A few months ago I ran across (or rather he came across me) a great person by the name of Kevin Vu. Kevin is a person that is not letting himself be held down by his disability. He is a political aid in DC, a public speaker, a representative to many disabled people and even raises funds for the breast cancer society, just to name a few of his activities. He is a student at CSU Fresno and needed to get some pictures done so that he can included them into his new web site. I gladly donated my services to his cause and we spent a few days shooting different things. check out his site
“my site is about my life any my disability. I started public speaking at 12. I have been recognized at the local, state, federal, and national level as a young prominent figure in the disability community for disabled persons, in February of 2006, I was given the opportunity to meet the president of the United States of America, President George W. Bush as a representative for peoples with disabilities, with the help of my family I learned to advocate for myself and I want to give back to my community. When I was 12 years old I started advocating for myself and advocating for those who can’t speak for themselves, I have dedicated and donated my life as an educational and health care advocate for myself, and for others to help prepare counselors, school psychologists, social workers, deaf educators, and special educators, and equal opportunity employers to work effectively and sensitively with students and employees who have disabilities and their families. I have shared my experiences to give a better insight in understanding health care and education from a patient and student point of view. I have spoken to a crowd of more than 6,000 people, and touched so many lives. I continue to share my experiences with health care and educational professionals to help them see the big picture. ”
Since I was 12 years old I have given my time and effort to prove to people day in and day out that if you would only give me the opportunity I would prove to people that I can get the job done. Day in and day out I constantly have to prove to people that I am a normal person. All my life I have dealt with discrimination and being left out. My determination to do all that I do, and not let my disability stop me comes from the passion and the drive that I have to make a difference in today’s society. I see kids with the potential to learn everyday who suffer because they cannot speak for themselves, for me to see someone who cannot communicate with the world and with today’s society, has an emotional and psychological effect on me. If we are going to be the future of today’s society we must be given a chance to learn, achieve, and succeed in life and if that chance is disrupted by a society that does not think we have potential then we cannot grow up to be taxpayers, future teachers, doctors, and lawyers.
We as leaders are expected to be leaders of tomorrow, but we understand that as citizens we are called to be leaders of today. Today our generation breaks down traditional barriers and opens doors for inclusiveness and equality. Every position that I have held and every organization that I have joined I had to fight my way in; there was never a time where people would give me the opportunity to show them that I can achieve the same goal as “normal” people. I have volunteered for numerous organizations never asking for recognition, everything I have done is from my heart and all I ask for is the opportunity for a chance to show that I have the potential to succeed given the opportunity. I don’t have any money and the site will help sponsors and future people to know more about me and if they can help me and others.”
– Kevin Vu