People often complain about being stuck in a rut. In this episode, Kevin breaks down three ways to change your life. Remember, small things always add up to the biggest. 1. Try something new that scares you 2. Seek different opportunities. 3. Stop one habit.
Apologies for the DIY lighting and sound editing. I will no longer record in the middle of my kitchen.
In the second episode of August Kevin of the Purposely Broken World, he breaks down what it was like to be a disabled student in New Jersey. This list of personal anecdotes and advice for future students should provide Liberty and information. To all, don’t be ashamed of your own disability.
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
In the first episode of August’s Purposely Broken World, Kevin brings up disability pride and what it means to him. Faith plays a significant role in Kevin’s disability Identity. Kevin recounts personal stories of discrimination.
Disability history is American history. Judy Humann, Brad Lomax, and the 504 sit-ins should be taught in schools. Financial discrimination and disability discrimination are still prevalent in today’s America. Feel free to join the conversation.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 NIV https://john.bible/john-9-3
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
In the conclusion to The Dog Days of Life, Kevin breaks down the best ways to find the gift card left for you to make your life count. If you want to learn how not to sleepwalk through life, watch this video or listen to this podcast. Just because your situation is terrible doesn’t mean you must stop living.
In the July episode of The Purposely Broken World, Kevin breaks down the worst day of his life to shine a light on depression and disability. Spiritual growth helped him find the light. Spiritual growth is just as important as mental and physical growth. In order to go forward, sometimes we have to reflect back. Subscribe to join the conversation.
Have you missed an opportunity, and it became a nagging thought in the back of your mind that you couldn’t shake? Not necessarily regret, simply something you always wondered about. A “what if” moment. Second chances don’t come along that often. especially if you have a disability. Most of the time, we don’t get a first chance. Well, for the first time in my life, I’ve been blessed with this second opportunity. I’m scared to take it, but I know I’m ready for it.
In case you didn’t read last week’s blog, here is a quick synopsis. In 2018, I attended the national SABE conference. Self Advocates Becoming Empowered is the leading independent advocacy organization run by and for people with disabilities. Every voting member on their board has to have a disability. The representatives divide the country into regions. New Jersey is in Region 7. Along with Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. At the last conference, I was given the opportunity to represent my region as an alternate. It was kind of last minute. I made a bunch of excuses and decided I wasn’t ready. The next conference was in 2020. That would have been plenty of time to make the right connections.
Honestly, over the years, I moved on from SABE. I thought it was going to be one of those moments in life. It’s been 3 years, and I haven’t had a conference due to the global situation. I was recruited to serve the region on an income basis. Until the next national conference Why me? I don’t deserve to do anything. So many people have died in the last three years with disabilities. How can I be their voice? I’m a goofball by nature. How can people trust me?
I’m a firm believer in God’s timing because it’s no coincidence that this opportunity opened back up after my big brother Jesus found me and picked me up. One of the things I have to do is put together a regional conference. A conference made up of every state that I will be representing to educate and collaborate on disability issues. Apart from all the duties of the national organization. I will not lie; I’m more than a little scared. Intimidation is an understatement.
New Jersey is a small state, and the advocacy community is very small. The organization and the region have been on hiatus. I have to make all new connections and all new contacts. There hasn’t been a regional conference in over 10 years!
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2 NIV
As I’ve said before, I never got to finish college. If, through the glory of God, I get to put together this conference, this will be my graduation. This is the hardest thing I have ever attempted. Zoom and Google Workspace will be tremendous resources. Something that was not discovered years ago. I need to give a huge thank you to the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities for sponsoring me on this journey. By the time this is published, everything should be made official. Someone smarter than me once said, “Life begins outside your comfort zone.” This may not be professional for a blogger, but I’m asking that if you took the time to read this, please pray for me. Not for success. That’s all for God. I’m just looking for wisdom and strength. Never give up, because God won’t give up on you!
Special Announcement
I will be taking a small break for the rest of the summer to finish the first draft of my book. Confessions of a Wise Fool. The first draft is always the hardest and I want to get finished before I start working with SABE. I will be back with more blogs after Labor Day. I promise I will still be doing podcasts, so stay tuned to the website! Enjoy the summer.
Disability Limbo Newsletter
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
Note: The following blog was written in 2020 based on my life experiences. There have been some major life events that have occurred regarding this portion of my advocacy journey. Before I share that, I must share this for context. I hope you enjoy it, and I will provide part two next week.
The word independence always makes me laugh. Individuals with disabilities are always pushed to be more “independent.” No one is truly independent; we all need a little help. I need more than most; there’s no denying that. I have a very good support system to help me live my day-to-day life. They help me with such things as bathing, dressing, and bathroom necessities. For me, this is not a big deal. It is the only way I know life. If and when I do anything out of the ordinary, that’s when things get a little bit more complicated.
As I mentioned previously, my life as a disability advocate was very unexpected. I’ve been presented with several different opportunities, and I do my best to capitalize on as many as I can. At this stage in my life, I want to make as much of an impact on the lives of others as possible. I want the work I do to last. I don’t want a fancy award or a statue. Just to see tangible evidence of what I have done. The proof will be seeing the smile on someone’s face. The majority of my work focuses on system change. I don’t work against the system; I work within it to come up with common-sense solutions.
I was recently given the biggest opportunity of my disability advocacy career, but I don’t know if I can do it because of my disability. Trust me, I know how ironic that sounds. The position is as follows represent seven states on a national level to advocate on their behalf. The organization is called SABE.
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered is a national self-advocacy organization. Run by and for people with disabilities, completely independent of any political affiliation. In July 2018. I attended their national conference. I was asked to seek one of the representative positions. I would represent seven states as their lead advocate. I decided then that I would give myself two years to get myself ready and make all the right connections.
I would only have to travel four times a year to attend the organization’s meetings. The rest I can do remotely thanks to modern technology like Skype and FaceTime. The tricky part is that I have to find one person who is willing to travel with me to help with my personal care four times a year for a 2-year term limit. Not many people would trust a stranger with personal tasks like this. I can’t help but feel guilty. I always feel like I’m bothering someone in some way. There is so much planning and preparation that takes place beforehand. Most get scared off. I do not have a lot of medical needs. Getting me ready for the day and getting me ready to go to sleep are the hardest parts. It’s those little things that people take for granted. That’s one of the main reasons I started this blog. I want to raise awareness about the real lives of people with disabilities.
I’m not afraid of doing the work. Some people will be hard to deal with. I am sure about that. I still have to write up the proposal to acquire the funds I would need to attempt this venture. I know I must try. The purpose of life is to live life. I know there’s a good chance I will fail. Even if I get everything I need, there’s no guarantee I will win the election for the position. I don’t want to say, “What if?” I want to say, “I did.”
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV
2020. I laughed while typing those numbers. The year the world changed, I spent two years calling people in different states. I would tweet their state organizations to introduce myself. To get ready for the next conference. I found people willing to do my personal care. Like everybody else, they postponed their conference, but not by one year but by two instead. 2022. In today’s world, that’s a lifetime! The disability community has always had a lot of turnover. In two years, every person I talk to will most certainly be gone.
I never say never to anything, but it’s impossible to know where my life will be by then. Planning from 2018 to 2020 was easy because the world was in its established routine. Now there is no routine. One of the main reasons I wanted the position was to travel across the country four times a year. I’ve only ever gone to Puerto Rico and Disney World. It would have been cool to see new places.
I am looking for a new opportunity to make a difference for both the world and myself. What opportunities have you not taken advantage of? What things have not worked out for you? I hope this gives you something to think about. Thank you for your time. Another blog will come next Wednesday, as usual. All comments are welcome.
Disability Limbo Newsletter
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
The Purposely Broken World, part of the Advocacy Life podcast network, is now offering two episodes a month, one on the first and one on the 15th. In this episode, Kevin recounts his first dance experience as a person with a disability. Please support this podcast. Support the podcast with a monthly donation.
Who knows what it’s like to be a man in 2023? In the June episode of the Purposely Broken World podcast. Kevin breaks down what it means to be a man with a disability. Hopefully, this will start a thoughtful discussion about manhood and positive mental health awareness. Everything from empathy and sexuality to responsibility.
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
Hi friends, I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday. What are some of the hobbies or sports you like to participate in? I am 35 and have limited mobility due to my disability. So my options are limited. Yes, there are challenge or baseball leagues, and the Special Olympics has every sport you can imagine. I’m at the age where most other participants are either way too old or way too young. In addition, the concept of everyone getting a trophy or metal at the end doesn’t seem right to me. Most importantly, it would take 50 more steps if I just wanted to play wheelchair basketball for an hour. What if I just wanted to distract myself for a few minutes? Yes, there are plenty of video games with adaptive controllers. That truly is wonderful. However, I wanted something more realistic and a guaranteed challenge.
“for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;” Proverbs 1:2-3 NIV
I recently discovered chess. I know the game of chess has been around almost forever, but it really is a brilliant game, and it has so much to teach us about life. I picked up the following lessons from playing the game, among others Have a good day, everyone. Let me know in the comments if anyone has tried playing chess and what they’ve learned from it
No matter how much you can or cannot move, you can still play even if someone else moves the pieces for you because every piece and square on the board has a name.
Chess is not for nerds! It’s a very social game you can always learn from other players. Especially in today’s world with players constantly streaming their matches. Players of all races are represented. There’s always someone waiting to connect even if it’s just to teach or play a game.
I currently have the lowest rating in all of Chess, but it is almost impossible to play the same game twice so you always constantly being challenged and learning a new strategy.
Every piece on the board has a specific role you have to see the big picture. I specifically enjoy this aspect because we get so focused in this world about what we’re doing in the moment we never take a step back to look at the whole board of life.
Most people when they start a plan of any kind. Get excited when they start a new project but lose interest in the middle and never get to the end. In chess the middle game is where the challenge really begins. The game will not end until the king is captured so you constantly have to keep adapting to a new scenario.
After you play games, you have to study your mistakes. In life people don’t want to learn from mistakes but in chess if you don’t analyze your past you can’t get better in the future.
Chess does not require physical strength, but strictly. Your mind and your heart working together.
Disability Limbo Newsletter
I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters
The Advocacy Life Podcast & Blog 