Luis Ross - Profile of Success
Some
people say I am an amazingly focused individual. They say that I do not sit
back and wait for things to happen. They feel I set high goals and expectations
for myself and do not rest until I have reached them.
My name is Luis Ross. I'm 28 years old and I have cerebral palsy. I'm from Nogales, Arizona and I moved to Phoenix about three years ago to live on my own. The first year I was living here was scary for me because I was afraid that I couldn't make it on my own. In September of 1996, I enrolled at the community college at Maricopa Skill Center to learn desktop publishing. I finished my education and began the job search. I went to every job fair that I could find, but I was not having any luck.
One day, I went to a job fair and I noticed a program called the Clear Path Job Internship Program. Clear Path provides training that prepares you for a job by placing you with a mentor. My mentor worked at the City Hall as a desktop publisher. I worked with her five months and I loved it. Meanwhile, I was helping a person named Judy Meyers (PRC Consultant) in some Liberator trainings. In the trainings I demonstrated how the Liberator works, so people could understand how augmentative communication devices assist people with cerebral palsy.
After I finished the Clear Path program last May, I made the decision to go back to Phoenix College and take some English and reading courses. I also worked at the Honor Office at the college part time. I wanted to get my degree in Business. But sometimes, I am afraid that I may not make it on my own. I want my parents to be proud of me and I do not want to fail.
I want to thank Nancy Burdick (Case Manager) and all those wonderful people who helped me get into an apartment on my own in Phoenix. I lived with a roommate for a couple years. My roommate's name was David Fernandez. David was from Flagstaff and has spina bifida. David received a scholarship to go to DeVry Institute for five years. David was a nice guy to live with and we got along well. He had a car, so we did something all the time. I later had a roommate named Larry and he was a very helpful person. He was a 30-year-old man with spina bifida and he worked in a hospital with children.
I continued looking for a job while taking classes at Phoenix College. I found a neat counselor to help me select my classes and arrange for note takers. I always had good teachers at Phoenix College. They were all very patient and understanding.
One day a person from Clear Path called me and asked if I would give a speech to the Mayor of Phoenix because the Clear Path program wanted the City of Phoenix to assist their program with funding. I spoke about the Clear Path program and what it meant to me. After I gave my speech, a staff member from the City Auditor's Department asked me how I was doing in my life and what kind of job I wanted. A few months after my speech, I got a phone call from the City Auditor's Department. I was invited to an interview! I went with my resume and a staff member from the Clear Path program. I met with two important people from the Auditor's Department. They were amazed with my resume and hired me to work three hours at day, three days a week.
After one year of training, the Auditor's Department hired me for a part-time job. I'm still there and attending college part-time. My co-workers and my bosses are good people. They are patient, understanding, and hard working.
In 1999, with the help of the Section 8 rent-subsidy program, I moved into my own apartment close to the college and my job. This year I also took an "Eliminating Self-Defeating Behavior" class, which was very good. It taught me many things about my life and the people around me. Mr. Clark, the teacher, was wonderful. He taught me that it is up to me to go out and meet people. They won't come to me and ask, "Hey, do you want to be my friend?" He taught me to take a breath when I feel very nervous with people and how to listen to some soft music to ease my nerves. I have learned to stand up for what I believe in life. Don't feel shy when you give your speeches. Speak your mind!