All posts in Disability Issues

Greg Gadson

Greg Gadson

Decorated Army Commander and New York Giants Honorary Captain

Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson has survived the very worst of war, but this highly decorated American soldier has not been defeated by unfortunate circumstance; instead, his life is a portrait of courage in the face of great adversity. Gadson understands that hard work and determination are key factors in overcoming life-altering setbacks. His biggest challenge happened in Iraq when an IED attack led to both of his legs being amputated above the knees. Read more…

Mellanie True Hills

Mellanie True Hills

Mellanie offers electrifying programs that energize attendees and provide them with tools and techniques for creating permanent changes. We look forward to providing you with a program that attendees will never forget and that will make a permanent change in their lives.

As you get ready for your event, what messages do you want attendees to take away with them? That our hurried and hyperbusy lifestyles can put us at risk, but that they have the power to make changes that will protect them? That they need to put themselves first so that they will be there for others? Read more…

Kathy Buckley

Kathy Buckley4

Kathy Buckley was born with a hearing loss that went undetected until she was eight and led to believe she was mentally retarded. She was sexually abused, run over by a car, and stricken with cancer all before the age of thirty. Rather than being consumed by grief, Kathy sought out laughter. She not only survived, she has gone on to become a successful comedienne and an award winning author. She is also a world-renowned motivational speaker. Kathy inspires hundreds of thousands of people around the country, sharing her story of overcoming some of the most difficult obstacles one can imagine in life, and how she met those challenges with dignity, courage, and laughter. Read more…

Ben Glenn

Ben Glen

Ben Glenn, The Chalkguy, is the president of Chalkguy Media International, a company dedicated to sharing a positive, life-changing message of hope with groups all over the world. Ben’s story about growing up Learning Disabled is one that he has shared with thousands inspiring people to have a greater appreciation for their unique talents and abilities. His humorous speeches are filled with personal stories and encouragement for people to live a life based on self-knowledge, personal responsibility and a positive attitude. Read more…

Jessica Cox

Jessica Cox

Jessica is recognized internationally as an inspirational keynote speaker. Born without arms, Jessica now flies airplanes, drives cars and otherwise lives a normal life using her feet as other use their hands. She holds the title of the first person without arms in the American Taekwondo Association to get a black belt and the Guinness World Record for being the first armless person in aviation history to earn a pilot’s certificate. Convinced that the way we think has a greater impact on our lives than our physical constraints, she chose to pursue a degree in psychology while in college at the University of Arizona. Read more…

Joy Loverde

joyloverde

Imagine this: You’re busy at work, preparing for an afternoon presentation, when the telephone rings; it’s the doctor’s office telling you to come to the hospital–your mom fell and broke her hip. And life as you knew it is changed in an instant. If you are not currently caring for an elderly family member, you soon will be. With an aging population upon us, not only can we expect to take on the role of our parents’ caregiver, there are grandparents, aunts and uncles, spouses and siblings who also will require our attention. With a profound understanding of the problems associated with family caregiving, and a seasoned family caregiver herself, Read more…

Jill Bolte Taylor

Jill Bolte Taylor

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is one of those rare speakers who can keep listeners perched on the edge of their seats for over 90 minutes. She projects an amazing positive energy and is committed to educating everyone about the beauty and resiliency of the human brain. She speaks with the single intention of helping audience members walk away with a better understanding of what is going on inside their heads and how they can get their brains to do what they want them to do. She firmly believes that the most important relationship we each have is the relationship between our logical, rational, verbal left brain, and its counterpart – our creative, intuitive, thinking in pictures right hemisphere. Dr. Jill helps us understand how our two brains work together to create a single seamless perception of reality, and what is going on inside our heads when we experience personal conflict. As an “Advocate for Humanity,” Dr. Jill is a compassionate motivational speaker who speaks from her heart, both as a well sibling of a brother who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and as a neuroscientist who recovered from a debilitating stroke (AVM) which initially rendered her completely disabled. Dr. Jill has dedicated her career to the advancement of research into the human brain and neurological recovery from trauma. Her passion is to educate everyone about the fragile, yet resilient nature of this incredible organ. By sharing her science and her unique personal journey, she communicates a message of hope, education, and celebration in a way that people can truly understand, and they walk away not only moved but shifted in their perception of who they are in the world and what they are doing with their power. Read more…