WVU Parkersburg brings motivational speaker Jerry Traylor to five W.Va. counties CONTACT: Debbie Richards, special assistant to the president for policy and social justice 304-424-8201 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Parkersburg, W.Va. 10/4/11 – As part of an outreach project in observance of Disability History Week, West Virginia University at Parkersburg will sponsor a speaking tour by nationally known motivational speaker and author Jerry Traylor. The tour includes 12 presentations in five West Virginia counties, including a stop at the college’s main campus theatre on Monday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. A resident of Fountain Hills, Ariz. and former resident of Parkersburg, Traylor was born with cerebral palsy, and his mobility depends on the use of crutches. Because of the caring support he received along the way, he has achieved some remarkable feats. He climbed 14,110 feet to the top of Pikes Peak three times, competed in 35 full-length marathons and jogged 3,528 miles across America – all on crutches. Traylor is the author of “Live CAREfully: The Importance of Caring in a Life of Significance.” The real-life stories included in his book provide powerful examples of how caring can mold lives and change the world. He demonstrates that the disability does define the individual and that those with disabilities also have abilities. Disability History Week in West Virginia is the third week of October. Legislation requires public schools to provide information on disability history and people with disabilities and also encourages colleges and universities to conduct and promote activities that provide education, awareness and understanding of disability history. Debbie Richards, special assistant to the president for policy and social justice at WVU Parkersburg is responsible for this outreach project. “By teaching disability history in schools and delivering awareness programs to our communities, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that there continues to be movement toward an even more accessible society in the future,” said Richards. Traylor’s tour will also make stops in Jackson, Ritchie, Pleasants and Kanawha Counties. Events that are free and open to the public include: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. – First United Methodist Church at 719 Flinn Avenue in Ravenswood Wednesday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. – Pennsboro United Methodist Church at 601 Main Street in Pennsboro Other stops will be at WVU Parkersburg’s Jackson County Center, Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College, Ellenboro Elementary and Ritchie County High School. This program is supported in part by a grant from the WV Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System. Additional support is pending from several other sources including the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation, Inc., the Oakland Foundation, Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College, and an Education Partnerships Grant from the Office of the Secretary of Arts and Education. For additional information, contact: Katie Wootton WVU Parkersburg Director of Marketing and Communications 304-424-8203 E-mail Recent Releases News Archive