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| Photo Sara Krulwich/The New York Times |
History was made on June 9th at the 2019 Tony Awards. Ali Stroker became the first person in a wheelchair to win a Tony Award She won for her performance of Ado Annie in Oklahoma.
I was going to write about her background. I was going to tell you how a car accident when she was two years old left her paralyzed from the chest down.
I was going to write about her background. I was going to tell you how a car accident when she was two years old left her paralyzed from the chest down.
Ali saw her first Broadway show when she was in first grade. That show sparked her love of theater. Perseverance and the love and support of her family made it possible for Ali to achieve her dream of appearing on Broadway.
When Ali was given the role she was hired because was the best singer/actress for the part. They looked past her wheelchair. Her talent was what was important. The fact that she had a disability was not. I hope that her win is only the beginning. We need to see more of the disabled community represented
Vocational Rehabilitation has deemed me unemployable. I was told no employer would pay me for the skills that I have. I held a part-time job for sixteen years despite what Vocational rehabilitation told me. With the support of my family, my dream of publishing a children's book became a reality. I fought and succeeded in getting out of a nursing home.
Teachers never told me what I could do. They never encouraged me to dream. A lot of them probably thought I would end up attending the UCP day program. A teacher told my mom to keep me in high school for an additional year because "What is she going to be able to do anyway?" She did. It was tough to watch the kids I'd been in school with for twelve years graduate without me.
Interestingly enough that teacher had a son with cerebral palsy. After being in the day program for a while her son moved into his own apartment where he lived with the assistance of PCAs for many years.
When Ali was given the role she was hired because was the best singer/actress for the part. They looked past her wheelchair. Her talent was what was important. The fact that she had a disability was not. I hope that her win is only the beginning. We need to see more of the disabled community represented
Vocational Rehabilitation has deemed me unemployable. I was told no employer would pay me for the skills that I have. I held a part-time job for sixteen years despite what Vocational rehabilitation told me. With the support of my family, my dream of publishing a children's book became a reality. I fought and succeeded in getting out of a nursing home.
Teachers never told me what I could do. They never encouraged me to dream. A lot of them probably thought I would end up attending the UCP day program. A teacher told my mom to keep me in high school for an additional year because "What is she going to be able to do anyway?" She did. It was tough to watch the kids I'd been in school with for twelve years graduate without me.
Interestingly enough that teacher had a son with cerebral palsy. After being in the day program for a while her son moved into his own apartment where he lived with the assistance of PCAs for many years.
Children with disabilities have so many more opportunities today than we did when I was growing up. They attend school with their able-bodied peers. No more "special" schools.
To a young disabled person reading this post, I want you to know It's okay to dream. Don't be defined by labels. Your disability is not who you are. You know what you are capable of. When you watch a video of Ali Stroker dream and believe. Work hard. Anything can be accomplished through hard work and determination. You may have to work twice as hard as anyone else. In the end, it will be worth it.
Thank you, Ali Stroker. You've shown the world that anything is possible. Congratulations.
To a young disabled person reading this post, I want you to know It's okay to dream. Don't be defined by labels. Your disability is not who you are. You know what you are capable of. When you watch a video of Ali Stroker dream and believe. Work hard. Anything can be accomplished through hard work and determination. You may have to work twice as hard as anyone else. In the end, it will be worth it.
Thank you, Ali Stroker. You've shown the world that anything is possible. Congratulations.
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