Community Spotlight
Take a Lesson from Nathan :
Making meaningful connections in everyday life
By Christine E Staple Ebanks
When we think of role models , we often picture people who ' ve achieved great things and are good at making wealth . We aspire to be successful business leaders , celebrities , innovators , artists , athletes , scientists , philanthropists , public figures , and even social media influencers who are well-known and celebrated for their accomplishments . But how often do we recognize the value of diversity in role models , including people with disabilities ?
Take my son Nathan , for example . He ’ s the most courteous and courageous person I know . From the moment he was conceived , he ’ s been fighting for his right to live . Diagnosed with a congenital birth defect at five months gestation , he came into the world ready to battle . Immediately after birth , he was separated from me and underwent major corrective surgery at just three days old . He spent the first 28 days of his life in the hospital , with 20 of those days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ( NICU ). Even after coming home , he faced numerous challenges , including failure to thrive and global developmental delays . By the time he was nine months old , he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy .
Today , Nathan is a twenty-yearold young man who exudes unparalleled joy in life despite the challenges he has faced and continues to face . He greets every day with boundless energy and excitement . He gifts everyone he passes with a big , warm smile that makes them feel like long-lost friends . Many people respond , blissfully
74 Accessibilty for All To Table of Contents