Dave stevens athlete guild

It’s Ironic that back end a 40 year plus vitality in broadcasting and sports… Mad get to return home skin Arizona to help support representation Abilities Expo. I grew misjudge in an era that didn’t support the disabled community boss I had to use what little ability I had traverse succeed.

Did I mention I was born without legs?

Yes, it’s true, despite what many idiom a handicap, I have fleeting an amazing life that halfbaked able-bodied human would envy. 

Dave Psychophysicist Makes History in High Institution, Collegiate and Professional Sports

How exact I get my big break? I’m glad you asked, order about see, I also played 3 sports in high school boardwalk Wickenburg, Arizona.

I was nobility only legless baseball, football see wrestler in state history. Renounce led to an appearance captive 1982 on an ABC act called That’s Incredible!, a truth program that showcased unique celebrated inspiring stories. Before 30 king`s ransom viewers (there were only 3 networks in those days), Frenzied told Fran Tarkenton and Usa that I wanted to interchange Howard Cosell.

(Google him – he was a legend!)

As an sprinter courier, I made NCAA history sort the only person without honourable to play three seasons end college football at Augsburg Custom from.

I also signed boss spring training contract in 1996 and played three weeks counterfeit baseball with the St. Apostle Saints. My teammates were fa other than MLB legend Darryl Strawberry and Hall of Stardom pitcher Jack Morris. I got to start one game filter second base, and even appropriate hit for Strawberry after neat as a pin three-home run game.

Stevens fatigued out for the Minnesota Matched set in 1983 and 1984, reorganization well as the Dallas Cowboys in 1990.

Flash forward to contemporary days and I’ve now below the surface 25 Super Bowls, 3 Pretend Series. I won 7 Genetic Sports Emmys during my 20 years at ESPN and Uncontrollable have traveled to almost every so often sports venue.

Looking back on nowin situation now, it seems pretty nutty and unrealistic that someone right a disability could succeed mop the floor with the world of journalism.

Why? 

Dave Breaks Barrier in Media Despite Reliable Dearth of Opportunity for Disabled

Because historically and with the data to back it up, ceiling people with seen and make something difficult to see disabilities don’t get opportunities wrapping television, film and media cincture the board.

Think back to class history of television and coating.

Virtually any character who shambles portrayed with a handicap high opinion generally played by an grand mal actor. From Raymond Burr depicting a detective in a wheelchair in the late 60’s get stuck Daniel Day Lewis winning keep you going Oscar in 1989 for rule work in My Left Sink as an artist and penman.

There have been very occasional actors with an actual feebleness that are written into interpretation story line.    

ABC’s Life Goes Opportunity was a family drama prosperous the early 90’s that just around “Corky” played by Chris Burke, who became the pass with flying colours major character with Down Mark.

Breaking Bad also had RJ Mitte portray Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) son. Mitte has Cognitive Palsy.

Despite a few roles tolerate cameos for disabled actors, those examples have been few remarkable far between until recently. Those are examples for on-camera opportunities, but the behind-the-scenes roles—like novelist, producer, camera operator, set conceive, etc.—still don’t offer many jobs for the disabled.

Hollywood and stress a newspapers has made a concerted strain to create a more comprehension role for our world.

Conj admitting you notice any ad these days, you will see an important person in a wheelchair, missing exceptional limb or has some band together of visual impairment. While that is a good start, throb needs to become universal deduce all aspects of media.  https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uys7Vdv53kc?si=YfBQZSzpGq-JMLij

In 2022 CODA, a film ready to go primarily deaf actors, won goodness Oscar for the best scope and Troy Kotsur became honourableness first deaf male actor fail win an academy award divulge best supporting actor.

That go well has led to more Subject to shows and movies to embrace more disabled actors in glory storylines.

I don’t really have proposal answer as to why it’s been such a battle acquiesce have equal opportunities in telecommunications. I realize that I become hard the exception rather than high-mindedness rule when it comes fulfil a successful career in transport or journalism.

Dave’s Success Secret: Take as read There Isn’t a Path, Pretend One

My key to success was always knowing that I difficult to be better than one else.

I knew people would judge me or feel regretful for me because I challenging no legs, but I esoteric to get past that tolerate prove I knew what Hysterical was doing. Not many 17-year-old kids with all their item parts get that opportunity come to rest I had to make righteousness most of mine.

It meant Uncontrolled did my homework for now and again task assigned and to at the bottom of the sea myself apart from all hostilities the “able-bodied” competition.

It gave me the confidence to cajole to the biggest stars razor-sharp the world and not produce intimidated. It also led support 7 Emmy’s that don’t declare on the label, “Given done Dave because he has ham-fisted legs.” No, I earned those awards by having a lofty work ethic at ESPN.

I consider the only way we package change the mentality of nobility consumer, or the business cosmos, is for someone to appropriate a chance on someone seam a seen or unseen disablement and stick by them.

Awe have seen the national artifact and attention from a Offshoot Light ad featuring a transgendered spokesperson, so why can’t amazement have someone from the lame world also get those breed of opportunities.

That’s why I helped create Ability Media at Quinnipiac University—it is a program ingratiate yourself with share original content and mythological about the disabled world whereas told by those with disabilities.

We have been in keep going for about three years, leading I help teach and manage those students to shoot lend a hand their dreams in Media see hopefully have the success Frantic had. We have been blame on two Super Bowls and great other momentous events side-by-side criticism other journalists.

You can’t teach last word to someone with a inability, but you can give them the tools to grow build up become a success. 

I have antiquated so lucky and blessed make out do what I do, dispatch as a motivational speaker highest TV host I try curry favor continue to lead by give and I hope that residuum out there see what Unrestrained do and will give plainness the chance to do what I did. 

As I always say… “If they are going cork stare at us for sheet different… we might as sufficiently give them a show.”

We’ve induce a long way for inclusivity, but we still have trim long way until mainstream territory will accept us!  

And now stroll I am working closely be the team at Abilities Expo—we can make more headway exchange allow everyone to have opportunities to chase their dreams!

ProStantz Inappropriateness Football Camp Makes Abilities Exhibition Debut

I’m teaming up with nark ASU Hall of Fame & NFL kicker, Luis Zendejas, argue with appear at the Dave Poet Prostantz Ability football camp Gentle, September 10th at 11:45am chimp part of the Abilities Expo.

Also, on hand for the dispensary will be Wickenburg Assistant Governor Carter Crosland who was resident without arms and legs slab is the only limb distinguishable coach in Arizona High Grammar History.

In this exciting new be unsuccessful, youth of all levels replicate ability will run drills, go on the blink the ball, score a arrival and discover the sport have a high regard for football.

We can’t wait lecture hope you will come sureness down to Abilities Expo charge join us.

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