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| Yeah, I like old Lincolns. |
I am physically handicapped (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) and have spent my life overcoming barriers of one form or another. I have come to believe that the biggest barriers are in our own HEAD. Starting off in a school for handicapped children, my parents realized that I was NOT going to get educated there and tossed me into the regular public schools here in Greensboro, North Carolina. The change was pretty smooth and once my fellow students got used to having me around, I was just another student. As a young person, I wanted to drive a car but few around me thought I could. Fortunately, my parents encouraged me to be as independent as possible and let me try. I have been driving safely now for more than 30 years. I quickly ruled out going into the military, playing in the NFL or NBA as career paths. To be successful in life, I knew I had to educate myself. Like many, I started off at community college and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in English. After college, getting a job was no easy matter. I feel I faced a lot of discrimination. Eventually, I did find an employer who took a chance on me. With gainful employment, I was able to move out on my own and I learned to live independently.
I have made many international friends and have traveled extensively. Knowing I was handicapped, I still received invitations from friends to experience their culture. One such trip was to Bulgaria. I thought Bulgaria? Why not? However, it had to be a solo trip. Thirteen hours of travel to a former east block country and what is the first thing I hear getting off the plane- a Madonna song! I’ll never forget that and realizing what a small similar world it really is. My friends met me at the airport and we spent the next two weeks tooling all over the country in their car named “The Yellow Submarine.” We had a fantastic time!
A few years later I received an email from an old family friend living in Vietnam asking how I would feel about a southeastern Asian vacation. A few weeks later I Arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). I learned a lot more about barriers in Vietnam. It is not what we would call “handicapped accessible.” The people made the difference. Whatever help I needed bystanders gave me, and many times they did so without even being asked. I liked Vietnam so much I went again two years later and met my wife to be, Thu. We have been married almost fifteen years as of this writing and life is still good!
I finished my Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I have taught English as a Second language and adult computer literacy through the library as well as on my own. Helping people find work is another major interest of mine and I’ve had the good fortune to be invited to various organizations to speak about this. Helping as many as possible benefit from what I’ve learned is my main goal in life. Through my own personal experience, both domestically and internationally, I have learned that we all can indeed learn to work and overcome together.
I can be reached at paul.lavack@gmail.com
