One of the serious barriers people with disabilities face is stereotyping. In this new millennium, physically challenged persons and others with invisible disabilities are still objects of curiosity, pity, and misunderstanding.    In 1979, I broke my neck in a diving accident leaving me quadriplegic. At that time, my only knowledge of people with disabilities was the Jerry Lewis telethon. I knew nobody in my community that used a wheelchair, had a visual impairment or any other challenge that made them different from my peers.
In my new life as a person with a disability I had to continue living. There was no other option. I was told by professionals that my life would be subject to working in a workshop and/or living in a nursing home. I was still the same person I was ten months before, I was just sitting down! I refused to be the stereotype of ignorance.
I decided it was about time my community was exposed to more than a yearly telethon of sympathetic children.
Immediately after rehabilitation I went to Hofstra University. It is there that I received my Masters in speech language pathology. I changed a few minds that a person with a disability could be an educator through everyday activities without having to sermonize. I began to work full-time in my field while continuing to be a source of information to newly injured persons at Rusk Institute in New York City. In my simple actions of being, others with disabilities saw that they could return to their former lives and still be productive.
I have never considered myself to be an inspiration. I am just an example of the many people with disabilities that live their life to the best of their ability in the shadows of the more outspoken and public persons.
 I provide information about assistive technology to persons with disabilities. The advancement of technology in the last 20 years has made it possible for everyone with a disability to connect to the rest of the world. Improved power wheelchairs, access to computers and the Internet no longer make people with disabilities invisible.
I am the speaker for the organization Canine Companions for Independence. I have been fortunate to be teamed with a golden yellow mix Labrador retriever. This has been a rewarding experience in speaking with small children.