Paralyzed Man Wants To Know: “What’s Your Excuse?”

I have meet several amazing people at my new job.  Here is one of them:  Richard Vaughn (photo credit).  The poster isn’t accurate any longer, the 12 should read 20.

Richard is the IT guy at my work place.  He broke his back at age 17.  This hasn’t kept him from having a full life.

……Shortly after graduation as a 17 year old, a severe accident – a fall of roughly 85 feet from a scaffolding – left me paralyzed and in a wheelchair. This was in the early 1970s. It was suggested that I enter one of several “special schools” for the handicapped. There, I was told, I might learn a vocation and become a “contributing member of society.”


I did go to a “special school” – college! Within 5 years, I was a Systems Programmer in the largest data center in the State of Arkansas. Though probably hired because of my handicapped status, I worked my way from Computer Operator to Programmer, then Systems Programmer and, finally, established a firm career as a Network Administrator. I am now in my 35th year as a computer professional……

He stumbled upon the idea for the motivational poster a few years ago at the gym (lifting weights) when another gym user stated “What’s my excuse?”  He now uses the sale of the poster to raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.   Help spread the word on his poster and inspiration.

If he can be so active, then indeed “what’s your excuse?”  Remember too much sitting is bad for you, so get up and move.

*This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living*


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