Micah’s Story (Michigan)

My name is Micah I am 23 years old I told my parents in third grade I wanted to go through the same door as my friends I had a circle of friends that helped me through third-grade and 12th grade I had a link program students got credit to help me I am happy to say that I am in college and I’m taking classes in a college class I had a dream to go to college and it came true

http://www.danceofpartnership.com

Curt’s Story (Michigan)

When I eventually finish high school I would like to move out of my parent’s home, pay my own bills and have some alone time. It is often annoying being around people. Being around too many people makes me angry because many people talk too much. When I am officially out of the house I will start a rock band. The name of my rock group will be “Raw Yellow”. I am a solo artist right now. I will, in the future, need a drummer, bassist and scratch artist. A scratch artist uses a record player to make noises.

When I retire I will own a video game company or a record company. The reason is my body will be old and broken down. I will no longer be able to tour.

p.s. Peace

Hussein’s Story (Michigan)

My name is Hussein F. Bazzi.  I was born on April 3, 1989.  I was born in the country of Lebanon.  I was born prematurely with a condition called cerebral palsy.  My family moved to the United States when I was only 9 years old.  We moved to the USA because there was better medical care available for me.

Growing up with cerebral palsy was difficult.  I had to have many surgeries on my legs.  I had to face many hardships because people saw me as different from them.  Many people did not believe in me.  I had to prove myself to everyone around me.  I always wanted to be a pilot, so in 2004 I made a decision to undertake a huge challenge and work on becoming a pilot.  With the support of my father, who was also my best friend, I enrolled in a local flight school.  I was aware of the challenge ahead.  Many people said, “This guy will never fly an airplane”.  I never gave up and continued to fly.  Sadly, my Father, who was my best friend and a major source of encouragement, without warning, passed away.  Being without my father was extremely difficult.  I had to be the man of the house and take care of my mother as well as finish high school.

Today, I am still in flight school, despite all the obstacles and struggles.  In 2006, after two years of training, I did my solo flights.  I continue to work to achieve my goals.  I want to go to Western Michigan University to finish my flight program.  I have improved my grades at school, and will graduate this June.  I know that I can one day fly as a pilot on a commercial airline.

Teddy’s Story (Michigan)

My name is Teddy. I like helping people. I like to meet people. I like going to the disability pride parade in Chicago. I like my business. I like selling tshirts. I do tshirts about freedom. (http://www.teddyfitzm.info) I do tshirt about Justin Dart. He wrote the ADA. The ADA makes ramps for my mom’s scooter and for my friends Justin and Britney to go to my school. The ADA makes voting machines I can use by my own self. I can vote without help. I vote, do you?

I like to go to school. I go to Community High and Schoolcraft College. I do cooking at college. I make chicken parmesan and onion soup. I like all kinds of food. I like to cook for me and my mom.

I live downstairs alone. I like to watch TV, play my music. I like country music. My mom don’t. I like to watch game of football and basketball and hockey and baseball. My mom don’t. Michigan sports. Not New York. I was born in New York.

I have pets. My rabbit Jack. My birds are Bobo and Pearl – they are doves. I have ferral cats outside. My mom allergic.

I love my family too. Mom and me. My grandma and grandpa. My aunts and uncles and cousins. Everybody. I have friends. I have friends from camp – Circle Pines in Kalamazoo. My friends Lisa, Scott, and Pam.

I like politics. I be a hero. I vote. I like Hillary Clinton. I watch her on TV all the time. I watch Obama and Edwards, too. I watch all of them. Power of the disability vote. Voting is important. We need more power. Freedom is power. I have freedom.

I want everybody to have freedom. I want people with Down syndrome to have freedom. Fadi needs freedom. Fadi speaks Arabic. His mom don’t give him freedom. Fadi needs freedom to have his own stuff. Fadi needs his own place. Fadi doesn’t know how to cook. Fadi needs help. He needs freedom.

My friend Bobby needs freedom. Bobby has asthma and is allergic. It is hard for him to have freedom. He doesn’t understand about freedom. I try to tell him and he doesn’t understand.

My mom has freedom. Her scooter give her freedom. Keith’s Dad has freedom too – he has a wheelchair. I don’t want them to get hurt. Freedom means accessible. Not all the places are accessible. Not good. Sometimes people are stupid and park wrong and take away the freedom.

My freedom is to be my own person. I do what I want. I like to watch the rain.