AAASP:
Tell us a little about yourself… where did you go to school? College? Field of study? Career? Family?
Michael Leverett:
Although I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I grew up in the town both of my parents were born, Macon, Georgia. I went to public school most of my childhood, and since I was young, my Dad encouraged us to play sports, or at least I really wanted to because my older brothers did. Our family was composed of 4 boys and 2 girls, and all of us were engaged in sports to some degree. Growing up, I played football from a young age, competitively swam, dabbled in baseball, and absolutely loved wrestling. My fondest memories were playing with my brothers (from other mothers – my teammates) for Central Highschool, the Chargers. My brother and couches encouraged me to wrestle as it might increase my chances of playing better and starting on the varsity team. With my personal faith in God and trust, and as it turned out, based on sheer determination (or playing in the marching band, which I was a member of as well), I fought my way to make it to the first-string defensive end. Football won over the band. In my senior year, I was a tiny offensive guard, but I loved being and playing on a team. It was my ambition to wrestle in college; however, there weren’t any colleges that had a wrestling program in Georgia. So, I ended up going to multiple colleges and graduating at the University of Georgia. My love of sports dwindled over the years because I enjoyed playing much more than I liked being a spectator. I found a huge resurgence of interest and being a spectator of my Dawgs after getting involved with Adapted Sports and highlighting the players’ participation and dedication (coaches, players, and AAASP alike).
AAASP:
When were you first introduced to adapted sports?
ML:
Even though I was familiar with wheelchair rugby and some Olympic sports and was on the verge of leading Disability Connections in beginning a media internet broadcasting team for youth and adults with disabilities, which has been nearly a 20-year dream of ours. It wasn’t until I saw the Houston County Sharks featured on a 13 WMAZ news story that I put the pieces together that our media team focus could be on Adapted Sports. It turned out that I had one employee who had participated in the past and since then, we’ve had multiple adapted sports alumni on board of Disability Connections.
AAASP:
Why did you get involved with AAASP?
ML:
I got involved with AAASP through connecting with the Houston County Sharks with the gracious collaboration with Christy Jones one of the former coaches of the Sharks and now a staff member of AAASP.
AAASP:
Tell us about Disability Connections.
ML:
The Middle Georgia Center for Independent Living, Inc. (d.b.a. Disability Connections) is an organization that my wife and I began in the early 90s. The organization was incorporated in 1995 and began providing independent living services in 1997. Our mission is to enable all people with disabilities to attain and have access to all opportunities in life. We are here to assist people with disabilities to get connected to the community, resources, ideas, and opportunities for leading and pursing a better life of their own choosing. Disability Connection provides five core services to individuals with disabilities in the Middle Georgia area. Originally, we served 12 counties, and now, we serve over 25 counties. Disability Connections serves people with disabilities of all ages and types of disabilities. What makes us even more unique, like the many other Centers for Independent Living around the country, is that we are governed by a majority of people with disabilities and run by a majority of people with disabilities. Our five core services consist of information and resource referral, peer support, advocacy, independent living skills training, and transition (assisting people to get out of nursing homes, prevention services to keep them from going in, and working with youth to transition into community life).
AAASP:
Tell us more about your mentorship program?
ML:
Disability Connections has established a growing brand new “Digital Media” program for people with disabilities with an emphasis on children and youth ages 10 to 24 with disabilities and we encourage parental/guardianship involvement. This program encourages and teaches technical and artistic skills around concepts of digital media production, from the basics of understanding the art of storytelling, raising awareness of the power of media, and gaining a greater sense of discernment about the flood of information and its intended purposes. The DC Digital Media Program allows individual students to gain technical and artistic skills, confidence, and personal strength to advocate for themselves in the spirit of independent (or interdependent which we like to call it) living. The activities assist in beginning a foundation of marketable skills for corporate and/or entrepreneurial employability.
AAASP:
We loved having you involved in the ASPIRE Awards — can you share how you were involved this year?
ML:
This past year, we offered our media experience and technical know how to assist the ASPIRE Awards with some of the Audio and Visual capturing of the ASPIRE Awards. We were able to record the event as well as provide technical and equipment support for the audio sound system.
AAASP:
Any advice you’d like to share with AAASP athletes?
ML:
From my personal experience in sports participation and from what I have gathered from getting to know some of the adapted sports athletes, it is one of the greatest times of my life and I know it is for those who participate. It thrills me that Adapted Sports increase athletic participation in a very highly organized structured sporting activity. What I have personally learned from my sports background along with many other challenges I faced a long the way, it has given me the drive and spirit (including team spirit) to achieve so many things in life. If you, the AAASP athlete, expound upon what you have learned and experienced, it will prove to be of great value for any venture you partake in. There is so much power and character building from sports participation that you will follow throughout your life. My advice is to treasure it, build on it, and pursue your future with equal or more determination. If a door closes, find another way. Same in sports, you have to pivot to get around the barriers and find your way to the goal….your goal! Write it down, make a plan, plan your steps…go for it. That is exactly what we do at Disability Connections to empower individuals to achieve their own goals.You, the athlete, have an advantage. Embrace it! You CAN do it!