but to help others identify them to break the life cycles that had been holding them as well.

attack from the hands of her then-partner changed her life physically forever forward, but one thing it did not change was her self-will.

“I could not recognize the red flags,” Jones said, referencing her previous relationship. “If you do not learn the pattern, you cannot break the cycle.

Jones suffered a brutal attack that resulted in a spinal cord injury, leaving her paralyzed. Still determined not to be defeated, she not only decided to break the cycle in her life but to help others identify them to break the life cycles that had been holding them as well.

During her work-from-home experience, it was where Jones identified a few workfrom-home challenges that required an adaptation that, while she may have found adaptable, could pose an issue for others with similar physical conditions.

“I’ve learned to adapt to their system, vs. them adapting to me,” she said, reflecting on at-home positions that required what some may consider general computer operations and tasks like typing. She found her most productive typing frequency was accomplished by using her knuckles.

And many, like Erica Jones, are armed with the will and deserve to be heard.

As time progresses and more disability-inclusive advocates speak up, there is the anticipation of an evolution. As for Jones, she has since maximized her time outside of the workforce to focus more on changing lives through education and support via The Vivian Neily Project.

“I want to help anyone who feels trapped to escape the chains of abuse and help increase awareness of HIV/ AIDS. I want to help someone you love.”

“I was broken, but fortunately, I broke free.” she said before adding, “I know that life can be challenging, but I also know that challenges are worth overcoming.

Jones has proved that overcoming her challenges is a mantra she lives by. Before her injury in July 2017, she was a practicing nurse. Following, she transitioned into more work-from-home friendly positions while increasing her presence within the operations of The Vivian Neily Project full time.

While Jones’ flexibility is highly impressive, it raises a valid concern. How can work from an administrative position operate more inclusively, allowing better adaptability?

According to Acessability. com, the most recent Census Bureau suggests that 5% of the workforce comprises disabled employees. Roughly, that translates to over 9 million workers in the workforce who may be underaccommodated to perform at their highest ability.

Through the groundwork she’s laying with The Vivian Neily Project, Jones is doing just that through public speaking, spreading information that could indeed save someone you love.

Although her son is now 22 years old, she recalls the joy of raising him and experiencing his genius growing up as if it was yesterday.

“My child is brilliant, just different,” Dr. Adair shared.

She also recalls her challenges as a working parent maneuvering life with a child diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a developmental disorder on the Autism Spectrum, in a world that had yet to understand that grace and patience could go a long way.

“It was a lot of time off,” she said, referencing the number of therapy-related appointments she had to ensure he visited to help him develop as a growing youth. Considering Dr. Adair had her

invisible disability concerns, she found that it was often a challenge managing the doctor-related needs of both of them while nurturing her career as a counselor.

Since retiring, she stated that the available programs and assistance to complement the need of a working parent raising children with visible or invisible disabilities were far and few between. However, she is happy to see that this has begun to change.

“It’s a thousand percent better now,” she says.

While many systems and programs are being enacted today to serve working parents better, the lack thereof for working parents like Dr. Adair empowered her to create a ‘pathway’ for her son by building her village.

Building a village can make a huge difference, she explained. She credits her support system with alleviating the stress of the work/life balance necessary for her family and her. Her village allowed her to not only be successful in work/ life management but also to successfully rear a new college graduate who she helped prepare to enter the workforce as a young adult. Website: www.dradairspeaks.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ DrAdairWhitejohnson/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ dradairspeaks/?hl=en

Every child deserves a superhero, and Dr. Adair White-Johnson made it her business to ensure she was that superhero for her son.

Wellness Coach

Alesha Savannah is working to change the narrative by being a prime example of the possibility.

“After sustaining an SCI from an automobile accident, adjusting was hard, and I gained a lot of unwanted weight.”

The newly gained weight was just one of the challenges she found herself against. Life for Savannah had taken a new path.

“Only four months postinjury, I returned to work at a both high pace and stressful job,” she said. “Truth is, I had

bills to pay regardless of the catastrophe I’d experienced, so I dove headfirst back into it. Well, I tried to go with the flow, but my body, on the other hand, had other ideas.

While her office accommodations did not cause significant physical discomfort, the stress created a domino effect on her body, including her inability to fully manage her bladder and weight gain. She recalled the stress showing up in more ways than one. She credited the stress as the tipping point for the mental change she needed to reclaim her life and freedom.

“My new life definitely took time to get used to,” Savanah stated. “I’m still getting used to some of it, honestly but making the best of it. I decided to change my mindset and how I view things, ultimately changing the trajectory of my life.”

Determined to change her narrative, Savannah began focusing on what she could do versus lamenting the challenges that had begun mounting against her since that fateful New Year’s Eve night. She tapped into a program she had dabbled in before her accident, managing her weight and overall wellness. Committing to her

Understanding the role wellness plays in life is equivalent to inhaling and exhaling. But, like many things, maintaining an active lifestyle is easier said than done. Add in a Spinal cord injury, and it can feel nearly impossible.

goals and becoming serious about her ability to be healthy led her to reach and exceed goals that she believed to have become unreachable.

Armed with restored confidence, Savannah continued to become the best version of herself, including participating in Ms. Wheelchair America’s

resource for universal design physically and online. I’ve attended two meetings, and we’ve been working on making their online community accessible to everyone. There are panel leads for the deaf, blind, neurodiverse, and more; it’s been amazing learning from everyone.”

Savannah’s position is based out of the comfort of her home, so she is pretty spot on when it comes to physical accommodation. However, when it comes to sharing a message with employers and expressing how they can better accommodate their disabled employees, she spoke in the most jovial way, “Disabled and independent can indeed be used in the same sentence.”

National Competition and starting a new position within a company that gets it when it comes to disability inclusion in the workplace.

“I am still fairly new, just starting this month,” she revealed. “However, I am a panel lead for the mobilityimpaired community across the US. The goal is to be a

Even with the most fanciful architecture, she laughingly reassures employers, “Buildings can be aesthetically pleasing And accessible at the same time.”

Website: ambitiousle.goherbalife.com Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/profile. php?id=100082970882806

Helga discovered her second child was born with part of his brain missing, and a new kind of fight began to emerge in her. Fighting for her son to have the best life possible has been a lifetime battle, one which created a determination in her she didn’t know existed, helping her to also fight for families like hers along the way.

DETERMINED MOM PUSHES PAST OBSTACLES TO FIGHT FOR DISABLED SON, WHILE ACHIEVING HER DREAMS

In many ways, Helga J. Moore is very much like the millions of mothers out there who love their children and who work hard every day to give them the very best life possible. However, from the time Helga discovered her second child was born with part of his brain missing, a new kind of fight began to

emerge in her. Fighting for her son to have the best life possible has been a lifetime battle, one which created a determination in her she didn’t know existed, helping her to also fight for families like hers along the way.

A multifaceted individual, Helga has been a disability

community advocate for over 25 years. The mother of an adult son born with both intellectual and physical disabilities, Moore has served as a respite provider and/or peer support for other parents of children with special needs for over three decades. She also founded a non-profit, All Children Are Special over

20 years ago, to help families of children with special needs, with their childcare challenges.

Moore shares her powerful life journey of overcoming the many challenges in her young life, including being sexually abused by her stepfather as young as five years old, in hopes of helping others who may have experienced the same thing, in her selfpublished book released in 2021 entitled, “You’ve Heard of Job, Now Meet Jobetta,”(My Spiritual Journey from Pain to Promise, Purpose, Power and Prosperity), available on Amazon.

One of the challenges shared in her book was having to place her adult disabled son in a group home, after getting divorced and finding herself unemployed, with little options at the time other than to move to another state to secure employment—and leaving her son to be cared for by other people.

“It was another very difficult time in my life, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and financially, because I had to start all over again,” shared Moore. “The reality was I had no one who could really

help me with the daunting responsibility of caring for Moses the way he needed, so I had to place him in a group home. This was a decision I wish I didn’t have to make, but there were no other options for me at the time,” she said.

Moore says it was mostly the limitations in finding services in the state of Georgia to help parents with children with disabilities going through financial hardship, that left her with little alternatives than to place her son in a group home and move to Tampa to take a position being offered there.

“I don’t understand how the system for families of children with disabilities works at all,” says Moore. “It makes absolutely no sense to me that they will pay a total stranger thousands of dollars every month to take care of an adult with disabilities, but won’t offer parents or family members any kind of financial assistance to be able to care for their loved ones at home. That’s something I think that really needs to be re-evaluated and addressed,” she said.

This all occurred 15 years

ago and despite managing her own health challenges including living with Lupus for over 30 years, having a heart attack in 2015, Helga is determined to one day have her son Moses living with her at home again. She is quick to acknowledge, however, that he has been very well cared for in the home he was placed in and still resides.

“Don’t get me wrong, the owners and caregivers of the group home love Moses and take very good care of him, and I am indebted to them for that, but it’s not the same thing as being home with me, his mother, who loves him beyond measure and who just wants him with me,” Moore explained. “However, getting him back home is not a simple thing and will require a whole other set of bureaucratic processes and financial requirements for which I am preparing,” she said.

As she works through how that will happen in the future, Moore is on a new path and has been steadily exceeding some of her own expectations for her own individual hopes and dreams. She is currently working as an Optician and manager of the Optical Department at a Sam’s Club

in McDonough, GA., and says she is very thankful for the strength and fortitude to push past the many obstacles that tried to get in her way since childhood.

Over the years she became an ordained minister, and is also a talented singer/songwriter, who executive produced and recorded an inspirational jazz CD “Stronger,” on which she sings lead and background vocals, arranged all nine songs and wrote half of them.

“Yes, there were many obstacles and many tears along the way, but I must say, I’m rather proud of myself and what I’ve been able to accomplish so far in my life despite the many challenges I’ve experienced,” shared Moore. “But most of all, I am extremely proud of all my children and the adults they have become, including my son, Moses. My daughters Melony and Brittany are both beautiful, capable, independent women and sought-after professionals in their chosen fields and are doing very well, and I’m very thankful, God gave me enough fight, wisdom and knowledge to be the best mother I could for them, while I was doing the best I

could to raise Moses,” Moore continued, who is also a doting, loving grandmother to 11 year-old Andre. “If there’s one thing I want people to remember from my journey, it is that weeping may endure for a night, but if you don’t give up, joy always comes in the morning,” she said.

Contact Information: Email: hmoore3690@aol.com Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/helga.moore

Celebrity Stories within the Disability Community

CELEBRITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES THRIVING DESPITE CHALLENGES WITH DISABILITIES

At 20 percent of the population, disabilities impact one in five people in the U.S., so it’s inevitable that some of those people would be high profile celebrities who have had to maneuver their own individual challenges, as well as those of their loved ones as parents, siblings, etc. The following briefly summarizes some music, film, television, sports and comedic celebrities of color, who have personally encountered disabilities, including mental health challenges themselves or who have loved ones with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.

DOMINIQUE WILKINS:

Dominique Wilkins is a legend in the NBA, particularly in Atlanta and Orlando, where the basketball great played primarily for the Atlanta Hawks, then later in his career, the Orlando Magic. The Hall of Famer has had a celebrated career in the NBA and now serves in management at the Hawks as a vice president and senior advisor. Wilkins is also the father of five children, one of whom was born with Spina Bifida, but who also had a love for

basketball. A couple years ago, he posted a video of his daughter, JoJo hitting basket shots from her wheelchair. The Instagram video he shared, showed him handing off a ball to her, with which she made three consecutive baskets.

Cheering her on from the sidelines, Wilkins shared in the post …”When most people see my daughter JoJo, they see a wheelchair. When I see her, I see potential, strength and beauty! She’s just like everyone else. We all have challenges. They just come in different forms.”

ALICIA KEYS CHRIS ROCK

A musical prodigy, classically trained pianist and singer/songwriter who has won 15 Grammy Awards and who burst on the scene at just 15 years-old when she was signed by Columbia Records in 1994, Alicia Keys always came across as someone in full control of herself and her future. From the outside looking in, this girl and her career were definitely on fire, however, Keys has shared despite her success, how she was secretly struggling with depression.

Opening up about her mental health in 2007 speaking to People Magazine, Keys shared how she “became a master of putting up the wall, so that I was unreadable.” She said she was always inexplicably sad and didn’t realize she was dealing with bouts of depression, and that masking her true emotions was impacting her mental health. She now speaks about her challenges with depression openly, and how she had to re-adjust her priorities to address it, while encouraging others to seek help for any mental health issues with which they may be struggling.

Super successful Chris Rock, comedian, filmmaker and author, who was a former Saturday Night Live cast member and who also created the popular sitcom, ‘Everybody Hates Chris,’ is known for his brutallyhonest, sharp-edged jokes on a number of topics.

What you may not have known was that Rock was diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability at age 55, just a couple years ago. Known as Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD), which affects an individual’s ability to process nonverbal information, Rock’s disability gained more attention after he was slapped by Will Smith for making a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith at the 94th Academy Awards.

As a result of that unfortunate incident, much needed public awareness about NVLD was sparked, along with why media representation matters for reducing stigma for visible and invisible disabilities.

TISHA

Xen Martin, the son of awardwinning actress, dancer and singer, Tisha Campbell famous for her roles in the sitcoms “Martin” and “My Wife and Kids,” and dad Actor Duane Martin, was born with autism.

Diagnosed when he was about 18 months old, Campbell says she started suspecting something different in Xen after he got the Hepatitis B injection as an infant. She has shared her challenges with raising her son on social media saying.. #reflecting #autism there was a time when he couldn’t speak. There was a time he wasn’t able to say; “momma,” “ouch,” let alone “I love you….”

Although doctors said would never be able to speak or learn, as result of the love and attention Xen received, as well as his parents helping him to model after typical children, things have changed for their son. Now 21 yearsold, Xen who used to struggle with communication, can now communicate and even has attended college.

When Syndicated Radio Show Host and Comedian D.L. Hughley’s son Kyle was a child, he was diagnosed with Aspergers, a form of autism. Asperger’s syndrome or Asperger disorder (AD) is

an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, this is in addition to restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

Hughley has shared, at times emotionally, how the disorder has affected his son’s life, including him having to stick to a very regimented schedule. Although he was worried about him when he was younger, Hughley’s son is now in his early 30’s, and says Kyle is doing just fine.

TONI BRAXTON

Grammy Award-winning Singer and Actress, Toni Braxton’s youngest son Diezel, was diagnosed with autism at an early age. In an effort to find programs to help him, Braxton and her then husband, Keri Lewis, became involved with Autism Speaks and as a result, Braxton was very influential in bringing awareness to autism and the challenges parents face.

Today, Braxton’s son Diezel is a successful fashion model and a student at Howard University.

HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE

Holly Robinson Peete, an American actress and singer, is best known for her popular roles as Judy Hoffs on the Fox TV police drama, “21 Jump Street” and as Venessa Russell on the ABC sitcom,” Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.”

When Robinson-Peete shared her story about her son RJ’s autism journey, her husband former Player, Rodney Peete was concerned that publicly sharing their son’s diagnosis, might in some way limit his possibilities. On the contrary, not only is their son now a gainfully employed young man, doing things doctors said he would never do, but their openness has helped to bring awareness about autism for other families sharing similar experiences.

STEPHANIE MILLS

Grammy Award-winning Singer, Stephanie Mills, who became famous for her role as “Dorothy,” in the original Broadway musical, “The Wiz,” had her only son Farid, in February 2001 and has been open about her journey as a parent with a special needs child.

Mills lovingly shares her journey with her son, who was born with Down syndrome in media interviews and on social media, saying how charismatic, funny, intelligent and capable her son is.

Although admitting to facing some challenges as a parent of a special needs child, Mills says her son has been a blessing in a life and is doing very well. Now in his late teens, Farad authored a children’s book a couple years ago entitled, “The Adventures of Farad J.”

JAMIE FOXX

Multi Award-winning Actor, Comedian and Singer, Jamie Foxx had a younger sister with Down syndrome, who passed away in 2020. In sharing news of per passing on social media, Foxx shared how much he loved his sister and that she taught him how to live.

Deondra Dixon, who was named the Ambassador for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in 2011, was supported by her close-knit family growing up. She began participating in the Special Olympics when she was in the 6th grade and competed for over nine years. After graduating from high school in Texas in 2002, Dixon moved to California to live with Foxx and the rest of her family.

In expressing his loss on social media, Foxx shared the following:

“Well, I know she is in heaven now dancing with her wings on…tho my pain is unbelievable I smile when I think of all of the great memories that she left me… my family… and her friends.”

NICOLE ARI PARKER AND BORIS KODJOE

The couple have formed the Sophie’s Voice Foundation in 2008 (now known as the Kodjoe Family Foundation) in honor of their daughter and have committed their resources and celebrity to educating multicultural communities worldwide, on the importance of families working together to build healthy lifestyle habits one day at a time.

was likely the baby would die within one week.

“It was horrible,” Vivian says of hearing the news. “Stuff like he had no fingers or toes, his entire cardiovascular system was undeveloped; things that you never want to hear as a mother.”’

Contrary to what she was told, her son Jordan did live, but he did face many challenges. For example, she says he was late to walk and talk and he wouldn’t eat for a year and a half.

When their daughter Sophie was little, hot Hollywood couple Nicole Ari Parker and her husband Boris Kodjoe found themselves feeling helpless, due to her being born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect that affects the development of the spinal cord.

“We were helpless, we were lost,” shared Kodjoe in a television interview. “It took us quite a while to find our bearings and get used to this new norm that we were facing,” he said.

Now a beautiful, thriving teenager, their daughter Sophie is just one part of the couple’s overall family success story.

VIVIAN GREENE

When R&B Singer/Songwriter Vivian Greene was pregnant with her first child, doctors told her in her second trimester, that the baby she was carrying had a severe undiagnosable illness that would leave it seriously disabled. They went on to say that if she had the baby, it

All of this affected the “Emotional Rollercoaster” singer’s career and mental well-being. However, she still managed to release six albums. Today, Green says her son Jordan does everything for himself, even if it takes him a little longer. She also says her spiritual growth skyrocketed as a result of having her son.

“Sometimes you have no choice but to believe that God knows what he’s doing. I realized that He chose me to be this child’s mother, so He thinks I’m strong enough to handle it.”

Exclusive Spotlight featuring

DR. YVETTE PEGUES

As the daughter of immigrants, Dr. Yvette

Pegues knows a thing or two when it comes to adapting and hard work. And she has no problem affirming that adaptability is indeed her superpower, which she uses to highlight the job disparity of disability inclusion in the workplace.

The US workforce is powered by nearly 20% of individuals who identify as having an invisible or visible disability. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 US adults live with a disability. Cognitive disability most common in younger adults; mobility disability most common for others. And, it’s not uncommon for

many to be overlooked or even undervalued.

Dr. Pegues, a member of the disability community and a thriving engineer who had made impactful strides during her career with the tech giant, International Business Machine (IBM), can relate from many diverse angles.

It’s Easier To Advocate For Other People Than To Advocate For Yourself

“People with disabilities are already in the workplace,” she stated, before adding that many are hesitant to disclose their condition or concerns they face in order to blend into an environment that may not be providing the best accommodations. As well, there could be the fear of losing their job or worse, the bias and exclusionary treatment after disclosing their condition.

Although known as a disability and inclusion crusader, Dr. Pegues’ transformation story started before she became a trusted advocate within the disability community.

Her story starts as a focused, neurotypical, and determined youth whose life was charged with uncertainty. She recalls her mother as hardworking yet strict and seems to have experienced more challenging days than softer ones. It wouldn’t be until a significant pivot in her own life, the diagnosis with a rare brain condition called Arnold Chiari Malformation, that she recognized the probable source of her mother’s longterm suffering.

“The unexpected blessing of my diagnosis was learning more about my mom postmodern than when she was alive,” she said.

Arnold Chiari Malformation is known to be genetically acquired and tends to affect females more than males.

In her case, it had passed from her mother, who had suffered daily pain in silence while managing the daily household operations and a family. The associated pain was debilitating and Dr. Pegues sought treatment, but experienced complications during surgical intervention that resulted in her becoming wheelchair dependent.

“I couldn’t walk, talk or work,” she said, referring to her life post-crisis. She knew she was heading into a new horizon of life, especially career-wise. At the time, she was still employed with IBM. “work was different then, no reentry programs,” she said, referencing the available accommodations for her to reenter the workforce. “That just wasn’t available. They waited for as long as they could, but recovery took over a year.”

Dr. Pegues acknowledges that the tech giant was accommodating as best as possible. Still, the level of accommodation she needed was not a conversation in the workforce at that time. Even with the most advanced efforts and intentions, the workforce continues to somehow fall short. While so much has changed, a lot has remained the same.

“Diverse-ish” Workplaces across America

A 2022 Harvard Business Review article reported, Although 90% of companies claim to prioritize diversity, only 4% consider disability in those initiatives, according to a report from the Return On Disability Group.

It’s time to center disability into the diversity business strategy, confront bias and make progress toward inclusion—and higher performance.

Making this change should not be a chore. It is an opportunity. The World Bank estimates that there are more than one billion people

worldwide – around 15% of the population – living with a disability. As consumers, they represent a market the size of the United States, Brazil, Pakistan and Indonesia combined and a disposable income of more than $8 trillion, as noted by the Return On Disability Group.

Nurturing The Transformation By Finding Therapy In Family

The traditional therapy she received worked in terms of assisting her with reclaiming a semblance of normalcy. However, Dr. Pegues still found herself attempting to cope with her new routine, pointing out that it became quite the challenge, particularly explaining it to her children. So, she sought to reposition herself mentally and knew from there that everything else would come into alignment.

‘Literary Therapy’ she credits as the catalyst in her becoming more for herself, her husband, and her boys. Together they penned a children’s nonfiction story, My Mommy Had Brain Surgery & I’m Okay! She also wrote Art

of Adaptability: exclusively featuring the 4/4’s (c) for Newly Disabled and Diagnosed Persons. In spite of the unexpected storm in her disability story, her husband remains her biggest supporter and her children are thriving. From published authors, licensed scuba divers and thriving students, her parenting defies what is believed to be possible in a home where disability was not invited but now resides.

Pegues realized that although her challenges were prominent, she had to live and that although her condition had altered a facet of her being, her core was stronger. She was bolder than ever, so she focused on thriving, powering through, and helping others who may be dealing with a similar transformation take back their power in every area of life, especially in their careers and workplace.

“No amount of compliments will change the fact that we need to take the doors off hinges. I don’t want sympathy, but I need understanding. We all need a form of understanding”.

Facilitating the Understanding - Work-life balance

Dr. Pegues founded Your Invisible Disability Group which exists to empower, educate, advocate and include people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace and education. Her business acumen, formal training, personal and professional training help convey understanding from the lens of an Executive as well as the employee. She parallels her firsthand knowledge of the challenges her mother faced while suffering in silence and has experienced them herself. As such, her personal mission contributes to breaking the cycle and making plans for breakthroughs in her life and trying employers recognize the needs of employees who represent the largest minority group in the country.

“I can see what they don’t see,” she pointed out when explaining how her connection to corporate communities is instrumental in cultivating its culture and facilitating workplace evolution. Traditionally, employers have viewed the need to accommodate through the lenses of fully

non-disabled individuals, erecting a ramp, assigned parking, and other apparent accommodations. Still, it’s the things that often go undiscussed that she wanted to highlight as well: health disparities, work travel accommodations, equipment failure, systemic biases and other things that the average employee can orchestrate with ease, but for someone who may have a disability, it may not be as easy.

Dr. Pegues expressed that it’s essential to understand how to accommodate employees with disabilities because it allows employees to see their brilliance and capabilities.

Understanding how to embrace the differences of individuals is proven to have a more positive impact on the work community and the company itself.

A study performed by the information technology company Accenture identified that companies who are more disability inclusive saw a 72% increase in productivity and a 200% higher net income than companies who aren’t.

We’re Not Asking For Favors, We’re Asking For Accomodations

A disabled woman, Jeannie Berrie, was filmed dragging herself down the aisle on a flight to the lavatory while other passengers watched and flight attendants refused to assist. According to an article on Insider.com, Berrie boarded the plane using an aisle chair but could not remain seated in it on the flight or have it available for her use. The video she posted gained over 5 million views and backlash against the UK airline.

“The travel experience and treatment is horrendous, but the destination gives me life and freedom.”

However, such experiences taught her a lot about her needs and helped her better communicate how employers and others could better understand.

“I learned a lot really quickly,” she said about maneuvering post-crisis. And while she learned a lot about her limitations, she learned even more about how limitless she was.

On Berrie’s Instagram account, countless videos are posted showcasing her independence despite her being in a wheelchair, even having gone on a cruise lately, where she showed off the ample space in her cabin, which allowed her to truly enjoy the accommodations.

Dr. Pegues recalled how she had been subjected to rough travel conditions, where the airline was either ill-equipped or lacked proper training in understanding the needs of people traveling with a disability.

Keep the Limits, I’d Rather Live Boldly

One way to advocate is to communicate the unseen to help employers understand how to support a large part of the workforce better.

Still, Dr. Pegues found that being an example of what she advocates within her community is even more powerful.

“Many companies are forming Employee Resource Groups (ERG) for employees with disabilities, which creates critical open forums of support and a sense of belonging, for employees

sharing common identities. In addition, more companies are realizing the value of creating Business Resource Groups— taking ERG’s to another level and focusing on improving revenues and profits, through community outreach.

Dr. Pegues and her team of professionals at Your Invisible DisAbility Group, specializes in helping companies maximize and leverage the many opportunities inherent in forming these types of groups to address the needs

of people with disabilities, recruitment, and retention at their companies and in the marketplace.”

In 2016 she claimed the crown as Ms. Wheelchair International, kicked off her boldest version of living, trying out new things, and returning to the enjoyment of activities that she had once abandoned in her recovery.

“My life is an example of grace,” she said. [When you’ve been] so close to death, you have to live. Life doesn’t end at the disability, it’s possible to live forward after a lifechanging event.”

Contact Information: Facebook: @yvettepegues Instagram: @yvettepegues Website: YOURInvisibleDisAbility.com

Master of Her Abilities in the Workforce and Beyond

KEBRA MOORE

Kebra Moore is The Master of Her Abilities in the Workforce and Beyond

“Today, I begin a new life, for I am the master of my abilities, and today is going to be a great and beautiful day.”

Consider this quote more than a contemporary adage made prevalent onscreen by actor and singer Tyrese Gibson. Embrace it as the ode to life in the aftermath of Kebra Moore’s tragic accident that left her not only transformed but renewed as a force.

Kebra Moore has always been a dynamic force in and out of her workplace and life.

The scary stretch of days from Christmas eve of 1999 crossing into an uncertain millennium sits vividly among her memories.

“It was my fiance and me in the car along with my

13-month-old son,” she recalled, detailing the harrowing account that shifted life as she had known it up until that moment. “[We] hit a tree, and [I] became paralyzed instantly.”

Moore further explained how she would be relocated to a facility that was better equipped to respond to her pending condition over the coming days. She also recalled that just two weeks following, she and her husband, an integral piece of her foundation, got married.

Life has thrown a tough curveball, but Moore proves she can be tougher.

“When I first became paralyzed, I didn’t want to look in the mirror,” she recalled, pointing out that among the challenges she

faced, adjusting to her new norm internally was among many others, including adjusting to the workforce. Her husband was a marine, and as a military family, their life was a traveling one. She has worked in several professions, including education and for the Social Security Administration, the latter being a position that she says, ‘[just got it]’ when it came to accommodations.

She loved the fact that she had the opportunity to be an advocate for disabled individuals, helping them through the social security process. As a teacher, her work experience was different. She became certified as a teacher in Cali in 2008 and began teaching in the private sector. Still, it wasn’t until she

transitioned into the public sector that she witnessed the ugly side of living life with a physical condition in the eyes of others.

“It was challenging to teach in the public sector vs. private,” she explained. “[Other teachers] would often prejudge.”

She explained that she understood that while a lot of times, the prejudgement from her peers was rooted in ignorance, other times, she experienced outright meanness.

“Check my feelings,” she said when asked how she managed during that and similar times. “I excel at my job. As a black woman, you don’t get the same respect in that sector, and there are opportunities we don’t get.”

She also expressed concerns surrounding normal ingress and egress functions that weren’t readily available in an emergency, namely a fire.

“How would I get down the stairs?” she exclaimed in response to one of her biggest concerns in her

work environment, a fire drill or, worse, an actual fire emergency.

“You still want to be as independent as possible,” she said. A message which resounds among the disability community when preaching awareness for employers and employees in the workplace. However, her experiences taught her to master her abilities. Moore points to her educational background as the solution to getting the message out to different workplace environments, “Sometimes it’s just about teaching,” she said.

She explained that having lived with her paralysis for 21 years, she has seen a bit more and concluded that the reality is sometimes others just 1simply do not know. She extends the grace of knowledge to her family, sorority, and even in general. She explains that even the most minor acts, like allowing accessible stalls in public places, including the airport, to be reserved for the individuals they are supposed to serve or understanding that a person’s physical

condition does not define them, make a significant difference.

Moore defies any box anyone can attempt to put her in as she continues to excel professionally as a singer/ songwriter and has recently added two published literary pieces to her repertoire.

Contact Information: Website: Www.midnightstorm.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ iammidnightstorm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ iammidnightstormm/

Alexander, who lives independently with a spinal cord injury that requires wheelchair assistance, is anything but dependent. DeAnna’s injury transpired in 2010. And while life as she knew it may have changed, her tenacity and strong will proved unflappable.

The World Health Organization (WHO), 2021, identified over 1 billion people with a disability, both seen and unseen. 20% of that total were determined to have a

physical condition that limited their ability to be physically functioning at 100% at all times.

In 2018, the CDC reported that adults within the disability community reported experiencing mental distress at five times the rate of an adult who is not living with mental health.

Such awareness is the catalyst in changing the narrative around what others speak, referencing a community of individuals who may have seen or unseen differences yet are critical to the makeup of every community in the world.

“I understand what is required to make a change within the [disability] community,” Alexander said.

“I don’t utilize the word ‘disability’ for myself or anyone in my community,” she explained. “I am aware of what I speak.”

Alexander explains that she is not only aware of the power in her words but how it can

In the last decade, the conversation around mental health has taken a sharp turn upward, especially among the black community. The stigma of seeking outside help to resolve mental tussles, which could manifest outwardly, is finally being overturned. Mental Health Therapist DeAnna Alexander is at the helm of the revolution in her community.

drastically affect the mental condition of individuals within her community.

The daily life of someone living with an unseen or seen condition can have its challenges, particularly in

the workplace. Most office settings are aware enough to provide what is often perceived as minimum accommodation, like a ramp or other fixtures in the office and restrooms that make

it wheelchair accessible. However, there is more to be implemented regarding the things that cannot always be seen, like Mental accommodations. A clear mind is required to allow

space for a fully functional and accommodating workspace.

Alexander explains while she isn’t immune to the challenges, she focuses on mastering her responses to her everyday living, including the workplace.

“You can choose what you want to live with,” she said, pointing out that society has ‘crippled’ the meaning of the word ‘disability.’

“I don’t need anyone to be sorry for me,” she continued, “because I am not sorry for myself.”

Understanding that her condition does not define her and she controls the image she holds of herself, Alexander is intentional about helping others see themselves from the same perspective. Aside from her work as a mental health therapist, she is an advocate and active participant in fitness that empowers herself and others like her.

“I have been committed to advocating not just for myself but other individuals within the community,” she said. “As

a past participant and now co-facilitator of the WOWii Research Study Program, I have had the opportunity to inspire them beyond being physically active.”

The WOWii Research Study is a workout on wheels internet intervention that measures the effects of individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) who are consistently physically active. Physical health has been identified to be a direct partner in improving mental health, believed to be instrumental in decreasing the number of mental stress episodes monthly when implemented healthily and consistently.

Alexander shows that the state of mind can be a deciding factor in your life when tuning in and harnessing your emotions.

“I embrace my emotions. The more I invest in my career through my deepest passions, the more connections I am able to make. With more connections, the more opportunities I have to create and maintain effective change throughout the world. And with such desire is why I intentionally live to BE the change that I desire.”

Contact Information: Website: https://www. freedomsden.com Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/freedomsden Instagram: https://www. instagram.com/freedomsden. mcc

Domo Jones Reminds Us That She Is Exactly Who Shes Supposed to Be

According to the World Bank, nearly 15%, roughly one billion people, make up a group of individuals who are classified as disabled. Approximately 19.1 percent are in the workforce, and 100% are

working in their own right towards changing the world one day at a time, like Domo Jones.

Dominique Jones or Domo Jones is confident and wit personified. Don’t believe me?

Ask the number of authors, artists, and everyday folks she has met and infectiously altered their lives with her bright spirit.

She is a creative force to be reckoned with, but don’t

“Don’t underestimate us.”

mistake for one minute that she isn’t a humble soul. Affectionately referred to as the “Author with earmuffs”, she often smiles hugely and says, “I am just a ‘PK,’ a preacher’s kid.”

But, she is more than that. She is an author, talk show host, small business owner, trendsetter, and for many, a trailblazer.

Dominique Jones experienced a brain tumor at the tender age of 9, leading to nearly a decade of chemotherapy treatments that resulted in life in a new light. At such a young age, she recognized things were different. She didn’t know then that her journey was a story in the making and would be a beacon that would shed light for others and be carried by her.

Dominique’s physical condition requires an extent of confinement. She uses walking aids to maneuver her daily life, where social interaction or her entrepreneurial duties.

In addition to being an on-air personality, talk show host, and author, Jones is a small business owner. She owns

a customization business for medical equipment and accessories.

While her space in the workplace is self-owned and maintained, she fully understands that others are employees in a workspace and want to be present in their most confident light. To assist in playing her part, she owns a business that customizes medical equipment and accessories for disabled individuals.

“Don’t Underestimate us!” she chuckled, explaining that people living with a physical condition are doing just thatLIVING. “We are so overlooked by how we look and how the world portrays us.”

Although Jones controls her workspace, she explains that she is exempt from the tolls that her condition can inflict on her body, making a day at work a tough one for her from time to time.

While the day to day can be unpredictable, and it’s pretty common for her body to require her to come to a screeching halt at the most inopportune times. While she doesn’t claim to have it all figured out, she does manage her life by one fundamental notion: Perspective.

“I don’t let the typical person’s mobility affect how I work. I don’t compare.”

Jones explains that while the average person may have one set of goals, she is different as an individual living with a physical condition. She highlights a fact that many may take for granted.

“Getting out of bed is a huge accomplishment,” she says before offering a piece of sound advice, “don’t try to do more than you can do as a disabled individual.”

“I have challenges like keeping up with delivery schedules and commitments,” she said. “My body can be unpredictable.” She adds, “I know what I can and can’t do, and I magnify my strengths.”

While Jones calls for caution in the workplace environment as a disabled individual, she also offers exemplary advice to employers referencing working with disabled individuals,” Don’t underestimate us!”

She explains how disabled individuals can often be overlooked or shunned because they don’t “look” the way people think they should. But she lets on that looks can be deceiving, and everyone deserves the opportunity to show themselves strong.

“You don’t even know their story yet,” she says. Show grace. We are all just trying to make it.

Dominique Jones is an acclaimed author and leader among the Christian author and influencer community. She is also a small business owner based in Moreno Valley, California. She is a talk show host, small business owner of Walking By Design, and a Master Certified Disability Confidence Coach.

Contact Information: Website: www. onebillionbrave.com

Facebook: https:// www.facebook. com/1billionbravetalkshow

Email: coachdomojones@ gmail.com

ETHAN STONE

Ethan Stone Answered The Call To Serve And Is Making A Difference

You have only one duty when called to serve: Answer the call. Disability advocate and CEO Ethan Stone of Hawthorne California understood the assignment and has been excelling.

Ethan Stone is the General Manager of Mobility Works Hawthorne and an agent of good deeds. At the same time, he is changing lives daily and directly impacting disabled individuals assisting in empowering vehicle independence whether they are driving or passenger only.

However, his life mission wasn’t as refined in the beginning. He recalled his beginnings with Mobility Works, where he started as a salesperson. Here he doesn’t remember the purpose being as evident in the beginning. He just recognized that he was very good at his job and, in the process, found joy in assisting in providing ‘freedom’ to those who

needed it, giving them their independence to go. Mobility Works is the nation’s leading wheelchair-accessible vehicle dealer. Many individuals and families face challenges missing important doctor appointments, getting to school/work, and attending

scheduled outings due to the lack of transportation or missed pickups by transportation companies. Ethan quickly realized the services that Mobility Works offers could drastically change the lives of the people they serve.

“If they were looking to be independent,” he says, “it was my job to recommend a vehicle that can make it possible.”

Stone continued to show up for his clients and serve to the absolute best of his capacity. When a mentor spoke to him and encouraged him, believing that he could be more remarkable in his work at Mobility Works, things began to change. He continued to dedicate himself to his work and actively worked to advance further in his career with the company. His hard work paid off over the years and earned him his current position as General Manager. Along with that, growth granted him the opportunity to be relocated to Hawthorne. This store is within a predominantly black neighborhood. This was particularly personal for him as the location expanded his reach in helping others who looked like him and otherwise may not know or feel they have someone to look after their best needs.

to where he is. He recalled how he felt compelled to keep pushing for a way. Even if, in the end, there was nothing, he still wanted to try.

Brimming with tenacity and compassion, Stone credits his growth and mission to his faith. He relies on it to inspire and direct everything in his life, from his position with Mobility Works to the t-shirt venture he shares with his wife, Carpool Lane With Jesus. “It is a collection of graphic t-shirts adorned with images and sayings inspired by specific scriptures to serve as motivation, and in some cases, a lighthearted reminder that you are never alone. Jesus is always riding shotgun.”

him during a message or in times of prayer.

Stone continues, explaining that his journey was about being led by God to believe in the signs and committing to making a difference in the lives of others.

If you or a loved one is seeking to claim their independence in mobility, contact Ethan Stone to learn more about how his company’s mission to restore mobility for all can help.

“There were times when customers simply did not have a way, and I felt there was always one more option,” he said, recalling his journey

“A joke,” Stone chuckled, “It all started from a joke,” he shared about the origination of the t-shirt line. He recalled a story between him and a friend explaining their drive from one point to another, and traffic was not behaving at its best. He joked and said too bad I couldn’t jump in the Carpool Lane with Jesus, and from there, the rest is history.

Each design is outfitted with a particular scripture. He says the scriptures were given to

Contact Information: Website: www.mobilityworks.com / whttps://cplwj. myspreadshop.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ MobilityWorksForYou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ mobilityworks

Email: ethanstone4@gmail.com

Helen Dowdell is the ancestors’ wildest dream. To be more specific, she is an extension of African American inventor Garrett Augustus Morgan’s actual dream. Morgan is the inventor of the three-position traffic light. Dowdell is the inventor of a life-saving extension to his pre-existing invention: a universal traffic light crossing system designed to protect vulnerable citizens.

“Accessibility is not a privilege,” Dowdell says, “it is a right and responsibility.”

We as a collective must take on a responsibility, especially for those around us who may be more vulnerable and battling the tides for accessibility.

Dowdell’s invention was inspired by a tragedy that claimed the life of a wheelchair-dependent member of her community. The individual was fatally struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk.

The accident was traumatic in multiple ways and hit home because she was the primary caretaker for her father, who was in a wheelchair. She noted that simple things that non-disabled people take for granted, like simple eye contact with a driver as a pedestrian crossing the street, are something individuals in a wheelchair may not be able to do.

“The invention of the signal purposes to protect while

creating equity for the blind communities along with their service dogs, wheeldestrians, the geriatric communities, and pediatric caretakers,” she explained.

Her innovative efforts are a bold statement in taking responsibility by advocating for communities of individuals who could benefit from life-saving technology and also being a creator, filling in the gap for better accessibility.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that at least 301 people in wheelchairs and 225 who used a cane or crutches died in pedestrian crashes from 2010 through 2020.

Dowdell’s invention was inspired by a tragedy that claimed the life of a wheelchair-dependent member of her community. The individual was fatally struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk.

Statistics like those are the driving force behind Dowdell’s Wheeldestrian, a trademarked term to solidly illustrate those who lie in the forefront of benefiting from her life-saving mobility technology, individuals who are wheelchair dependent.

According to official literature for Wheeldestrian, over 3% of wheelchair and vehicle collisions occurred in a traffic intersection without a traffic controlling device.

In a 2019 interview with the WTVM9, A Grey Media Group, Inc news source serving her hometown, Columbus, Ga, Dowdell encouraged that we as individuals are responsible for caring for the disabled community. She also expressed that the time to become proactive in changing how they safely maneuver the streets should be a present concern versus a future crisis.

Wheeldestrian™ will help save lives. There are over 3 million wheelchair users in the U.S and 55 million Americans who live with varying disabilities. Communities must focus on inclusion and technology,” she stated via the official Wheeldestrian website. “We should care because we are all in this together.”

Contact Information: Website: www.wheeldestrian.com Email: helen@wheeldestrian.com

MARCUS WILLIAMS

Marcus “Goose” founder of the Live Your Day Overcoming (LYDO) Life Project. He is a semipro, adaptive golfer who survived being struck from behind by a drunk driver on an LA highway. While he sustained a life-threatening spinal cord injury and uses a wheelchair full-time, today he advocates for people with disabilities and teaches them how to play golf. Stay tuned for more from his organization!

GLOBAL ASSETS DEVELOPMENT GROUP ENVISIONS GROWING A WORKFORCE INCLUSIVE OF PWD

Hiring people with disabilities comes with many benefits, including increasing corporate profitability, effectiveness, employee loyalty and reliability. One company that plans to leverage these opportunities from the onset, is Atlantabased, Global Assets Development Group (GADG).

A new multi-pronged company working to forge new paths in agriculture, technology and sustainability, which has the potential to significantly positively impact

Jay Hicks

food sources, sustainability issues and housing and infrastructure development around the globe, GADG says it has a corporate goal to be mindful of opportunities to hire and train employees from diverse cultures and experiences as part of its workforce. This includes identifying and hiring people with disabilities to help further the company’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and corporate growth goals around the world.

“The company’s strategic partners have over hundred years of combined experience in multiple farming methods, from crop raising to poultry

farming to ranching to other livestock,” says Hicks, CEO of GADG. “We are forging new paths with commerciallevel aquaponic farms for fish and vegetables, microfarms that use soilless mediums, and new feeds for healthier livestock in the U.S, Africa, Canada, etc.” Hicks continued. “In addition, we will be able to impact the development of quality, affordable housing through our concrete technologies, which will support local initiatives for residential construction, skill training and job placement,” he said.

Among the areas that GADG will be specializing and leveraging some new

technologies, is in agriculture, housing and infrastructure and sustainable highperformance concrete. These arenas are designed to help address some key food sourcing and affordable housing development issues in various parts of the world like the U.S. and Africa. Hicks says that as GADG grows its workforce to roll out technologies and infrastructure development opportunities around the world, their goal is to ensure people with disabilities will be included in that growing workforce.

“We have leaders on our executive team who are sensitive to addressing this need, and as we grow, GADG is committed to opening doors of opportunity for people in this community wherever possible,” said Jay Hicks.

Contact: Information: Website: https://www. thegadgroup.com Email: jhicks.gadg@gmail. com

BRITTNEY HILL

“I spent a decade in foster care and I didn’t have the things or support I needed to help me on my journey, in foster care you receive a trash bags to put your belongings in, and I know what it’s like to feel like trash, no foster kid should ever have to feel like they don’t belong, I wanted to share my story, because I’ve been there, and it warms my heart to know that i have an amazing support system, that’s what matters the most!” - Brittney Hill

Our organization received over 500 blankets and 25 boxes of hats gloves and scarves from Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, AL 10 hand painted suitcases from the peachtree road race, Atlanta, GA, over 45 suitcases from a 60th soiree, signed suitcases from Foster Alum Simone Biles, Comedian Luenell, Celebrity manicurist, Maisie Dunbar, Fred Hammond, and so many others that believe in this mission, and 60 suitcases from Delta Airlines. Contact

Information: Website: www.suitcasedreams.org Facebook: A Suitcase And A Dream Corporation Instagram: @Suitcasedream19

Cultivating a Sense of

in the

RAHSAAN JACKSON an inspiration to Ibrahim Jackson

“Rahsaan was brilliant, and he even served an internship at NASA in 1997”

Ibrahim Jackson is Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace

When we say, as a collective, the world as we know it has changed and is still evolving - there is little to argue. Because, well, it has. The pandemic saw a significant shift in how we work, and workplaces immediately had to scale to accommodate their employees who were now positioned in their homes, tasked with their unique positions. Immediately, multitudes of employees had to learn to meet their ‘moving parts’ where they were and bring them in sync to deliver on the overall mission. And they did.

This collective shift revealed a lot of truths, but one fact is notable: Employers can rise to the occasion in work accommodations when life calls for it.

Ibrahim Jackson, owner, and CEO of Ubiquitous Preferred Services, was a few steps ahead of the evolution with his services. He, since 2007, has been preparing

individuals to evolve with the market, priming individuals to develop a skill set that the market simply cannot overlook.

In addition to talent and skill development, Jackson is diligently and passionately changing the narrative around inclusion in the workplace through an internal initiative within Ubiquitous Preferred Services, the Belonging Organization.

“It’s been important to me that everyone feels included, valued, and has a sense of Belonging. I’m passionate about our Belonging Organization work at Ubiquitous Preferred Services, where we focus on ensuring that those with disabilities are a part of the diversity discussion.”

Diversity in the workplace is an often under-discussed dialogue but affects some 20 percent of the U.S workforce, according to the 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For Jackson, the conversation is particularly important. His brother, Rahsaan Jackson, was diagnosed with cancer in his back at the early age of

two, and the treatment left him disabled from the waist down.

“Growing up with my brother Rahsaan Jackson was a unique experience,” Jackson explained. Rashaan’s diagnosis made him become wheelchair dependent, but it did not affect his willpower.”

His brother’s tenacity served as his inspiration for the Belonging Organization. Witnessing his brother’s brilliance and diligence when it came to setting his mind on a goal and striving to obtain his goal successfully.

“Rahsaan was brilliant, and he even served an internship at NASA in 1997,” he said.

“Unfortunately, his passing away in 1998 left a big hole in our lives. I still miss him every day, but I know that he lived life to the fullest and inspired everyone who knew him.”

Through the Belonging Organization, Jackson is capturing the essence of his brother’s willpower and combining it with his passion for highlighting individuals who, just as the rest of us, are humans. The mission is to create Intentional leaders

who are building cultures of Belonging through deliberate actions that enhance employee experiences and make a meaningful impact on business performance.

“Just because someone has unique abilities doesn’t mean they are

less valuable or deserving of career advancement, creativity, innovation, or compensation,” Jackson said. “We will continue to focus on those with disabilities to bring light to the opportunities that come from working with those that are differently abled.”

Contact Information:

Your Email: Ibrahim.Jackson@UbiquitousPreferred.com Website: www.ubiquitouspreferred.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ubiquitouspreferred/

the lives of people in disability community

PARENTING WITH PASSION AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSE

Norma Stanley has been referred to many times as a multi-tasking energizer bunny, who adeptly juggles being the parent and primary caregiver of a dependent adult daughter with disabilities, being a business owner, author, singer and speaker, with ease and grace.

The founder and CEO of E.E.E. Marketing Group, Inc., Stanley serves in a number of capacities, as a multicultural marketing communications consultant, specializing in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, specializing in the Disability community, Stanley says her mission is to serve as an international change agent for people with disabilities.

Leveraging the multimedia platforms of informational and inspirational speaking, media, strategic marketing communications and music, Stanley wants to make a difference in the economically

powerful, but significantly underserved disability population, and combines her personal lived experiences and professional expertise, to educate, enlighten and empower individuals, families, companies and commu nities around the nation and the world.

“Yes, I do have a lot of interests, and am working on various projects, but that’s both the Caribbean heritage and Capricorn influences in me,” says Stanley, jokingly. “Seriously though, enhancing the lives of people in the disability community, including my daughter, is at the core of everything I do,” shared Stanley. “The work I do today, came as the result of having

my daughter Sierra over 30 years ago, and realizing how much change was needed for families like mine to have the quality of life that everyone else gets to enjoy,” says Stanley, who also serves as the creator, producer/ host of Disability World TV Show on the streaming PG (Prayze Gospel) Network and co-host/co-producer of the weekly Disabled Lives Matter Podcast with disability marketing expert/colleague, Nadine Vogel. “I also wanted to share the many stories of individuals, families, advocates, companies, etc., who were making a positive difference in the lives of these people in this community,” she continued. “There are so many stories about the

issues and accolades within the disability community that still don’t get shared at the level I think they should, so I do what I can to shed light on some of the issues impacting individuals and families, as well as the achievements,” she said.

A seasoned, multi-faceted and dynamic professional with more than 30 years’

experience, Stanley has worked in executive capacities or consulted with top companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, Arby’s Inc., General Motors, Ketchum Public Relations, The Gillette Company, Hallmark, America’s Favorite Chicken, etc. An award-winning marketing communications

professional, Stanley has been recognized by professional and community organizations for her work, these include awards from the Public Relations Society of America and a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her years of disability community service work, from President Barack Obama.

She is the author of three books, including one for mothers of children with special needs, entitled “An Elected Lady—Finding Victory in the Purpose—Words of Faith, Reflections and Inspiration for Mothers of Special Needs Children and Other Moms.”

In addition, on her more creative side, Stanley is also a singer/songwriter and independent recording artist, known as Nella-Joi, who released her first CD project, “Next Chapter” three years ago.

“I’ve come to realize over the past 30 years that everything I’ve been blessed to do in the past, am doing now and will do in the future, was and is all part of my assignment from God, all part of my purpose of being an agent of change in my own individual way,” says Stanley. “I’m thankful I am able to leverage all of my gifts, talents, as well as my professional and personal lived experiences on behalf of families like mine, and individuals like my daughter, and still find ways to realize some of my own dreams along the way,” she continued. “It took more than a few years to discover, but having been Sierra’s mother and primary caregiver for 34 years, I’ve learned that Sierra can’t have the best life possible if I’m not having the best life possible, so I continually work hard at being personally and professionally fulfilled, in addition to being physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually healthy, for the ultimate good of myself and my daughter,” Stanley said.

Contact Information: Email: eeemarketinggroup@gmail.com

Website: www.Normastanley.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/disabilitycommunity

SHOWAbility Everybody Deserves a Stage!

Atlanta-GA based SHOWAbility, a 501 c-3 nonprofit organization, is positioning itself to make a big impact in the lives of individuals with disabilities, who want to showcase their performing artist talents.

Formerly known as Abel 2, SHOWAbility was founded by U.S. Cultural Ambassador and International Jazz Singer,

Myrna Clayton, to create opportunities that empower performing artists across the disability spectrum, to share their talents within the disability community and the world at large.

“We are passionate about the performing arts, including music, theater, dance, poetry, and film and their potential to provide entertainment,

enjoyment, employment, education and empowerment to participants in our programs,” shared Clayton.

“We envision a world where performing artists across the disability spectrum can achieve all of their dreams, unencumbered by policies, systems, resource constraints and mindsets that limit their potential,” she said.

Clayton became personally involved with the idea of identifying and nurturing more performing artists with disabilities, when she happened to see a 10 yearold boy with cerebral palsy struggle to get up three steps into a church pulpit to sing.

“When he started singing, his voice was so wonderful, that I no longer focused on his disability, but on his amazing talent,” shared Clayton. “A few years later I began looking for him hoping he was using his immense talent, but sadly, none of my performing artist friends knew any person with a disability that sang – not one,” she continued. “That made no sense to me, so I started ABEL 2, Inc., which is now called SHOWAbility, as a way to give people with disabilities a way to showcase their talents,” said Clayton.

Helping to break down barriers to opportunities for the disability community in general, but performing artists with disabilities specifically, is a focus of SHOWAbility.

Among the organization’s program offering is its Monthly Virtual Arts Masterclass, which started

in 2020 as a result of COVID in an attempt to support PwD and their caregivers as they were in lock down; INCLUSIVE CHORUS, featuring talented singers with and without disabilities, which was launched in January 2021; Disability Awareness Career Day, featuring career professionals with disabilities interacting with elementary school children of all abilities; and collaborating with disability-minded resource groups to serve as an artist development/talent booking agency, which prepares and identifies and books talent for movies, plays and concerts, etc.

The organization’s programs are catching the attention of companies like the CocaCola Company, where its INCLUSIVE CHORUS was

invited to perform at its virtual International Disability Day in December 2021. It also has a number of requests to perform in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Our north star is to be for the arts and entertainment industries what the Paralympics and Special Olympics are for the sports industry,” says Clayton “We look forward to garnering the support of corporate leaders, key influencers and celebrities to help program participants gain the courage to invest in themselves through programming that builds confidence, enhances skills and creates an action-oriented focus for the realization of their dreams. Because we believe everybody deserves a stage!” she said.

Contact Information: Website: https://showability.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHOWAbility Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showability.info

Kay Campfield, known as The Sassy Writer, is a twice-published author in the fiction genre. She is also a

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Journalist Karen Graham and Technology Champion Jabari Butler had a clear-cut vision for their news initiative, Sign1News. But, they both

made it clear that while the mission is evident and the support is plentiful, there was a steep learning curve in the beginning.

Graham, a longtime advocate of the deaf community, revealed that her mom planted the seed for their mission at least two years before a solid idea had even manifested.

“I was on a road trip with my mother, like Thelma and Louise,” she laughed.

It was during a time when she was actively reporting the news and very present in advocating for the deaf community. While she expressed that her mother’s suggestion was brilliant, she admits that she had actually never thought about merging the two. The idea did not fully flesh out immediately, but she

“The mission has always been to change the news game for the Deaf/HoH community in a way that’s never been done before -- and have fun doing it.”

had firmly planted it in her mind.

“I just sat on it for a minute, she explained. Nobody had ever done that.”

When the time came for it to grow legs, she reached out to her now co-CEO and Chief Technology officer, Jabari Butler.

She describes Butler as the level-headed executioner of the duo versus herself, the creative visionary.

them from a slew of mistakes in the launching process, but it did encourage them to seek out individuals who could help guide them through their mistakes in the incubator stage to produce a quality product.

“I’m the chick who jumps out of an airplane, and he builds the parachute on the way down,” she joked. It’s a balance.

However, it’s their excellence that makes them a dynamic duo. Considering they were wading into a sector of the news that no one had thought previously to expand in to serve better. The deaf community is a community of individuals who are often overlooked. Graham and Butler knew they needed to recruit the best talents to bring their idea to full fruition and serve as required. They set out to get it as right as possible from the beginning. The passion did not exempt

“We brought in deaf leaders who were able to say, ‘this will work or no, this won’t work,’” Butler explained. He further elaborated that their goal was to ‘establish journalistic legitimacy’ but, simultaneously, to be a ‘conduit between the hearing and deaf world.’

The beginning stages of their mission were carried out in the Atlanta Area School for Deaf (AASD), made possible by Stacey Shapiro. They partnered with three deafeducators who worked there, eliminating as many mistakes as possible before their official launch. Within weeks of the launch, Sign1News aired in 45 countries through a CNN partnership. While their launch was historical, some viewers met the mission with initial backlash and resistance from the community.

“We fought through the discouragement,” the duo explained,” confirming that the platform was more significant than the shortcomings. Understanding that they were two hearing people in a deaf culture, they opted to listen and hear the feedback.

“We took the positive criticisms and made a change,” they said.

From there, the momentum began to build, and Sign 1 News shattered expectations, including partnering with other deaf anchors internationally to eventually deliver the news in American Sign Language and International Sign Language.

“We found an anchor in France who knew three sign languages,” Graham exclaimed, adding that the media outlet eventually became more than just that.

“We aren’t just a media outlet. We are a ministry.”

Sign1News has established partnerships with Amazon and Apple TV. Their media coverage includes white house coverage and other political events. Sign1

News has also made history as having been the first affiliate to provide coverage of multiple entertainment events, including a Hip Hop TV Collab and the Royal Wedding. They also covered sports events, including The Super Bowl, and provided an interpretation of Nascar’s Star Spangled Banner. Their work has earned them awards and recognition, coining the term social Entrepreneurs. They have also been recognized as the Best Social Media digital platform in the disability community by the Department of Health and

Human Services.

Sign 1 News has also maintained a connection with the community they serve. “We have maintained a Deaf majority in the company’s staffing and provided a platform to share stories, accomplishments, and achievements in the Deaf community., Graham explained, adding, “Over time, we realized Sign1News is not just a media outlet -- it’s a ministry. A place that gives voice, value, and validation to a community that is often overlooked.

“Diversity and inclusion are about seeing the value of people through humanity, no matter our visible or invisible differences.”

- Dr. Monica D. Reed