Keith Pierce

How would you like to spend your future when you can no longer take care of yourself?

My name is Keith Pierce, and I am going to change the game when it comes to the answer to that question. 25 years ago, I was stricken with cerebral palsy. Lack of transportation has caused many issues for myself and others who are unfortunate enough to be wheelchair-bound. The art of getting to an appointment, doing activities, or maintaining relationships without the help of my family was similar to waking up in a fantasy land, but the pandemic made my fantasies a reality for the first time. I was able to explore aspects of my life I never thought possible. For the first time in my life, I was able to make commitments knowing that I did not need to rely on anyone else to bring me to an event, as the healthcare system I relied on to take care of me became like trying to put together a puzzle in a tornado. I had to learn to be self-sufficient, which is a skill that still serves me today. As things begin to return to normal, I find myself wanting to hold on to the limitless freedom I felt and maybe even push a little beyond survival and begin living life to the fullest. I need to be assertive. I need to go after what I want, and only then will I know my true limitations.

I am raising funds for an accessible vehicle. I live in a place with little public transportation. Another solution would be to move to a more populated area with more options, but if the last two years have taught me anything, from the death of a family member to life calling you to opportunity, unfortunately we cannot all just follow the yellow brick road to our destiny. With proper transportation, I will be able to show what a disabled person is truly capable of while also highlighting the pitfalls we face and making it easier for others to obtain independence. In turn, I’m going to change the definition of what it means to be a disabled person, eliminating the learned helplessness many of us feel from society from the day we are born in areas such as transportation independence, housing, and community accessibility. taking care of yourself no matter what your condition is, or at least being able to hold on until somebody can come to help. I say your condition because, while I was lucky enough to be born this way, most of you reading this will slowly lose your independence, and I don’t want you to be limited when that happens. I have only one question for you. Will you help me secure a better future for us all?