In beating disabilities they show us the way | Jean Floten

In this season of caring and hope, I would like to share the moving story of two young men whose futures, far more than most of ours, depends on inner strength and a positive outlook.

One copes with the challenges of cerebral palsy. He spends most of his day in a wheelchair, and his verbal communication is hindered by the muscular issues that come with this disease.

Yet he is pursuing a college education with gusto and confidence; he speaks inspiringly to high school and junior high audiences; and last summer he finished in the top 10 in the world in shot put competition at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation’s Junior World Championships in Switzerland.

I’m speaking of Steve Ferreira - a graduate of Liberty High School in Renton and now a successful sophomore student at Bellevue College.

The key to his achievements, Steve says, is positive thinking. As he explains it, “I tell myself that even though I was born disabled, I am capable of many things. I keep going because I want to show the world that disabled people are like any other people, but they do things at their own pace.”

Steve also names a number of BC faculty and staff who are especially supportive and who reinforce his ongoing determination. They all have one thing in common, he says: “They believe in me.”

Another student with a disability who needed nothing more to succeed than for people to believe in his potential and take time to facilitate his learning, was Cyrus Habib.

Cyrus lost his eyesight by age 9, and when his high school could not make its math and science curriculum accessible to him, he turned to Bellevue College.

Here, he says, he found the faculty receptive and well-prepared to help him. One physics instructor, he recalls, went so far as to design a special audio device just to demonstrate the concepts of velocity, acceleration and momentum to him.

From here Cyrus went on to Columbia University and then Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar, finishing his formal education with a distinguished career at Yale Law School.

Now employed by an internationally respected law firm, Cyrus has also demonstrated his mastery over challenges through hobbies one might have assumed would be impossible for the blind: photography, martial arts and competitive downhill skiing.

I tell you these stories in order to share the deep inspiration I find in them. Moreover, their message of the value of hope and courage, and the importance of helping one another, seem especially pertinent as we enter a new year feeling beset by troubles on all sides.

In doing so I must also express my admiration for the BC faculty and staff whose belief and support have been instrumental to Steve and Cyrus, as they are to the success of so many students.

In welcoming all who desire a higher education, we and our sister institutions declare our faith that, with sufficient dedication and courage, coupled with a supportive network of BC faculty and staff, everyone can succeed - whether they are physically challenged, struggling financially, contending with inadequate academic preparation, or fighting just to find time for college while working full-time and caring for a family.

This New Year season, when it may be difficult to summon the usual hope for the future, we should all remember Steve’s message to high school-age audiences:

“Everyone has problems they struggle to overcome, no matter who they are. But we all can succeed, too -- especially if we reach out to embrace and help each other.”

I wish you all a prosperous and fulfilling 2010!

Jean Floten is president of Bellevue College.

• email
• letter
• print
• follow