George Shardlow shares how his childhood was a weird roller coaster ride. He says, “You seek out communities where people accept you.”
Transcript
George Shardlow: It was difficult, I have mild cerebral palsy and I grew up in an era of post-ADA.
Host: This is Keep Moving Forward.
George H.W. Bush: Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.
Host: Exploring the legacy and promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
George Shardlow: My name is George Shardlow. I just make sure that Minnesotans with disabilities have a voice in lawmaking and some of the policy-making that state agencies do.
I was the one kid like me in the room, and it was hard. I don't know, childhood was a weird roller coaster for me. Elementary school was great and then we moved. And bullied in middle school. And then moved back to the old place. And I was homecoming king and student body vice president. And so, you find yourself, I think, when you seek out communities where people kind of accept you.
Host: Keep Moving Forward is supported by The Minnesota Council on Disability, The Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, online at Ampers.org.