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these are the for god and children of ukraine
there are fifteen to twenty thousand children and three hundred orphanages
like this one
they have been forgotten
because all of these children have disabilities
they are known as social orphans
it's estimated
that eighty percent of the parents of these children are alive
some of the parents are financially unable to raise these children
but most of them have been convinced by the government they are not equipped to
raise them
the vast majority of these parents aren't heartless
they simply don't understand
that these children can have successful and fulfilling lives
given love
and the proper care and education
some of them believe that a child with a disability is a curse
and some of them even believe that having a child with a disability is a
punishment by God
our understanding in the united states on people with disabilities has evolved
over many years of struggle and advocacy
we now understand all people are created equal
no matter their skin tone
religion or disability
but there was a time in our not-so-distant past when we were
ignorant and intolerant
it has taken us
as a nation
but very very long time
to embrace humanity
in all of its different facets
and we still have so far to go
in ukraine they are still struggling to financially stable eyes after breaking
free from the authoritarian rule
and communist ideology of the soviet union
a system where people with disabilities have absolutely no greiz value
or purpose
so what is my mission
in two thousand twelve i was the keynote speaker at the virginia occupational
therapy association's annual conference
and i met teachers
therapists
and parents
that have traveled to a ukraine
to take adaptive equipment
wheelchairs crunches supplies
and clothing to children with disabilities
in orphanages in different regions in ukraine
while they're they have also shared specialized treatment with the orphanage
workers to improve the quality of life for these children
this year
in july 2013
the team returning to their ukraine will have a couple of guests with them
my wife
who is a therapist and i will be working with other therapists in ukraine
for ten days
in that time
i will be the keynote speaker
the third international conference on children with disabilities
this conference was first presented in kiev in two thousand eleven
and head over one hundred fifty persons in attendance
the second international conference was held in two thousand twelve in kiev and
was attended by over two hundred forty parents doctors
nurses
teachers and orphanage workers
this year they will hear my story
i will show them first hand what a person with a disability can do
how would i know that
because i was born with cerebral palsy
however
i know what it is the truly live life to the fullest
with my disability
ukraine is about seventy or eighty years
behind our understanding of disability awareness in the states
so i have been told
that my presence there will be like someone from the future coming back in
time and teaching them
i've always wanted to tell and travel
so what am i going to share with the people of ukraine
my name is johnny kelly and i am a motivational public speaker
and an advocate for equality for people with disabilities
i teach people about disability awareness
equality and self-determination for people with disabilities
and treating people with disabilities like anybody else
and i do it in a way that is humorous
but extremely compelling
in ukraine i will be able to share with them how to see children with
disabilities as people
and how important it is to instill confidence
involved
and to see the remains ng potential
what is my goal
while i am in ukraine
i plan to spend every waking hour
healers speaking
teaching we're spending time with their children in the orphanages
and their care workers
when i return to the states
i want to know
beyond any doubt
that i worked as hard and as long
as i could
the following are a few excerpts from some of my past presentations
so you can get a taste of what i'll be taking thank you crane
quite it's gulati
it inquiry
wasn't working auditing he won't work as a thing it
you're with
discontinued
all are matters
the with
through it's print is you really or when they're not only the
literally energy wanted designers
no uh... care it
little
dog donors
warming it
that solution dot byrd myself others you past vasser girls dinner k
supposed leaders just design will be and i wasn't in a wheelchair literally
dozens of special fluids
possibility and act program damaged interval in insensitive now and
readiness bestseller and even as the location and harmonic adding that i'm
seventeen
sentimental kaise an obsolete overstate and world leaders s feed day and us
it
it's members we're gonna have a few four and a contrast in the world
it really when three grozny allen it
using honest the
the as lost used
verison
dallas here dennis candleholders carried in a wheelchair can not be able to job
heidi holland
usa underestimated wilbur inorder disregard dishes
vetted
it's a noisy peter kato divorce human demand horrors kissing here's what the
next twenty years analyst
email you and were not as kitchen
union-leader
dissimilar work despite one its lesson well just let me know u_n_ investors
wishes
that it won't be reluctant carl does land
we always talk about the ultimate goal of a person with a disability is to be
independent
independence
independence independence
just as our understanding of everything else evolves
our understanding of this concept has got to evolve
we all want people with disabilities to be self-sufficient
that is keenly important
there might not always be someone right there to help myself
also
being self sufficient builds self-confidence
and yet
that still shouldn't be the ultimate goal
it doesn't matter if i need someone to address me
it doesn't matter if i need to be pushed everywhere i go
what does matter is whoever dresses me one
where hal and in what i want to wear
what matters is whoever feeds me what one
and how i want to read
what matters is if i'm in control of my life
self-determination is what we're talking about
if i am doing what i want with my life the fact that i need help doing so
is irrelevant
being physically independent is not nearly as important
as being mentally in control of my life
why do enhancer
with having a disability
why is having a disability always sing as a disadvantage
why can't i just enjoy being me
i am not broken
i am not inferior
i am no less important
i am a less necessary
my life is no less worthy of respect
i am meant to have cerebral palsy
let's do this
if i was normal
do you think i would be sitting here talking to you today
do you think i'd be giving you this little speech
i wouldn't care about disability issues
i'd probably be married to someone i didint blog
i'd probably have four
or five l mannered kids running around
i'd probably be at some dead end job
i wouldn't be happy
i wouldn't be making a difference
have you ever had a unique opportunity
to achieve something truly great
something that would eventually benefit thousands of children
to be remembered for helping bring about positive change to an entire nation
that
what i've been offered
i dare say anyone would pass up such an honorable undertaking
these are the rare moments their opportunities that give real purpose to
my life
this will be a seriously expensive trip for us
and we can't afford it alone
i want to give everyone watching this video and equally important opportunity
to help us with your thoughts and prayers
with fewer time if you decide to join our team and with your financial support
i know first hand what these children are going through
i wish i would have had someone to fight for me
when i was a child
help me fight for these children
helpmy enlighten the minds of the adults
and help me change the heart of the nation
thank you for your help