My Abilities Outweigh My Disability

By Dave Copeland

Anything is possible when you believe and do not give up on yourself. Everyone faces challenges in life while pursuing their own goals. It is how a person faces those challenges that gives a person character. Not letting negativity get in the way and having a positive attitude was the recipe of Dave Copeland’s success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Feb 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781982220396

Dave Copeland

Dave Copeland does not let the fact he has cerebral palsy prevent him from pursuing his dreams and goals. Destined to live a life of mediocrity, he defied all odds and exceeded expectations of others. As a Financial Advisor providing clients with exceptional customer service is the forefront to his success. Having a wide range of products available allows him to customize plans for individual clients. As a motivational speaker Dave inspires both small and large audiences with his story of overcoming adversity living with a disability. His story of how he achieved his goal of pursuing a career in the financial services industry will motivate audience members to achieve their own goals and dreams.

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Copyright © 2019 Dave Copeland.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-2038-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-2040-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-2039-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019900900

Balboa Press rev. date: 01/30/2019

CONTENTS

About The Author

Dedication

Chapter 1 I shouldn’t have moved the car

Chapter 2 The importance of family and friends

Chapter 3 Introduction to social assistance

Chapter 4 The CTC and assessments

Chapter 5 Special education and acceptance

Chapter 6 Tragedy and sorrow

Chapter 7 Goals in high school

Chapter 8 The love of my life, so I thought

Chapter 9 The assessment in Toronto

Chapter 10 A lesson about discrimination

Chapter 11 The conversation that changed my life

Chapter 12 The backyard conversation

Chapter 13 The career search

Chapter 14 Being fired

Chapter 15 The win

Chapter 16 The bank

Chapter 17 The fire

Chapter 18 Another disappointing interview

Chapter 19 The exams

Chapter 20 The long-awaited career

Acknowledgements

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dave_Author.jpg

D ave Copeland does not let the fact he has cerebral palsy prevent him from pursuing his dreams and goals. Destined to live a life of mediocrity, he defied all odds and exceeded expectations of others. As a Financial Advisor providing clients with exceptional customer service is the forefront to his success. Having a wide range of products available allows him to customize plans for individual clients.

As a motivational speaker Dave inspires both small and large audiences with his story of overcoming adversity living with a disability. His story of how he achieved his goal of pursuing a career in the financial services industry will motivate audience members to achieve their own goals and dreams.

DEDICATION

I was very fortunate to have many positive influences in my life growing up. However, this book is dedicated to four individuals. Mom, the two male role models that were big influences in my life and my Grandfather. Unfortunately, the two role models, as well as, my Grandfather have passed away. I will forever be grateful for them in helping to shape the person I am today. Mom, words cannot express the gratitude I have for the strength you have as a person. I am a head strong and determined person because of you. I wouldn’t have my work ethic if it was not for your influence. When you retired, I mentioned at your retirement party that I was raised by babysitters. Even though I spent a lot of time at babysitters, you made sure I was looked after. Many times, when I wanted to give up on myself, you would not let me. All that you would ask was Would you be happy if you gave up? When I said, No. Your response was, Don’t give up then. You have given me your sense of humor which has made life a lot easier to take. Whenever I am told I’m a Smart Ass. My response is always, Well, you can blame my Mom for that. Mom, you are my best friend. You dedicated yourself to raising me and that will never be forgotten.

In order to respect the privacy of the people in this book, names have been changed. I do not know how old I was when I met Bill but know for a fact that he was a big influence in my life. I try to live up to the person that he was and even though his presence was brief, I still have fond memories of car rides, fishing trips and spending time together. When I was fourteen, Bill passed away at the age of fifty in 1988. I did not realize the influence that he had on me until he was gone. Thanks for everything you did for me. I hope I have made you proud.

I met Richard when I was five years old. Richard and Bill were very similar types of people. Both being very caring, honest and helpful. When Bill died, Richard helped me get through his death. Richard and I became the best of friends very quickly. Richard died the day before his eighty-fourth birthday in 2015. Over the years Richard taught me a great deal about myself and was a great sounding board whenever I was going through difficult times. I will always remember everything he taught me. Thank you.

Unfortunately, my Grandfather died when I was only four years old. I do have memories of him. My Grandfather was nicknamed, Good Neighbor Jim (real name) because he was always willing to give anyone help. Bill and Richard were much the same way and so are my uncles. I know I have some very large shoes to fill. I only hope I am half the men that they were.

CHAPTER 1

I shouldn’t have moved the car

I knew I should not have moved the car. To this day, I don’t know why I moved it. It was 1990 and I was in the tenth grade. There are a couple of reasons why I should not have moved the car. Firstly, I didn’t have a driver’s license; the reason I didn’t have a driver’s license is linked to the second reason I shouldn’t have moved the car – I am disabled. Mom had just bought my grandmother’s car and was selling her old one. My plan was only to turn the car on, back it up, move it forward, shut it off, and go back inside. I was going to do this because I was told that it’s not good to let a car sit for an extended period, because it could seize. If my plan had worked, no one would have even known what I had done. But when I backed out of the space, I hit a post. Then, when I went forward, I hit another post. Somehow, I turned the wheel, hit the gas, and hit the side of the building and then hit another car, which hit the car next to it. I am grateful no one was hurt, though.

I don’t remember who called the police. I do, however, remember Mom and her girlfriend, Kim, were called home from a hundred-dollar-a-plate dinner. I was not the most popular child. I don’t quite remember, but Mom probably had a few choice words for me. Before the accident, Mom had a buyer who had an identical car and wanted to buy the car as a second vehicle. She still had the same buyer, but now he bought the car for spare parts.

I have cerebral palsy – a non-progressive but unchanging neurological condition. It affects muscle co-ordination and body movement because of damage in the developing brain. The severity of the condition depends on how much brain damage there is, and which limbs are affected. Fortunately, only my right side is affected. My arm is predominantly affected, and I tend to drag my foot. I can walk, and I value my independence.

Raising a child