One of the most important activities that takes place at any conference is learning from others who have been down the same road you're traveling. This year's Building Bridges conference provided participants with an opportunity to hear from people who have walked the walk--a family of a young man with Downs syndrome, a recent high school graduate with a visual impairment, and a man who had an arm amputated in a work accident as a young boy. They came to the Bridges to Employment conference to share their life experiences as Latinos with disabilities themselves or with family members who experienced disability. They came to offer not only stories of the past, and the struggles they had to bear, but to offer a glimpse of the future and of the possibilities attainable.

Special Olympics Competition Leads to New Opportunities

Leticia Lopez and Francisco Sanchez came to the United States from Mexico six years ago with Chaack, their now 22-year-old son for the Special Olympics World Games. Chaack played on Mexico's soccer team, which won a medal in those games. They've been here ever since. While they can't say for sure that they want to stay here forever, they know the opportunities in the United States for their son are better.

Here in the States, their son was able to graduate high school; in Mexico, he would have only been allowed to attend through elementary school. They were able to find doctors to repair Chaack's cleft palate here in the US, as well. Francisco and Leticia are here on work visas. Chaack is on a visa, too. But, Chaack's visa doesn't allow him to work, just to volunteer. So in spite of better opportunities in some areas for their disabled son here in the US, Lopez and Sanchez realize that the opportunity for work is not among them.

Sanchez worries about his son; not only about his disability, but about the language, the cultural differences, and Chaack's skills. They want to ensure he gets the best available opportunities, but how?   Last summer, they wanted to return to Mexico to visit family, but Chaack's school thought he would regress in his English speaking ability if he didn't attend summer school. Family won out, and they went to Mexico. Luckily, Chaack's exposure to English through both school and his Special Olympics participation carried him through.

Both Leticia and Francisco say their greatest frustration is the lack of vocational training for their son both in Mexico and here in the US. They are certain he can do better than cleaning tables at McDonalds, yet no one is offering an opportunity.

Fourth Time is the Charm

Felipe Cabrera understands lack of opportunity all too well. Cabrera hailed originally from the Dominican Republic, but emigrated to Puerto Rico by means of a man-made boat in which 100 or more people rode together in crowded and unsafe conditions with many losing their lives during the trip.

Cabrera's journey didn't start there, however. It began at the age of 13, when he was injured in an accident, losing his arm. Because he couldn't afford it, he didn't get a prosthetic arm for several years after his injury, which made it virtually impossible for him to work. Finally, when he was 19, he got both a prosthetic and a job.

He was young and newly married, and not making much money. So, he decided to try and make it to Puerto Rico to work and make a living for his family. It took him over a year and four attempts to finally land safely in Puerto Rico. On his first try, he got caught and deported. He tried again thirty days later, was caught and deported. Still not willing to concede defeat, he tried after another thirty days, was once again caught and deported.   It was almost a year later when he made what would be his fourth and final attempt.

Before he left, his then-pregnant wife cautioned him "the sharks will get you this time."   Luck, however, was with him this time, and neither the sharks nor the migra got Cabrera. He made it to Puerto Rico and began working in the fields as a migrant farm worker. He also took on construction jobs when he could, sending money home to his family.

He wasn't satisfied, however; he wanted more for himself. So, he and a friend enrolled in a vocational school to learn to build houses for low-income families. Cabrera completed much of the coursework before the director learned he was undocumented and forced him to leave the school. Cabrera returned to the fields, biding his time. Finally, during the Reagan presidency, there was an immigration amnesty for farm workers, which enabled Cabrera to obtain his residency. The vocational rehabilitation agency in Puerto Rico was then able to help him get a new prosthetic, which by then he sorely needed.

In 1991, he moved to the US mainland, continuing to work in the fields all over the country until 1994, when he settled in North Carolina. In 1996 he applied to bring his family over from the Dominican Republic, but he was told that migrant farmwork wouldn't provide enough income to support them. He needed to find something else to do. But what?

As luck would have it, while he was in the fields one day loading up a bushel of cucumbers, Dr. Nolo Martinez of AgrAbility came looking for someone to do outreach for his program. Martinez told Felipe "I have a job for you. You can bring your family."   When Martinez told Felipe he'd need a car, his hopes were dashed--he had no car. But Martinez didn't bat an eye, instead he told Felipe "That's OK. I'll pick you up."   And he did. By 2001 Felipe was able to bring his wife and three children from the Dominican Republic, and they were together as a family again for the first time in more than a decade.

Now, Cabrera still spends his days in the fields. But instead of picking crops, he spends his time sharing information about the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living, and the AgrAbility program to migrant workers around the state. He develops and plans trainings for the workers, and helps identify those with disabilities who the state vocational rehabilitation agency can serve. Cabrera says he is fortunate that Martinez picked him out of the fields that day, and he hopes the information he shares with the workers in the fields will enable them to obtain better futures for themselves and their families as well.  

A Vision for the Future

Francisco Chavez, originally from Oaxaca, is just 18, and a recent high school graduate. He is also visually impaired. But he didn't start out his life that way--in fact; until he was 16 he had 20/20 vision. The summer before he started his sophomore year of high school, however, his life changed suddenly. He developed a fast growing brain tumor which quickly took his sight. Like most people who experience disability, Chavez was depressed, scared and uncertain of his future. If recent events are any indication, however, Chavez has nothing to worry about. Not only did he graduate as valedictorian of his high school class, he was student council president, ran track, competed in wrestling and still found time to volunteer at a local medical center. He was also recently selected as the first Latino to serve on the Statewide Independent Living Council.

Chavez' goal is to go to school and earn a good living. But like Leticia and Francisco Sanchez, Chavez is caught in the same situation. He was able to attend high school as an undocumented student; however, that same privilege is not available for college. He's been accepted at a North Carolina university but he can't afford the tuition and can't qualify for vocational rehabilitation services because of his immigration status.

His school motto, "By Faith Not By Sight" remains his mantra, however, in spite of the seeming hopelessness of his current circumstances. He is positive that as he has done in the past, he will overcome these challenges and ultimately attend college and get a job. Education, he says, is the biggest key to success, for himself and other Latinos with disabilities. His plan for now is to ensure that he can get that education.

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