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Money’s 2023 Changemakers: Meet the Advocates
money.com/changemakers-2023-advocates/
By: Julia Glum Published: Feb 15, 2023
Money recently published its inaugural list of Changemakers, the 50 people impacting Americans' wallets. Our 2023 Changemakers include a wide variety of innovators making meaningful, positive change in personal finance. They fall into six categories: advocates, creators, educators, experts, leaders and trailblazers.
Meet the advocates below, and check out the entire Change-makers project here.
Edward Mitchell
Mitchell was paralyzed in a hit-and-run at age 16. Years later, he's a Tennessee-based independent living specialist passionate about ABLE accounts, short for Achieving a Better Life Experience. ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing other benefits. Previously, ABLE accounts were restricted to Americans who became disabled before age 26, but a recent law expanded that to 46 — thanks in part to testimony from advocates like Mitchell, who spoke before a House committee on the subject in 2018.
"An accident can happen at any age," Mitchell says
Jon Stewart
Though you probably know Stewart from The Daily Show, he's also an outspoken advocate for the military and emergency responders. He argued for health care coverage for 9/11 first responders and, more recently, has used his platform to support service members who were exposed to burn pits in the Middle East. The sharp-tongued Stewart appears equally at home on set for his new show, The Problem, as he is making passionate speeches on Capitol Hill.
"They lived up to the agreement. They lived up to their end of the bargain," Stewart said. "You fought for the country, and the country has to hold up its agreement to you."
Killer Mike
There’s no star who advocates louder, harder and more often to expand Black Americans’ economic prosperity than Run the Jewels' Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Render. From launching a barber shop franchise to give Black men careers, to stopping by public comment sessions at Atlanta city council meetings, the rapper is a devoted activist for the working class. He's also a key part of the team at Greenwood, a banking platform that empowers Black and Latino customers to take back control of their money.
"I felt good about getting behind something that would allow people the autonomy to grow their own power, in terms of their own personal finance and as a community," Render says.
Elizabeth Warren
There's no denying the link between money and families’ decisions about whether to have a child. Warren, a Democratic senator representing Massachusetts, has made that a cornerstone of her advocacy, especially since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last summer. Her crusade for abortion rights has been part storytelling — of how unplanned pregnancies in a pre-Roe America derailed women’s careers — and part policy solutions.
Betsy Mayotte
Mayotte, the founder and president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors (TISLA), has "nerd-level knowledge" of all things financial aid. That's an especially important perspective to have right now, as the Supreme Court weighs the legality of a proposal by President Joe Biden to forgive certain student loans. Mayotte holds one-on-one consultations with borrowers and is a mainstay on Reddit, where she once helped a user get over $900,000 of erroneous debt discharged. For free. "The way I look at it, life brought me to this point where I attained a certain weird little set of skills," she says. "I sort of had no choice. This is what I was supposed to do."
"You can’t separate the economic well-being of families from the freedom to start a family on your own terms," she said. "Abortion is a kitchen-table issue."
Chris Smalls, Derrick Palmer and Sam Amato
Unions became cool again in 2022, and that's in no small part due to these three organizers. Smalls and
Palmer were behind the historic union drive at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, New York. Amato helped get a similar movement off the ground at a Starbucks across the state in Tonawanda. They're pushing for better pay, improved benefits and a safer work environment for employees — all while advancing the broader labor cause.
"We have a lot of work to do," Palmer says. "I’m just proud to be in this position to motivate workers to unionize and make sure the labor movement is in a good spot."
Erin Collins
Collins started her term as national taxpayer advocate just as COVID-19 started to shut down the U.S. in March 2020, which triggered a spike in unemployment and the urgent need for stimulus checks. Throughout the pandemic, she's been a crucial voice for everyday Americans, pushing legislators and the IRS to improve its systems in order to better serve taxpayers. Next up? A better IRS website, greater transparency and updated technology, to start.
"The IRS touches more individuals and more businesses than any other government agency," she says. "It is so important that we get this right."
MacKenzie Scott
After spending years married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — one of the richest men in the world — Scott has turned her focus to giving away her fortune. She's a reclusive philanthropist who is dedicated to approaching charitable giving in a thoughtful, methodical way. She's supported groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Chicago Public Schools, GLAAD, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Translatinx Network and the Women’s Refugee Commission. And she's not done yet. i have a disproportionate amount of money to share," she said.
Rohit Chopra'
As head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Chopra has helped overhaul how medical debt affects Americans' credit, reduce “junk fees” charged by banks and tighten rules for consumer reporting agencies that compile and sell dossiers of sensitive financial data. Going forward, he envisions the CFPB as a financial first responder, with the ability to act quickly and decisively in response to economic changes.
"What keeps me up at night is constantly making sure we are prepared and ready to respond," Chopra says.
money.com/changemakers-2023-advocates/
By: Julia Glum Published: Feb 15, 2023
Money recently published its inaugural list of Changemakers, the 50 people impacting Americans' wallets. Our 2023 Changemakers include a wide variety of innovators making meaningful, positive change in personal finance. They fall into six categories: advocates, creators, educators, experts, leaders and trailblazers.
Meet the advocates below, and check out the entire Change-makers project here.
Edward Mitchell
Mitchell was paralyzed in a hit-and-run at age 16. Years later, he's a Tennessee-based independent living specialist passionate about ABLE accounts, short for Achieving a Better Life Experience. ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing other benefits. Previously, ABLE accounts were restricted to Americans who became disabled before age 26, but a recent law expanded that to 46 — thanks in part to testimony from advocates like Mitchell, who spoke before a House committee on the subject in 2018.
"An accident can happen at any age," Mitchell says
Jon Stewart
Though you probably know Stewart from The Daily Show, he's also an outspoken advocate for the military and emergency responders. He argued for health care coverage for 9/11 first responders and, more recently, has used his platform to support service members who were exposed to burn pits in the Middle East. The sharp-tongued Stewart appears equally at home on set for his new show, The Problem, as he is making passionate speeches on Capitol Hill.
"They lived up to the agreement. They lived up to their end of the bargain," Stewart said. "You fought for the country, and the country has to hold up its agreement to you."
Killer Mike
There’s no star who advocates louder, harder and more often to expand Black Americans’ economic prosperity than Run the Jewels' Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Render. From launching a barber shop franchise to give Black men careers, to stopping by public comment sessions at Atlanta city council meetings, the rapper is a devoted activist for the working class. He's also a key part of the team at Greenwood, a banking platform that empowers Black and Latino customers to take back control of their money.
"I felt good about getting behind something that would allow people the autonomy to grow their own power, in terms of their own personal finance and as a community," Render says.
Elizabeth Warren
There's no denying the link between money and families’ decisions about whether to have a child. Warren, a Democratic senator representing Massachusetts, has made that a cornerstone of her advocacy, especially since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last summer. Her crusade for abortion rights has been part storytelling — of how unplanned pregnancies in a pre-Roe America derailed women’s careers — and part policy solutions.
Betsy Mayotte
Mayotte, the founder and president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors (TISLA), has "nerd-level knowledge" of all things financial aid. That's an especially important perspective to have right now, as the Supreme Court weighs the legality of a proposal by President Joe Biden to forgive certain student loans. Mayotte holds one-on-one consultations with borrowers and is a mainstay on Reddit, where she once helped a user get over $900,000 of erroneous debt discharged. For free. "The way I look at it, life brought me to this point where I attained a certain weird little set of skills," she says. "I sort of had no choice. This is what I was supposed to do."
"You can’t separate the economic well-being of families from the freedom to start a family on your own terms," she said. "Abortion is a kitchen-table issue."
Chris Smalls, Derrick Palmer and Sam Amato
Unions became cool again in 2022, and that's in no small part due to these three organizers. Smalls and
Palmer were behind the historic union drive at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, New York. Amato helped get a similar movement off the ground at a Starbucks across the state in Tonawanda. They're pushing for better pay, improved benefits and a safer work environment for employees — all while advancing the broader labor cause.
"We have a lot of work to do," Palmer says. "I’m just proud to be in this position to motivate workers to unionize and make sure the labor movement is in a good spot."
Erin Collins
Collins started her term as national taxpayer advocate just as COVID-19 started to shut down the U.S. in March 2020, which triggered a spike in unemployment and the urgent need for stimulus checks. Throughout the pandemic, she's been a crucial voice for everyday Americans, pushing legislators and the IRS to improve its systems in order to better serve taxpayers. Next up? A better IRS website, greater transparency and updated technology, to start.
"The IRS touches more individuals and more businesses than any other government agency," she says. "It is so important that we get this right."
MacKenzie Scott
After spending years married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — one of the richest men in the world — Scott has turned her focus to giving away her fortune. She's a reclusive philanthropist who is dedicated to approaching charitable giving in a thoughtful, methodical way. She's supported groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Chicago Public Schools, GLAAD, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Translatinx Network and the Women’s Refugee Commission. And she's not done yet. i have a disproportionate amount of money to share," she said.
Rohit Chopra'
As head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Chopra has helped overhaul how medical debt affects Americans' credit, reduce “junk fees” charged by banks and tighten rules for consumer reporting agencies that compile and sell dossiers of sensitive financial data. Going forward, he envisions the CFPB as a financial first responder, with the ability to act quickly and decisively in response to economic changes.
"What keeps me up at night is constantly making sure we are prepared and ready to respond," Chopra says.
Report: Tennessee increasingly unaffordable for working adults with disabilities
Published 9:59 a.m - CST - Nov 7 2022 - Melissa Brown Nashville Tennessean
www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2022/11/07/new-study-shows-tennessee-cost-of-living-unaffordable-for-working-disabled-adults/69618394007/
Working adults living with a disability in Tennessee are facing increasingly unaffordable barriers and a higher cost of living, according to a new study released by the Tennessee Disability Coalition.
“As a whole in Tennessee, people with disabilities live in higher rates of poverty, have less stable housing and they’re more likely to be food insufficient,” said Jeff Strand, Tennessee Disability Coalition coordinator of government and external affairs. “They’re already facing a number of systemic barriers to a high quality of life. It costs 51% more income for a person with a disability to achieve the same standard of living than a person without a disability.”
The Tennessee Disability Scorecard, released this week, found Tennesseans living with disabilities face a higher cost of living than elsewhere in the U.S., on average, in part due to poor access to affordable housing, high unemployment rates and increasing medical costs.
Research shows Southerners are particularly squeezed between historically low public transportation availability and an increasingly dire shortage of personal care and home health aides. The caregiver shortage is particularly critical in rural areas, a recent study found.
The TDC report highlights the often hidden costs related to living with a disability, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates amounts to close to a third of Tennessee’s population.
Before Allie Schmidt was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease in her mid-20s, she said she had no exposure to anyone with a disability.
As the disease paralyzed her arms and limited functions in her hands, she began to see the hidden costs of disability. Schmidt, who became pregnant soon after her disease onset, realized her insurance wouldn’t cover an automatic breast pump and still struggles to get coverage for adaptive aids she needs today. “In my head, I was very naive and thought there were more resources,” Schmidt said.
Today, as Nashville’s public transit system struggles to keep up with its booming population, Schmidt is forced to take expensive rideshares to doctor’s appointments as she pieces together accessibility "hacks" for herself. Still, Schmidt said she is fortunate to live centrally and can’t imagine accessibility issues in more rural areas.
In Jackson, Edward Mitchell said low housing inventory and extra costs related to accessibility can be insurmountable barriers for working adults with disabilities. Mitchell was paralyzed in a 2003 hit-and-run and now uses a wheelchair.
“Home ownership is foundational for keeping people in their community, integrated and not pushed to the side. I feel ingrained in my community. If you have someone who has lived in their community, all through school, but now they can't afford to live there, you're asking them to, by necessity, leave,” Mitchell said. “It's not that you’re just too comfortable where you are, but moving to a new environment without those support systems can be detrimental to a person with a disability. Our needs are not special. There's nothing special about needing housing.”
TDC’s scorecard found a "substantial shortfall" in housing availability, reporting that 80 of Tennessee’s 95 counties are unaffordable for Tennesseans with disabilities looking to purchase a home. Rental markets don’t fare much better.
“It’s definitely gotten worse, especially in the metro areas,” said Heidi Haines, executive director of The Arc Tennessee. “Oftentimes, the market rent is out of their reach because of their restricted incomes.”
TDC Executive Director Carol Westlake said in a statement the group hopes the scorecard can serve as a guide for "current and future residents of Tennessee wanting to know what they can expect for themselves, or their children," while advocates also hope the snapshot can push for policy and accessibility changes for working adults living with disabilities.
"We are all moments away of having a disability ourselves, whether that’s through growing old, disease or lack of healthcare. Disability is not unique," Strand said. "We can build a community that works for everybody."
Reach Melissa Brown at [email protected].
Published 9:59 a.m - CST - Nov 7 2022 - Melissa Brown Nashville Tennessean
www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2022/11/07/new-study-shows-tennessee-cost-of-living-unaffordable-for-working-disabled-adults/69618394007/
Working adults living with a disability in Tennessee are facing increasingly unaffordable barriers and a higher cost of living, according to a new study released by the Tennessee Disability Coalition.
“As a whole in Tennessee, people with disabilities live in higher rates of poverty, have less stable housing and they’re more likely to be food insufficient,” said Jeff Strand, Tennessee Disability Coalition coordinator of government and external affairs. “They’re already facing a number of systemic barriers to a high quality of life. It costs 51% more income for a person with a disability to achieve the same standard of living than a person without a disability.”
The Tennessee Disability Scorecard, released this week, found Tennesseans living with disabilities face a higher cost of living than elsewhere in the U.S., on average, in part due to poor access to affordable housing, high unemployment rates and increasing medical costs.
Research shows Southerners are particularly squeezed between historically low public transportation availability and an increasingly dire shortage of personal care and home health aides. The caregiver shortage is particularly critical in rural areas, a recent study found.
The TDC report highlights the often hidden costs related to living with a disability, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates amounts to close to a third of Tennessee’s population.
Before Allie Schmidt was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease in her mid-20s, she said she had no exposure to anyone with a disability.
As the disease paralyzed her arms and limited functions in her hands, she began to see the hidden costs of disability. Schmidt, who became pregnant soon after her disease onset, realized her insurance wouldn’t cover an automatic breast pump and still struggles to get coverage for adaptive aids she needs today. “In my head, I was very naive and thought there were more resources,” Schmidt said.
Today, as Nashville’s public transit system struggles to keep up with its booming population, Schmidt is forced to take expensive rideshares to doctor’s appointments as she pieces together accessibility "hacks" for herself. Still, Schmidt said she is fortunate to live centrally and can’t imagine accessibility issues in more rural areas.
In Jackson, Edward Mitchell said low housing inventory and extra costs related to accessibility can be insurmountable barriers for working adults with disabilities. Mitchell was paralyzed in a 2003 hit-and-run and now uses a wheelchair.
“Home ownership is foundational for keeping people in their community, integrated and not pushed to the side. I feel ingrained in my community. If you have someone who has lived in their community, all through school, but now they can't afford to live there, you're asking them to, by necessity, leave,” Mitchell said. “It's not that you’re just too comfortable where you are, but moving to a new environment without those support systems can be detrimental to a person with a disability. Our needs are not special. There's nothing special about needing housing.”
TDC’s scorecard found a "substantial shortfall" in housing availability, reporting that 80 of Tennessee’s 95 counties are unaffordable for Tennesseans with disabilities looking to purchase a home. Rental markets don’t fare much better.
“It’s definitely gotten worse, especially in the metro areas,” said Heidi Haines, executive director of The Arc Tennessee. “Oftentimes, the market rent is out of their reach because of their restricted incomes.”
TDC Executive Director Carol Westlake said in a statement the group hopes the scorecard can serve as a guide for "current and future residents of Tennessee wanting to know what they can expect for themselves, or their children," while advocates also hope the snapshot can push for policy and accessibility changes for working adults living with disabilities.
"We are all moments away of having a disability ourselves, whether that’s through growing old, disease or lack of healthcare. Disability is not unique," Strand said. "We can build a community that works for everybody."
Reach Melissa Brown at [email protected].
New Council Executive Committee Members: Sarah Cripps & Edward Mitchell
www.tn.gov/cdd/engage-with-us/enews-archive.html
October - 2022
Two of our Governor-appointed Council members are taking on new leadership roles. They each now chair one of our Council committees. That also means they serve on the Council Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is a group that often makes decisions about Council funding and priorities.
Sarah Cripps (Smithville; Upper Cumberland development district; pictured at left below) became the chair of our public policy committee.
Edward Mitchell (Jackson; Southwest development district; pictured at right below) became the chair of our communications committee.
We asked Sarah and Edward to share about their roles and why they are passionate about this work.
Tell us about your role as the chair of your committee.
Sarah: As the Chair of the public policy committee, I am tasked with leading each quarterly meeting of the committee. I help facilitate discussion during each meeting about ideas for public policy proposals and projects of Council members.
Edward: The communications committee is an essential component of the DD Council's external communications. It works to raise the organization's visibility in the public eye. It is the duty of the committee chair to:
Why is this role important to you?
Sarah: My role as Chair of the public policy committee is important to me because we have seen the power of individuals to influence public policy. That happens through both the passage of legislation and various Council members’ working in tandem with state agencies to improve the lives of Tennesseans with disabilities and their families. It is important to me that persons with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities live as independently as possible.
Edward: As a person who has lived experience as a person with a disability, one of the most concrete ways that I can contribute to the accomplishment of the purpose of the DD Council is to serve as the chairperson of a committee.
Your role as a committee chair also means you serve on the Council’s executive committee. What are your responsibilities as an executive committee member?
Sarah: As a member of the Council's executive committee, my top priorities are to attend the monthly meetings, to become more involved in the Council’s long-range planning, and to increase my knowledge about the inner workings of the Council, its ongoing programs, and daily operation.
Edward: As a member of the executive committee, it is my responsibility to help with the Council's work in the most effective manner possible. In the time between meetings of the DD Council, as well as in times of emergency or other time-sensitive situations, the executive committee acts as a decision-making group.
What do you hope your impact will be in this new role on the Council?
Sarah: I am humbled to have been selected to serve as a member of the executive committee. I bring both my own personal experience as someone with a disability as well as my legal knowledge with me to my position. I am eager to support Council staff in their tireless efforts to improve the daily lives of Tennesseans with disabilities and their family members.
Edward: It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve as a representative for people with disabilities. As a member of the Council, you can count on me to serve with enthusiasm, care, attention, and honesty. I want to make sure that the voices of those who have lived experiences of disability are heard in every facet of our community improvement efforts. I want to contribute any and all ideas from those who have lived experiences.
www.tn.gov/cdd/engage-with-us/enews-archive.html
October - 2022
Two of our Governor-appointed Council members are taking on new leadership roles. They each now chair one of our Council committees. That also means they serve on the Council Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is a group that often makes decisions about Council funding and priorities.
Sarah Cripps (Smithville; Upper Cumberland development district; pictured at left below) became the chair of our public policy committee.
Edward Mitchell (Jackson; Southwest development district; pictured at right below) became the chair of our communications committee.
We asked Sarah and Edward to share about their roles and why they are passionate about this work.
Tell us about your role as the chair of your committee.
Sarah: As the Chair of the public policy committee, I am tasked with leading each quarterly meeting of the committee. I help facilitate discussion during each meeting about ideas for public policy proposals and projects of Council members.
Edward: The communications committee is an essential component of the DD Council's external communications. It works to raise the organization's visibility in the public eye. It is the duty of the committee chair to:
- preside over committee sessions,
- record the conclusions of the committee, and
- present those findings to the whole council.
Why is this role important to you?
Sarah: My role as Chair of the public policy committee is important to me because we have seen the power of individuals to influence public policy. That happens through both the passage of legislation and various Council members’ working in tandem with state agencies to improve the lives of Tennesseans with disabilities and their families. It is important to me that persons with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities live as independently as possible.
Edward: As a person who has lived experience as a person with a disability, one of the most concrete ways that I can contribute to the accomplishment of the purpose of the DD Council is to serve as the chairperson of a committee.
Your role as a committee chair also means you serve on the Council’s executive committee. What are your responsibilities as an executive committee member?
Sarah: As a member of the Council's executive committee, my top priorities are to attend the monthly meetings, to become more involved in the Council’s long-range planning, and to increase my knowledge about the inner workings of the Council, its ongoing programs, and daily operation.
Edward: As a member of the executive committee, it is my responsibility to help with the Council's work in the most effective manner possible. In the time between meetings of the DD Council, as well as in times of emergency or other time-sensitive situations, the executive committee acts as a decision-making group.
What do you hope your impact will be in this new role on the Council?
Sarah: I am humbled to have been selected to serve as a member of the executive committee. I bring both my own personal experience as someone with a disability as well as my legal knowledge with me to my position. I am eager to support Council staff in their tireless efforts to improve the daily lives of Tennesseans with disabilities and their family members.
Edward: It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve as a representative for people with disabilities. As a member of the Council, you can count on me to serve with enthusiasm, care, attention, and honesty. I want to make sure that the voices of those who have lived experiences of disability are heard in every facet of our community improvement efforts. I want to contribute any and all ideas from those who have lived experiences.
Advancing Equity: A Financial Toolkit for Individuals with Disabilities
Filed in Disability Employment Financial Planning Equity • By: Edward Mitchell • April 27, 2022
blog.dol.gov/2022/04/27/advancing-equity-a-financial-toolkit-for-individuals-with-disabilities
On March 29, 2003, I experienced an incomplete spinal-cord injury during a hit-and-run bicycle accident, resulting in a diagnosis of quadriplegia. I was a teenager at the time. In the years since, I’ve thrived academically, personally and professionally. Today, I’m pleased to use my experiences to help others do so as well, especially related to financial planning — something top of mind each April, which is Financial Literacy Month.
A key resource I often share is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Secure Your Financial Future: A Financial Toolkit for People with Disabilities. Some basics about finances and savings are universal. But for people with disabilities, additional factors come into play, such as whether they’ve had their disability from birth or acquired it later in life; their diagnosis; access to health care; and their previous work experiences.
Reflecting various life aspects, the Financial Toolkit is not one-size-fits-all. It is a well-organized guide to the five parts of the “work-life cycle”: preparing for a job, starting a job, maintaining a job, changing or losing a job and retiring from a job.
To start with the first, I began preparing for work before I acquired my disability. My father and mother are both career driven, and my brother and I emulated their work ethic. My first work experience was as a volunteer and associate vendor for the Society for African American Cultural Awareness street festival in Jackson, Tenn., an annual festival promoting traditional and contemporary African American heritage. I gained experience in inventory control, money and time management. I also developed an understanding of what work is like. The toolkit has more information about how volunteer work can help develop skills.
My accident overlapped with my first job as a cashier and customer-service representative at a pizza shop. After my injury, I needed to adjust to returning to high school and figure out how to continue working. I had to consider things I had never thought of previously, such as allowing more time to travel to and from work, asking for a uniform accommodation and increasing communication with managers about personal needs and breaks.
In addition, I needed to understand how working might affect disability benefits. The process of working while receiving Supplemental Security Income confused my mother and me, and this created setbacks on my employment journey. For example, I did not have a clear understanding of the trial work period, a work incentive through SSI. If the toolkit had existed then, it could have prevented countless letters and trips to the local Social Security office.
My employment journey included higher education, and navigating college required the same skills and techniques I developed while adapting to work as a person with a disability. During college and my Master of Business Administration program, I self-advocated by alerting my professors to the reasonable accommodations I would need to succeed.
Reading about my journey, you might assume I ran carefree through the daffodils of the work world, but I tiptoed carefully through the tulips. Even with my experience and education, my path has been far from smooth. For instance, I did not have a frame of reference or tools to search for a professional job. I grappled with the question of when and how to acknowledge my disability during the resume and job-interview process.
While I sometimes felt alone, the truth is that many job-seekers with disabilities seek answers to the same questions. The toolkit is a figurative Swiss army knife — a multifaceted tool that helps individuals with disabilities carve a career and financial independence roadmap. In fact, although I now have 18 years of professional experience, it is still a valuable resource for me; I am using the savings tools to realize my goal of homeownership.
I am proud to have built a life that brings both my parents and me pride, especially given that statistics show that Black people with disabilities experience the highest poverty rate. That’s another reason why I’m committed, this month and every month, to helping others with disabilities achieve their dreams.
Edward Mitchell is an independent living specialist and outreach coordinator who works in Jackson, Tenn. He also serves as an Achieving a Better Life Experience ambassador for the National Disability Institute, helping educate people with disabilities about ABLE Accounts and other strategies to assist people with disabilities to plan and save for their future.
Tags:
Filed in Disability Employment Financial Planning Equity • By: Edward Mitchell • April 27, 2022
blog.dol.gov/2022/04/27/advancing-equity-a-financial-toolkit-for-individuals-with-disabilities
On March 29, 2003, I experienced an incomplete spinal-cord injury during a hit-and-run bicycle accident, resulting in a diagnosis of quadriplegia. I was a teenager at the time. In the years since, I’ve thrived academically, personally and professionally. Today, I’m pleased to use my experiences to help others do so as well, especially related to financial planning — something top of mind each April, which is Financial Literacy Month.
A key resource I often share is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Secure Your Financial Future: A Financial Toolkit for People with Disabilities. Some basics about finances and savings are universal. But for people with disabilities, additional factors come into play, such as whether they’ve had their disability from birth or acquired it later in life; their diagnosis; access to health care; and their previous work experiences.
Reflecting various life aspects, the Financial Toolkit is not one-size-fits-all. It is a well-organized guide to the five parts of the “work-life cycle”: preparing for a job, starting a job, maintaining a job, changing or losing a job and retiring from a job.
To start with the first, I began preparing for work before I acquired my disability. My father and mother are both career driven, and my brother and I emulated their work ethic. My first work experience was as a volunteer and associate vendor for the Society for African American Cultural Awareness street festival in Jackson, Tenn., an annual festival promoting traditional and contemporary African American heritage. I gained experience in inventory control, money and time management. I also developed an understanding of what work is like. The toolkit has more information about how volunteer work can help develop skills.
My accident overlapped with my first job as a cashier and customer-service representative at a pizza shop. After my injury, I needed to adjust to returning to high school and figure out how to continue working. I had to consider things I had never thought of previously, such as allowing more time to travel to and from work, asking for a uniform accommodation and increasing communication with managers about personal needs and breaks.
In addition, I needed to understand how working might affect disability benefits. The process of working while receiving Supplemental Security Income confused my mother and me, and this created setbacks on my employment journey. For example, I did not have a clear understanding of the trial work period, a work incentive through SSI. If the toolkit had existed then, it could have prevented countless letters and trips to the local Social Security office.
My employment journey included higher education, and navigating college required the same skills and techniques I developed while adapting to work as a person with a disability. During college and my Master of Business Administration program, I self-advocated by alerting my professors to the reasonable accommodations I would need to succeed.
Reading about my journey, you might assume I ran carefree through the daffodils of the work world, but I tiptoed carefully through the tulips. Even with my experience and education, my path has been far from smooth. For instance, I did not have a frame of reference or tools to search for a professional job. I grappled with the question of when and how to acknowledge my disability during the resume and job-interview process.
While I sometimes felt alone, the truth is that many job-seekers with disabilities seek answers to the same questions. The toolkit is a figurative Swiss army knife — a multifaceted tool that helps individuals with disabilities carve a career and financial independence roadmap. In fact, although I now have 18 years of professional experience, it is still a valuable resource for me; I am using the savings tools to realize my goal of homeownership.
I am proud to have built a life that brings both my parents and me pride, especially given that statistics show that Black people with disabilities experience the highest poverty rate. That’s another reason why I’m committed, this month and every month, to helping others with disabilities achieve their dreams.
Edward Mitchell is an independent living specialist and outreach coordinator who works in Jackson, Tenn. He also serves as an Achieving a Better Life Experience ambassador for the National Disability Institute, helping educate people with disabilities about ABLE Accounts and other strategies to assist people with disabilities to plan and save for their future.
Tags:
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities #BLACKHISTORYMONTH 2022
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=308116558017987&set=pb.100064589355904.-2207520000.&type=3
February 18, 2022
Council member (& JCIL-Jackson Center for Independent Living staff) Edward Mitchell shared with us for #BlackHistoryMonth: "My experience being a Black American has been shaped not only by the experiences of my grandparents, but directly impacted by my parents. Not only are my grandparents college graduates, but my parents are too. My father's and mother's career trajectory allowed my brother and I to experience many different regions of the United States from 1990-2001.
These moves made our family unit resilient, but my parents also instilled in us a sense of cultural pride. That was important, because each move we made, we were in the minority. Being blessed to experience so many new cultures from East to West allowed me to adapt to being a minority within a minority: a Black male with a newly acquired disability.
It was wonderful having the support of the community of Jackson, TN behind me after I was a victim of a hit-and-run accident. I was struck by a truck and tossed into a cornfield, which remains a cold case to this day. There were some tough therapy days when I speculated about what was next for my life. This self-reflection could’ve gotten the best of me. But thinking of what my grandparents have been through, as well as what my parents taught, only pushed me to dig deeper and not fall into regret. I was dealt a bad hand with the accident, but I must make the best of a bad situation and continue to blaze a trail.
I beat the odds of being a minority within a minority: an HBCU graduate of Lane College, then completing my master’s in business administration, as well as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Incorporated (ΑΦΑ), the first intercollegiate historically African American fraternity.
Today, I say it out loud and proud. My name is Edward Mitchell. I am a Black male who has thrived academically, personally, and professionally since becoming disabled with an incomplete spinal cord injury. I dare to create a life that my parents would be proud of!"
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=308116558017987&set=pb.100064589355904.-2207520000.&type=3
February 18, 2022
Council member (& JCIL-Jackson Center for Independent Living staff) Edward Mitchell shared with us for #BlackHistoryMonth: "My experience being a Black American has been shaped not only by the experiences of my grandparents, but directly impacted by my parents. Not only are my grandparents college graduates, but my parents are too. My father's and mother's career trajectory allowed my brother and I to experience many different regions of the United States from 1990-2001.
These moves made our family unit resilient, but my parents also instilled in us a sense of cultural pride. That was important, because each move we made, we were in the minority. Being blessed to experience so many new cultures from East to West allowed me to adapt to being a minority within a minority: a Black male with a newly acquired disability.
It was wonderful having the support of the community of Jackson, TN behind me after I was a victim of a hit-and-run accident. I was struck by a truck and tossed into a cornfield, which remains a cold case to this day. There were some tough therapy days when I speculated about what was next for my life. This self-reflection could’ve gotten the best of me. But thinking of what my grandparents have been through, as well as what my parents taught, only pushed me to dig deeper and not fall into regret. I was dealt a bad hand with the accident, but I must make the best of a bad situation and continue to blaze a trail.
I beat the odds of being a minority within a minority: an HBCU graduate of Lane College, then completing my master’s in business administration, as well as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Incorporated (ΑΦΑ), the first intercollegiate historically African American fraternity.
Today, I say it out loud and proud. My name is Edward Mitchell. I am a Black male who has thrived academically, personally, and professionally since becoming disabled with an incomplete spinal cord injury. I dare to create a life that my parents would be proud of!"
LOCAL TRAILBLAZER SHINES LIGHT ON DISABILITY ADVOCACY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE
APRIL 9, 2021 / WENDY MERCER /
star-center.org/local-trailblazer-shines-light-on-disability-advocacy-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace/
Edward Mitchell made a lasting impression when he landed his first job at Little Caesars Pizza.
As a teenager, Mitchell’s natural charisma, determination, outstanding work ethic, and exceptional character shined through.
“Edward is and always has been an inspiration,” said Kevin Colbert, the Jackson-based Little Caesars franchise owner, who knew immediately during the job interview that Mitchell would be a blessing to his team. “He’s the type of person you just want to be around.” He worked at full capacity in every work station at the restaurant and he motivated everyone around him. “He’s a special individual. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to help others succeed.”
Today, Mitchell is a champion for people with disabilities in the workplace. Mitchell educates employers who want to know how they can accommodate employees with disabilities. “They would ask and I would let them know,” he said. After listening to Mitchell, his own employers were more cognizant about ensuring that everything he needed was within arm’s reach. They also took measurements of his power wheelchair and factored in his turning radius to help him navigate through the office.
April is National Financial Literacy Month and Mitchell is also excited about his new role in educating more people with disabilities about their financial savings options. Mitchell is an ABLE National Resource Center Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Ambassador. ABLE has a new initiative to increase savings account participation in more BIPOC communities by sharing how opening tax-advantaged savings accounts can greatly improve their quality of life.
Kudos to Mitchell for the way he has spent his life investing in others. He currently works as an independent living specialist at the Jackson Center for Independent Living in Tennessee. In that role, he also partners with the STAR Center and refers some JCIL clients for additional programs and resources. As a college student, Mitchell became the first person in a wheelchair to live in the campus dorms when he attended Lane College. This nationally-known disability advocate is also a familiar face as a fan relations coordinator for the Jackson Generals minor league baseball team.
On March 29, Governor Bill Lee appointed Mitchell to a three-year term as a member of the Council on Developmental Disabilities. The March 29 date is especially significant to Mitchell. March 29 is the 18-year anniversary of the day that he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
Mitchell was a new Little Caesars employee when he was severely injured in a hit-and-run accident on March 29, 2003 while riding his bike on Ashport Road. He was hit by a truck and thrown into a ditch. As a result of the injuries sustained, Mitchell has quadriplegia with an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5 and C6 levels. The hit and run driver was never found.
After the devastating accident, Colbert said he never planned on losing Mitchell as a team member.
The Colberts kept in contact with Mitchell while he was in the hospital and they committed to making the necessary modifications and accommodations to welcome him back when he returned to the workplace several months later in a power wheelchair.
Mitchell said they adjusted the counters so that he could access the register. They removed the cabinet doors under the register so that he could seamlessly maneuver his wheelchair in those work stations. They were flexible with his schedule while he was adjusting to his “new normal.” He operated the register, worked on Excel spreadsheets for mass mailers, and kept track of customers’ orders. He also enjoyed going outside to help attract customers to the store by participating in shaker boarding on the sidewalk near the store.
Mitchell and Colbert still maintain an amazing bond more than 18 years later. They regard each other like family.
Colbert has proudly cheered Mitchell on over the years and counts it a blessing to celebrate his milestones. Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Lane College and his MBA in 2011 from Union University. He is a member of the National Black MBA Association and an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
He was confirmed by the Republicans and Democrats of TN to testify before the Washington D.C. – Senate Special Committee on Aging. Mitchell spoke on the hearing title, “Supporting Economic Stability & Self Sufficiency as Americans with Disabilities & their Families Age. In 2019, Mitchell was inducted into the Lane College Hall of Distinction for the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Click on this link to listen in on a podcast interview with Mitchell.
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities - Council Member and ABLE Ambassador Encourages Others to Save for the Future
This week's e-news is here! - How to save money AND keep your benefits, a traveling theater troupe that will come to YOU, and more!
June 4, 2021 · https://mailchi.mp/tn/cddjune1
Edward Mitchell of Jackson, TN was appointed by Governor Lee to represent the Southwest TN development district.
My name is Edward Mitchell, and I was a victim of a hit-and-run bicycle accident in 2003. I was hit by a truck, thrown into a ditch, and found by my little brother. This case remains an open cold case. The accident left me with a C5/C6 incomplete spinal cord injury.
I finished my undergraduate degree at Lane College, a historically Black college, and then got my Master's in Business Administration from Union University. As I got ready for a career, I needed a way to save and still stay in the CHOICES waiver program for nursing care.
That's when my mother and I stumbled across ABLE accounts.
What are ABLE Accounts?
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was established on December 19, 2014. This Act allowed states to set up savings accounts for people with disabilities to use for disability-related expenses. ABLE accounts allow people with a disability to save and invest money without losing their benefits, like Medicaid or Social Security. Money in ABLE accounts is tax-free when used for qualified expenses.
What counts as qualified disability expenses?
"Qualified expenses" are any expenses related to the account owner’s disability. This can include costs for:
Edward speaks before a U.S. Senate Committee on Aging hearing in 2018 about how ABLE Accounts help people with disabilities. Read or watch his testimony here.
I created my account in 2017 with Tennessee's ABLE program ("ABLE TN"). I used this three-state comparison tool from the national ABLE Resource Center to pick the best plan for me. ABLE TN's investment options made the most sense for me because I was using my account for long-term savings.
My ABLE account was key in helping me save for and finally purchase my second wheelchair-accessible van, a 2020 Honda Odyssey Elite. I finally was able to buy it in April 2021, after a long, two-year process. Without my ABLE account, I wouldn't have been able to save for my van.
Now I am saving for my next big purchase: building my own accessible home.
In December 2020, I was chosen to serve as an ABLE National Resource Center Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Ambassador. In this role, I help educate people with disabilities about their financial savings options. This new program focuses on increasing savings account participation in more BIPOC communities. I can help by sharing how opening tax-advantaged savings ABLE accounts can greatly improve their quality of life.
This June marks the five-year anniversary of ABLE TN. It is remarkable how far ABLE accounts have come in such a short amount of time. It is only fitting that the slogan for this 5th year anniversary is "We Are ABLE." For me, this means I was ABLE to conquer that goal of purchasing my wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
I hope this means for other people "YOU ARE ABLE" to achieve all of your dreams and build long-term savings without worrying about risking any of your benefits.
This week's e-news is here! - How to save money AND keep your benefits, a traveling theater troupe that will come to YOU, and more!
June 4, 2021 · https://mailchi.mp/tn/cddjune1
Edward Mitchell of Jackson, TN was appointed by Governor Lee to represent the Southwest TN development district.
My name is Edward Mitchell, and I was a victim of a hit-and-run bicycle accident in 2003. I was hit by a truck, thrown into a ditch, and found by my little brother. This case remains an open cold case. The accident left me with a C5/C6 incomplete spinal cord injury.
I finished my undergraduate degree at Lane College, a historically Black college, and then got my Master's in Business Administration from Union University. As I got ready for a career, I needed a way to save and still stay in the CHOICES waiver program for nursing care.
That's when my mother and I stumbled across ABLE accounts.
What are ABLE Accounts?
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was established on December 19, 2014. This Act allowed states to set up savings accounts for people with disabilities to use for disability-related expenses. ABLE accounts allow people with a disability to save and invest money without losing their benefits, like Medicaid or Social Security. Money in ABLE accounts is tax-free when used for qualified expenses.
What counts as qualified disability expenses?
"Qualified expenses" are any expenses related to the account owner’s disability. This can include costs for:
- Education
- Housing
- Transportation
- Employment training and support
- Assistive technology
- Personal support services
- Wellness; and more
Edward speaks before a U.S. Senate Committee on Aging hearing in 2018 about how ABLE Accounts help people with disabilities. Read or watch his testimony here.
I created my account in 2017 with Tennessee's ABLE program ("ABLE TN"). I used this three-state comparison tool from the national ABLE Resource Center to pick the best plan for me. ABLE TN's investment options made the most sense for me because I was using my account for long-term savings.
My ABLE account was key in helping me save for and finally purchase my second wheelchair-accessible van, a 2020 Honda Odyssey Elite. I finally was able to buy it in April 2021, after a long, two-year process. Without my ABLE account, I wouldn't have been able to save for my van.
Now I am saving for my next big purchase: building my own accessible home.
In December 2020, I was chosen to serve as an ABLE National Resource Center Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Ambassador. In this role, I help educate people with disabilities about their financial savings options. This new program focuses on increasing savings account participation in more BIPOC communities. I can help by sharing how opening tax-advantaged savings ABLE accounts can greatly improve their quality of life.
This June marks the five-year anniversary of ABLE TN. It is remarkable how far ABLE accounts have come in such a short amount of time. It is only fitting that the slogan for this 5th year anniversary is "We Are ABLE." For me, this means I was ABLE to conquer that goal of purchasing my wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
I hope this means for other people "YOU ARE ABLE" to achieve all of your dreams and build long-term savings without worrying about risking any of your benefits.
Living with a disability is very expensive – even with government assistance
Published: March 23, 2021 3.10pm EDT
theconversation.com/living-with-a-disability-is-very-expensive-even-with-government-assistance-157283
Edward Mitchell is 34 years old and lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with a spinal cord injury caused by a hit-and-run accident that happened when he was 17. He has plenty of expenses that all Americans have, like groceries and utilities. But to maintain his independence, he also has to pay for home modifications to accommodate his wheelchair, personal nursing care, dictation tools to help him write and adjustments to his car so he can drive himself to work.
He is just one of the 20 million working-age adults living with disabilities in the U.S., for whom it takes more money to make ends meet because of the additional expenses they face every day.
In a recent working paper published with the National Disability Institute, a nonprofit organization that works to build a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families, we estimated the amount of extra costs associated with living with a disability for Americans ages 18 to 69 years old.
Using data from four nationally representative surveys, we found that adults with disabilities require, on average, 28% more income to achieve an identical standard of living as a household of the same size and income where no one has disabilities – and that’s on top of what is already covered and provided by government programs offering disability benefits. At the median U.S. income level, that amounts to an additional US$17,690 per year.
How The Conversation is different: We explain without oversimplifying.
Learn more Each person’s exact costs are likely to vary depending on which disabilities they have and what specific expenses they face.
Why this matters for how we measure povertyFor people like Edward, it takes more income to achieve the same standard of living as a person without a disability. Yet, the federal poverty guidelines do not take these additional costs into account. This is important because these guidelines are used to determine financial eligibility for many social welfare programs.
Treating his income as the same as a person without a disability ignores the fact that a significant percentage of his earnings are devoted to expenses related to his disability.
We estimate that, if the federal poverty guidelines took into account these extra costs, as many as 2.2 million more people with disabilities would be counted as poor and become eligible for programs like health care and food assistance that people depend on for their basic needs.
What could be done?There is ample precedent for adjusting income figures when determining whether a family is below, at or above the federal poverty level. This is automatic, for instance, based on family size: Larger families can earn more money than smaller ones, and still remain eligible for various benefits.
It objectively costs more to raise a family of four than a family of three. The same is true for people with disabilities. Income eligibility guidelines for programs such as housing assistance and medical insurance – all of which are already adjusted for family size – could also be adjusted to compensate for the extra costs of disability.
Such an adjustment would be in line with current U.S. policies that already recognize these extra costs. For example, to receive food assistance, a household of three cannot earn more than $2,353 a month and cannot have cash assets greater than $2,250. However, if the household has a member with a disability, the household can have assets up to $3,500.
Another option would be to create a disability living allowance program that helps cover the unavoidable costs of living with a disability. At present, U.S. disability support programs only provide benefits if the person can prove that they are unable to work for a year or longer. This means that millions of people with disabilities who can work are provided no support for their extra costs of living.
In the U.K., by contrast, the Personal Independence Program provides cash benefits to help adults with the extra costs of living with a disability – regardless of whether they are able to work. That program and others in Sweden, New Zealand and Fiji help people with disabilities find, keep and build economic security in ways the U.S. does not.
Published: March 23, 2021 3.10pm EDT
theconversation.com/living-with-a-disability-is-very-expensive-even-with-government-assistance-157283
Edward Mitchell is 34 years old and lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with a spinal cord injury caused by a hit-and-run accident that happened when he was 17. He has plenty of expenses that all Americans have, like groceries and utilities. But to maintain his independence, he also has to pay for home modifications to accommodate his wheelchair, personal nursing care, dictation tools to help him write and adjustments to his car so he can drive himself to work.
He is just one of the 20 million working-age adults living with disabilities in the U.S., for whom it takes more money to make ends meet because of the additional expenses they face every day.
In a recent working paper published with the National Disability Institute, a nonprofit organization that works to build a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families, we estimated the amount of extra costs associated with living with a disability for Americans ages 18 to 69 years old.
Using data from four nationally representative surveys, we found that adults with disabilities require, on average, 28% more income to achieve an identical standard of living as a household of the same size and income where no one has disabilities – and that’s on top of what is already covered and provided by government programs offering disability benefits. At the median U.S. income level, that amounts to an additional US$17,690 per year.
How The Conversation is different: We explain without oversimplifying.
Learn more Each person’s exact costs are likely to vary depending on which disabilities they have and what specific expenses they face.
Why this matters for how we measure povertyFor people like Edward, it takes more income to achieve the same standard of living as a person without a disability. Yet, the federal poverty guidelines do not take these additional costs into account. This is important because these guidelines are used to determine financial eligibility for many social welfare programs.
Treating his income as the same as a person without a disability ignores the fact that a significant percentage of his earnings are devoted to expenses related to his disability.
We estimate that, if the federal poverty guidelines took into account these extra costs, as many as 2.2 million more people with disabilities would be counted as poor and become eligible for programs like health care and food assistance that people depend on for their basic needs.
What could be done?There is ample precedent for adjusting income figures when determining whether a family is below, at or above the federal poverty level. This is automatic, for instance, based on family size: Larger families can earn more money than smaller ones, and still remain eligible for various benefits.
It objectively costs more to raise a family of four than a family of three. The same is true for people with disabilities. Income eligibility guidelines for programs such as housing assistance and medical insurance – all of which are already adjusted for family size – could also be adjusted to compensate for the extra costs of disability.
Such an adjustment would be in line with current U.S. policies that already recognize these extra costs. For example, to receive food assistance, a household of three cannot earn more than $2,353 a month and cannot have cash assets greater than $2,250. However, if the household has a member with a disability, the household can have assets up to $3,500.
Another option would be to create a disability living allowance program that helps cover the unavoidable costs of living with a disability. At present, U.S. disability support programs only provide benefits if the person can prove that they are unable to work for a year or longer. This means that millions of people with disabilities who can work are provided no support for their extra costs of living.
In the U.K., by contrast, the Personal Independence Program provides cash benefits to help adults with the extra costs of living with a disability – regardless of whether they are able to work. That program and others in Sweden, New Zealand and Fiji help people with disabilities find, keep and build economic security in ways the U.S. does not.
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities - Meet New Council Member Edward Mitchell
This week's e-news is here! Meet Edward Mitchell, our new Council member; apply to our Partners program; & find upcoming events, surveys that need your input, & other TN disability news to know.
https://mailchi.mp/tn/cddmarchnews2
March 26, 2021 ·FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 29, 2021
Jackson Local Appointed by Governor to Council on Developmental Disabilities
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Bill Lee has appointed Jackson resident Edward Mitchell to a three-year term as a member of the Council on Developmental Disabilities.
The Council on Developmental Disabilities is a state government agency that works to bring positive change to the disability services system in Tennessee.
Edward Mitchell of Jackson, TN was recently appointed to the Council by Governor Lee.
Edward is currently an independent living specialist at the Jackson Center for Independent Living. He is also the fan relations coordinator for the Jackson Generals minor league baseball team.
Edward was chosen in 2018 as an ambassador for the ABLE National Resource Center. ABLE savings accounts allow people with disabilities and their families to set aside funds without losing other benefits. In that role, Edward testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington, D.C. He was recently named by the Resource Center as a Black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) ambassador to connect minority communities to information about ABLE accounts.
Edward earned his bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Lane College, a private, historically black college/university, and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He joined the National Black MBA Association and earned his MBA in 2011 from Union University. Edward was inducted in 2019 to the Lane College Hall of Distinction for the Young Alumni Achievement Award.
Welcome to the Council, Edward!
This week's e-news is here! Meet Edward Mitchell, our new Council member; apply to our Partners program; & find upcoming events, surveys that need your input, & other TN disability news to know.
https://mailchi.mp/tn/cddmarchnews2
March 26, 2021 ·FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 29, 2021
Jackson Local Appointed by Governor to Council on Developmental Disabilities
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Bill Lee has appointed Jackson resident Edward Mitchell to a three-year term as a member of the Council on Developmental Disabilities.
The Council on Developmental Disabilities is a state government agency that works to bring positive change to the disability services system in Tennessee.
Edward Mitchell of Jackson, TN was recently appointed to the Council by Governor Lee.
Edward is currently an independent living specialist at the Jackson Center for Independent Living. He is also the fan relations coordinator for the Jackson Generals minor league baseball team.
Edward was chosen in 2018 as an ambassador for the ABLE National Resource Center. ABLE savings accounts allow people with disabilities and their families to set aside funds without losing other benefits. In that role, Edward testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington, D.C. He was recently named by the Resource Center as a Black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) ambassador to connect minority communities to information about ABLE accounts.
Edward earned his bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Lane College, a private, historically black college/university, and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He joined the National Black MBA Association and earned his MBA in 2011 from Union University. Edward was inducted in 2019 to the Lane College Hall of Distinction for the Young Alumni Achievement Award.
Welcome to the Council, Edward!
Multiplying Good: Edward Mitchell
October 31, 2020 Teri Jelks ABC WBBJTV
https://www.wbbjtv.com/2020/10/31/multiplying-good-edward-mitchell/
It’s time for Multiplying Good, an award given to people making a positive impact in the community. It’s in partnership with Leaders Credit Union.
Edward Mitchell is a local man who has overcame major obstacles, and is helping others do the same.
“What I admire most about him is, he’s so involved in helping others that he never stops to think about his own situation,” said Sandy Mitchell Jr., Edward Mitchell’s father.
Edward Mitchell is a man on a mission to help and advocate for people living with a disability because for him, the cause is personal.
“March 29, 2003, when I was a victim of a hit-and-run accident. I was struck by a truck and tossed into a cornfield,” Edward Mitchell said.
The incident left him paralyzed from the chest down, unable to walk and unable to fully use his arms and hands. He says that is the day his life took on a new purpose.
“I had to learn how to operate using a wheelchair, and it really changed from being an able-bodied person, to a disabled-body person and just really making the most of it,” Edward Mitchell said.
Edward Mitchell went on to graduate from college with a Bachelors and Master’s Degree. He learned how to drive a modified van on his own, and even testified before the U.S. Senate at their hearing to support the Economic Stability and Self-Sufficiency of Americans with Disabilities.
“It’s important to me, because no matter if you have a spinal cord injury or any type of injury, this doesn’t define you. This is just one roadblock that you can push through, one speed bump that you will get over,” Edward Mitchell said.
Now, as an independent living specialist for the Jackson Center for Independent Living, he is able to encourage people going through a similar journey. He even helps supply them with the necessary medical equipment.
“One of our mandates is that half of our staff and half of our board members have disabilities because it helps someone else with a disability to understand and to relate, and Edward is so good at that,” said JCIL Director Beth James.
“You know, people talk about their heroes. He is my hero,” Sandy Mitchell Jr. said.
He says his son inspires him to reach for his goals and lend a helping hand along the way.
“There is no ceiling. There is no limit, and I can’t wait to see what, what is going to happen next,” Sandy Mitchell Jr. said.
“I want to make other people’s experiences easier on them, so they don’t have to hit those speed bumps and they can get to their next goal,” Edward Mitchell said.
Edward Mitchell says he plans to buy a new wheelchair accessible van, save for a home and continue helping others reach their full potential.
October 31, 2020 Teri Jelks ABC WBBJTV
https://www.wbbjtv.com/2020/10/31/multiplying-good-edward-mitchell/
It’s time for Multiplying Good, an award given to people making a positive impact in the community. It’s in partnership with Leaders Credit Union.
Edward Mitchell is a local man who has overcame major obstacles, and is helping others do the same.
“What I admire most about him is, he’s so involved in helping others that he never stops to think about his own situation,” said Sandy Mitchell Jr., Edward Mitchell’s father.
Edward Mitchell is a man on a mission to help and advocate for people living with a disability because for him, the cause is personal.
“March 29, 2003, when I was a victim of a hit-and-run accident. I was struck by a truck and tossed into a cornfield,” Edward Mitchell said.
The incident left him paralyzed from the chest down, unable to walk and unable to fully use his arms and hands. He says that is the day his life took on a new purpose.
“I had to learn how to operate using a wheelchair, and it really changed from being an able-bodied person, to a disabled-body person and just really making the most of it,” Edward Mitchell said.
Edward Mitchell went on to graduate from college with a Bachelors and Master’s Degree. He learned how to drive a modified van on his own, and even testified before the U.S. Senate at their hearing to support the Economic Stability and Self-Sufficiency of Americans with Disabilities.
“It’s important to me, because no matter if you have a spinal cord injury or any type of injury, this doesn’t define you. This is just one roadblock that you can push through, one speed bump that you will get over,” Edward Mitchell said.
Now, as an independent living specialist for the Jackson Center for Independent Living, he is able to encourage people going through a similar journey. He even helps supply them with the necessary medical equipment.
“One of our mandates is that half of our staff and half of our board members have disabilities because it helps someone else with a disability to understand and to relate, and Edward is so good at that,” said JCIL Director Beth James.
“You know, people talk about their heroes. He is my hero,” Sandy Mitchell Jr. said.
He says his son inspires him to reach for his goals and lend a helping hand along the way.
“There is no ceiling. There is no limit, and I can’t wait to see what, what is going to happen next,” Sandy Mitchell Jr. said.
“I want to make other people’s experiences easier on them, so they don’t have to hit those speed bumps and they can get to their next goal,” Edward Mitchell said.
Edward Mitchell says he plans to buy a new wheelchair accessible van, save for a home and continue helping others reach their full potential.
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities - #DisabilityMeans finding a place to belong and excel
June 19, 2020 - www.facebook.com/TNCouncilonDD/photos/pb.100064589355904.-2207520000./3370032353030949/?type=3
Edward Mitchell didn’t choose Lane College. Lane College chose him.
Edward was a lot like most high school students. He did his best in school but wasn’t thinking too seriously about his college plans. His path changed on March 29, 2003, when a bike ride with his brother ended in a hit-and-run. The accident left Edward with a permanent spinal cord injury. The driver of the truck that hit him was never found.
Lane College didn’t seem a likely choice for Edward. The small, Historically Black College had never had a student with a mobility disability. The campus was not physically accessible. But Dr. Wesley Cornelius McClure was president of the college, and he had his eye on Edward.
“Dr. McClure had taken a keen interest in me before my accident, but even more so afterward,” Edward says. He told Edward to stop looking at other options; Lane College was the place for him. Edward and his parents were skeptical. “I had enough issues with accessibility,” Edward says. “I didn’t need to go to a college where I couldn’t get into the classrooms or offices.” But Dr. McClure was firm. The campus would be accessible by the time Edward got there, he assured the Mitchells.
It was. Edward received a well-earned full scholarship to Lane College. When he arrived for his freshman year, not only was he able to get to all his classes, but Dr. McClure had made sure the dormitory was accessible so Edward could live on campus with his classmates.
“My college life was like any other hard-working student,” Edward says. “No slack was given to me because of my disability.” He took full advantage of the opportunities at Lane College. He took a full class load every semester. He was the first person with a disability to join Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest black Greek-letter organization in the U.S. He graduated on time with high honors.
But Lane College wasn’t done with Edward yet. Upon his graduation, Dr. McClure offered Edward a job on staff. “This was monumental,” Edward says. “He saw something in me and saw value in my continued presence.” Edward worked for Lane College from 2009 until 2014. With the full support of Dr. McClure, he also completed his MBA from Union University during that time.
Today, Edward works for the Jackson Center for Independent Living. He has testified before the United States Congress as a national ambassador for ABLE savings accounts. (For more, see our Breaking Ground article about Edward’s advocacy: https://bit.ly/BGEdwardMitchell.) In 2019, he was inducted into the Lane College Hall of Distinction for the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Inductees have “set a standard of excellence in their chosen field, demonstrated significant professional accomplishment, and exemplified the educational mission of the College.”
Dr. Wesley McClure and Lane College gave Edward an opening. Edward took it from there.
June 19, 2020 - www.facebook.com/TNCouncilonDD/photos/pb.100064589355904.-2207520000./3370032353030949/?type=3
Edward Mitchell didn’t choose Lane College. Lane College chose him.
Edward was a lot like most high school students. He did his best in school but wasn’t thinking too seriously about his college plans. His path changed on March 29, 2003, when a bike ride with his brother ended in a hit-and-run. The accident left Edward with a permanent spinal cord injury. The driver of the truck that hit him was never found.
Lane College didn’t seem a likely choice for Edward. The small, Historically Black College had never had a student with a mobility disability. The campus was not physically accessible. But Dr. Wesley Cornelius McClure was president of the college, and he had his eye on Edward.
“Dr. McClure had taken a keen interest in me before my accident, but even more so afterward,” Edward says. He told Edward to stop looking at other options; Lane College was the place for him. Edward and his parents were skeptical. “I had enough issues with accessibility,” Edward says. “I didn’t need to go to a college where I couldn’t get into the classrooms or offices.” But Dr. McClure was firm. The campus would be accessible by the time Edward got there, he assured the Mitchells.
It was. Edward received a well-earned full scholarship to Lane College. When he arrived for his freshman year, not only was he able to get to all his classes, but Dr. McClure had made sure the dormitory was accessible so Edward could live on campus with his classmates.
“My college life was like any other hard-working student,” Edward says. “No slack was given to me because of my disability.” He took full advantage of the opportunities at Lane College. He took a full class load every semester. He was the first person with a disability to join Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest black Greek-letter organization in the U.S. He graduated on time with high honors.
But Lane College wasn’t done with Edward yet. Upon his graduation, Dr. McClure offered Edward a job on staff. “This was monumental,” Edward says. “He saw something in me and saw value in my continued presence.” Edward worked for Lane College from 2009 until 2014. With the full support of Dr. McClure, he also completed his MBA from Union University during that time.
Today, Edward works for the Jackson Center for Independent Living. He has testified before the United States Congress as a national ambassador for ABLE savings accounts. (For more, see our Breaking Ground article about Edward’s advocacy: https://bit.ly/BGEdwardMitchell.) In 2019, he was inducted into the Lane College Hall of Distinction for the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Inductees have “set a standard of excellence in their chosen field, demonstrated significant professional accomplishment, and exemplified the educational mission of the College.”
Dr. Wesley McClure and Lane College gave Edward an opening. Edward took it from there.
People with disabilities can now set some financial goals thanks to this game-changer
PUBLISHED SUN, DEC 15 201910:16 AM ESTUPDATED MON, DEC 16 20193:44 PM EST Jill Cornfield@JILL_CORNFIELD
www.cnbc.com/2019/12/13/an-account-helps-level-the-economic-playing-field-for-disabled-people.html
How ABLE accounts are changing the lives of the disabled There’s one form of discrimination that the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act didn’t fix: economic.
Until recently, people who were eligible for federal assistance programs such as Medicaid and SSI still faced an uneven playing ground. Using these programs meant you could not have assets over $2,000, a paltry amount when you consider life’s various costs.
In order to stay under the cap, people routinely spent money monthly on non-essentials, such as extra clothes or DVDs. One family purchased 100 pairs of socks for their son to avoid having too much money. The one thing they couldn’t do with that money was park it in a savings or investment account to save for their future.
The asset cap was put into place in 1964, says Chip Gerhardt, a registered lobbyist in Ohio and one of the advocates who worked on federal and state legislation for ABLE accounts. “The [limit] never went up,” he said.
Financial life for people with disabilities has been truly dire, says Miranda Kennedy, director of the ABLE National Resource Center.
An estimated 31.5% of people age 21 to 64 with a cognitive disability in the U.S. were living below the poverty line in 2017, according to Cornell University. People with a disability are more than three times likely to have extreme difficulty paying their bills, Kennedy says.
The problem of poverty in the disability community has long been almost universally recognized, and legislators as well as disability advocates began scouting solutions in recent years.
Looking for an answerInitial proposals considered Social Security or Medicaid as possible solutions, but those programs were too unwieldy to alter directly.
Ultimately, the idea of amending the 529 college savings program was floated, and momentum began building in 2010 or 2011. “It was a good vehicle,” Gerhardt said. “Simple to understand, and most people had one.”
After years of bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law in 2014 by President Obama. The tax-advantaged accounts would give disabled people a way to save more, under the same tax code that created 529 college savings plans.
Financial life for people with disabilities was really dire. - Miranda Kennedy DIRECTOR OF THE ABLE NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER
People can save up to $100,000 in an ABLE account with annual contributions up to $15,000, without jeopardizing federal assistance programs. Unlike 529 college savings plans, a person can have only one ABLE account in their name. The accountholder must be younger than 26 when diagnosed with a disability. Investment growth is tax-free, as are withdrawals for qualified expenses.
“ABLE is the first thing in many years that starts to chip away at that archaic system,” says JJ Hanley, director of the Illinois state program.
“It’s a substantial change, so forward-thinking,” Hanley said. “An individual can now build self-reliance while receiving needed support.”
Not a slam dunkIt took another two years for the accounts to roll out.
“We were very excited with the program Congress created,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs. Unfortunately, setting it up wasn’t easy. Financial services firms were reluctant to work with Illinois, and they had trouble getting bidders.
It was a matter of numbers: The state had more than 600,000 college savings 529 accounts with some $12 billion in assets. The highest estimate for ABLE accounts was far, far smaller: Perhaps 30,000 to 35,000 families in the state would use them
Also, Frerichs says, potential partners felt the accounts would have more in common with checking accounts. A parent might set up a college 529 plan for a newborn. “You’d have 18 years before using it,” he said. “With an ABLE account, you might put money in today and then need something next month, for a wheelchair or medical expense.”
Other states, like Kansas, were having the same problem. By forming an alliance — initially, the request for proposals included 10 states — they were able to make the program more attractive to financial services firms. The initial request for proposals included 10 states, making it larger than the state of California, which helped negotiate favorable rates.
Illinois now has about 1,200 accounts funded, with over $7.5 million saved. The alliance in total has more than 10,000 accounts, with about $67 million in assets.
As of November, ABLE account owners on the Ascensus platform have contributed $51.9 million in savings and withdrawn $16.7 million to pay for qualified expenses. Ascensus is the program administrator for 20 state ABLE programs and Washington, D.C.
Changes for wage-earners
In 2017, the ABLE to Work Act passed, allowing accountholders who earn a salary to contribute above the $15,000 limit.
“The ABLE is game-changer for anyone [with a disability],” said Edward Mitchell, 33.
Mitchell’s life changed forever when he was hit by a truck at age 16. While biking to work, a hit-and-run driver caused a spinal cord injury. About 17,700 people sustain a spinal cord injury each year in the U.S.
An independent living specialist in Jackson, Tennessee, Mitchell keeps his hours to part-time and works at reduced salaries to maintain benefits and needed nursing support. He is also a fan relations coordinator for a minor league baseball team.
Family and friends can now contribute to his account for technology and medical expenses. Mitchell is saving for a wheelchair-accessible van. “I wish they’d been around when I first had my accident,” he said.
PUBLISHED SUN, DEC 15 201910:16 AM ESTUPDATED MON, DEC 16 20193:44 PM EST Jill Cornfield@JILL_CORNFIELD
www.cnbc.com/2019/12/13/an-account-helps-level-the-economic-playing-field-for-disabled-people.html
How ABLE accounts are changing the lives of the disabled There’s one form of discrimination that the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act didn’t fix: economic.
Until recently, people who were eligible for federal assistance programs such as Medicaid and SSI still faced an uneven playing ground. Using these programs meant you could not have assets over $2,000, a paltry amount when you consider life’s various costs.
In order to stay under the cap, people routinely spent money monthly on non-essentials, such as extra clothes or DVDs. One family purchased 100 pairs of socks for their son to avoid having too much money. The one thing they couldn’t do with that money was park it in a savings or investment account to save for their future.
The asset cap was put into place in 1964, says Chip Gerhardt, a registered lobbyist in Ohio and one of the advocates who worked on federal and state legislation for ABLE accounts. “The [limit] never went up,” he said.
Financial life for people with disabilities has been truly dire, says Miranda Kennedy, director of the ABLE National Resource Center.
An estimated 31.5% of people age 21 to 64 with a cognitive disability in the U.S. were living below the poverty line in 2017, according to Cornell University. People with a disability are more than three times likely to have extreme difficulty paying their bills, Kennedy says.
The problem of poverty in the disability community has long been almost universally recognized, and legislators as well as disability advocates began scouting solutions in recent years.
Looking for an answerInitial proposals considered Social Security or Medicaid as possible solutions, but those programs were too unwieldy to alter directly.
Ultimately, the idea of amending the 529 college savings program was floated, and momentum began building in 2010 or 2011. “It was a good vehicle,” Gerhardt said. “Simple to understand, and most people had one.”
After years of bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law in 2014 by President Obama. The tax-advantaged accounts would give disabled people a way to save more, under the same tax code that created 529 college savings plans.
Financial life for people with disabilities was really dire. - Miranda Kennedy DIRECTOR OF THE ABLE NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER
People can save up to $100,000 in an ABLE account with annual contributions up to $15,000, without jeopardizing federal assistance programs. Unlike 529 college savings plans, a person can have only one ABLE account in their name. The accountholder must be younger than 26 when diagnosed with a disability. Investment growth is tax-free, as are withdrawals for qualified expenses.
“ABLE is the first thing in many years that starts to chip away at that archaic system,” says JJ Hanley, director of the Illinois state program.
“It’s a substantial change, so forward-thinking,” Hanley said. “An individual can now build self-reliance while receiving needed support.”
Not a slam dunkIt took another two years for the accounts to roll out.
“We were very excited with the program Congress created,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs. Unfortunately, setting it up wasn’t easy. Financial services firms were reluctant to work with Illinois, and they had trouble getting bidders.
It was a matter of numbers: The state had more than 600,000 college savings 529 accounts with some $12 billion in assets. The highest estimate for ABLE accounts was far, far smaller: Perhaps 30,000 to 35,000 families in the state would use them
Also, Frerichs says, potential partners felt the accounts would have more in common with checking accounts. A parent might set up a college 529 plan for a newborn. “You’d have 18 years before using it,” he said. “With an ABLE account, you might put money in today and then need something next month, for a wheelchair or medical expense.”
Other states, like Kansas, were having the same problem. By forming an alliance — initially, the request for proposals included 10 states — they were able to make the program more attractive to financial services firms. The initial request for proposals included 10 states, making it larger than the state of California, which helped negotiate favorable rates.
Illinois now has about 1,200 accounts funded, with over $7.5 million saved. The alliance in total has more than 10,000 accounts, with about $67 million in assets.
As of November, ABLE account owners on the Ascensus platform have contributed $51.9 million in savings and withdrawn $16.7 million to pay for qualified expenses. Ascensus is the program administrator for 20 state ABLE programs and Washington, D.C.
Changes for wage-earners
In 2017, the ABLE to Work Act passed, allowing accountholders who earn a salary to contribute above the $15,000 limit.
“The ABLE is game-changer for anyone [with a disability],” said Edward Mitchell, 33.
Mitchell’s life changed forever when he was hit by a truck at age 16. While biking to work, a hit-and-run driver caused a spinal cord injury. About 17,700 people sustain a spinal cord injury each year in the U.S.
An independent living specialist in Jackson, Tennessee, Mitchell keeps his hours to part-time and works at reduced salaries to maintain benefits and needed nursing support. He is also a fan relations coordinator for a minor league baseball team.
Family and friends can now contribute to his account for technology and medical expenses. Mitchell is saving for a wheelchair-accessible van. “I wish they’d been around when I first had my accident,” he said.
Jackson man testifies in D.C. on issues facing those with disabilities
July 25, 2018 by Josh Robinson WBBJTV ABC
www.wbbjtv.com/2018/07/25/jackson-man-testifies-in-d-c-on-issues-facing-those-with-disabilities/
JACKSON, Tenn. — A Jackson man is fighting to better the lives of people with disabilities across the country.
“My story starts back in 2003,” said Edward Mitchell, an independent living specialist. “I was a victim of a hit-and-run on Ashport Road.”
Mitchell was on his bike when a truck hit him 15 years ago. He is now a quadriplegic.
Mitchell just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where he spoke to senators about ways to help people with disabilities. “I’m a national spokesman for the ABLE savings account program,” he said.
He went to testify about these accounts which allow people with disabilities to save money without paying taxes and keep other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid.
“They directed questions towards me about my work experience, what are some things that are holding me back, what things I’ve encountered when I’ve had to turn down job offers,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell can only work part time to qualify for the benefits that help him pay for things like his wheelchair and his van.
When he’s not in D.C. fighting to better the lives of people with disabilities across the country, Mitchell is here in Jackson working not one but two part-time jobs.
“I split my time between here [the Jackson Center for Independent Living] and the Jackson Generals. I’m a fan relations coordinator. When you come in, I’m a liaison between the front office and the fans,” Mitchell said. Mitchell will continue to be an ambassador for the ABLE account program this year.
July 25, 2018 by Josh Robinson WBBJTV ABC
www.wbbjtv.com/2018/07/25/jackson-man-testifies-in-d-c-on-issues-facing-those-with-disabilities/
JACKSON, Tenn. — A Jackson man is fighting to better the lives of people with disabilities across the country.
“My story starts back in 2003,” said Edward Mitchell, an independent living specialist. “I was a victim of a hit-and-run on Ashport Road.”
Mitchell was on his bike when a truck hit him 15 years ago. He is now a quadriplegic.
Mitchell just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where he spoke to senators about ways to help people with disabilities. “I’m a national spokesman for the ABLE savings account program,” he said.
He went to testify about these accounts which allow people with disabilities to save money without paying taxes and keep other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid.
“They directed questions towards me about my work experience, what are some things that are holding me back, what things I’ve encountered when I’ve had to turn down job offers,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell can only work part time to qualify for the benefits that help him pay for things like his wheelchair and his van.
When he’s not in D.C. fighting to better the lives of people with disabilities across the country, Mitchell is here in Jackson working not one but two part-time jobs.
“I split my time between here [the Jackson Center for Independent Living] and the Jackson Generals. I’m a fan relations coordinator. When you come in, I’m a liaison between the front office and the fans,” Mitchell said. Mitchell will continue to be an ambassador for the ABLE account program this year.
Edward Mitchell Day
Published on March 29th - 2011 - The Jackson-sun Newspaper
Edward Mitchell, a graduate student at Union University, has been paralyzed since he was struck in a hit-and-run accident in 2003. The case is unsolved. Mitchell and his family plan to place a billboard near the scene of the accident to ask for tips in the case.
Eight years after being hit by a driver while riding his bike, a Madison County resident is hoping a billboard will rekindle a memory in the case.
Within the next couple of weeks, Edward Mitchell and his family will place a billboard near the scene of the hit-and-run accident that paralyzed him in March 2003. The billboard on U.S. 45 near Ashport Road will ask for tips in the case. Mitchell has said it was an older-model dark SUV similar to a Jeep Wrangler that hit him that afternoon near his home.
"We just wanted to bring attention to the fact that the person that hit me was never caught," said Mitchell, who was 16 years old at the time of the accident. "We're trying to generate more leads and hope that someone who knows something will speak out now. (We want to) bring it full circle and find some closure."
There is no statue of limitations in the case because of the violent nature of the hit-and-run, said Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork. He believes someone has information on the case that can lead to an arrest eight years later. "At that time, we looked for every vehicle that matched (the description), but the leads have grown cold." Woolfork said.
Catching whoever was involved is important to Mitchell, but he's never let the injuries slow him down. Now 24, Mitchell is working on his master's degree in business at Union University after graduating from Lane College in 2009. After he completes his master's, he may look to earn a doctorate and is eyeing a career in politics.
Mitchell wants to be an advocate for people with disabilities. "Not giving up (is important) because we've seen others give up in my situation — just knowing it isn't the end of life," he said. Mitchell has been able resume driving over the last two years. He continues physical therapy and independent living with the ambition to walk again.
Since March 2003, he's kept strong through belief and prayer. At the time of the accident, Mitchell's younger brother, Rendell Mitchell, had gone home to put air in a flat tire. He returned minutes later to find his sibling on the side of the road.
"I'm always thankful that it happened to me and not my little brother," Mitchell said.
Mitchell's advice to others facing unforeseen challenges is to "keep pushing and knowing you can continue to work and live a productive life."
Published on March 29th - 2011 - The Jackson-sun Newspaper
Edward Mitchell, a graduate student at Union University, has been paralyzed since he was struck in a hit-and-run accident in 2003. The case is unsolved. Mitchell and his family plan to place a billboard near the scene of the accident to ask for tips in the case.
Eight years after being hit by a driver while riding his bike, a Madison County resident is hoping a billboard will rekindle a memory in the case.
Within the next couple of weeks, Edward Mitchell and his family will place a billboard near the scene of the hit-and-run accident that paralyzed him in March 2003. The billboard on U.S. 45 near Ashport Road will ask for tips in the case. Mitchell has said it was an older-model dark SUV similar to a Jeep Wrangler that hit him that afternoon near his home.
"We just wanted to bring attention to the fact that the person that hit me was never caught," said Mitchell, who was 16 years old at the time of the accident. "We're trying to generate more leads and hope that someone who knows something will speak out now. (We want to) bring it full circle and find some closure."
There is no statue of limitations in the case because of the violent nature of the hit-and-run, said Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork. He believes someone has information on the case that can lead to an arrest eight years later. "At that time, we looked for every vehicle that matched (the description), but the leads have grown cold." Woolfork said.
Catching whoever was involved is important to Mitchell, but he's never let the injuries slow him down. Now 24, Mitchell is working on his master's degree in business at Union University after graduating from Lane College in 2009. After he completes his master's, he may look to earn a doctorate and is eyeing a career in politics.
Mitchell wants to be an advocate for people with disabilities. "Not giving up (is important) because we've seen others give up in my situation — just knowing it isn't the end of life," he said. Mitchell has been able resume driving over the last two years. He continues physical therapy and independent living with the ambition to walk again.
Since March 2003, he's kept strong through belief and prayer. At the time of the accident, Mitchell's younger brother, Rendell Mitchell, had gone home to put air in a flat tire. He returned minutes later to find his sibling on the side of the road.
"I'm always thankful that it happened to me and not my little brother," Mitchell said.
Mitchell's advice to others facing unforeseen challenges is to "keep pushing and knowing you can continue to work and live a productive life."
Kwanzaa event huge draw
T.R. White Sportsplex is the setting for the 19th annual cultural event
December 21,2006
James Theus Jr. said the turnout of more than 250 people of different races, cultures and nationalities on a rainy Saturday night encouraged him to continue planning Kwanzaa programs in Jackson. Theus is a co-founder of the Society for African-American Cultural Awareness, which organized Saturday's 19th annual Kwanzaa celebration at the T.R. White Sports Complex. "It gives me strength to know that people are hearing about Kwanzaa and are celebrating Kwanzaa," he said. "It motivates me to continue going on with the Kwanzaa programs. If we want our Kwanzaa to continue to be a part of our children's future, we have to teach them about it and continue to have programs."
Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. It is a seven-day cultural, not religious, holiday. It is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, and on each day, celebrants light a candle for one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
The principle for Saturday, the fifth day, was Nia, which means purpose. The principle stands for making our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. The theme of this year's celebration is "Nguzo Saba: The Principles and Practices of Bringing Good Into the World." The event featured presentations from the NAACP Youth Council, the Bantaba Drum and Dance Company from Memphis, South Elementary Students and the Griot Collective of West Tennessee. Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement.
One of the featured speakers was Edward Mitchell, 20, of Jackson, who spoke about Kujichagulia, which means self-determination. Mitchell, who was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in March 2003, shared how he transformed what could have been a major setback into an opportunity to inspire others to never give up on their dreams.
"As I was lying in the hospital, lots of doctors were telling me what I could and could not do," Mitchell said. "They said that I should have been paralyzed from the neck down. But I overcame all of those obstacles with self-determination. I don't let anyone tell me what I can or can't do." Mitchell is a sophomore at Lane College, where he has a 3.8 grade point average. He has become a community advocate for the disabled and was honored Friday night for his determination with the first "100 Courage Award," at the annual 100 Black Men gala.
"I received that award for staying determined enough to continue to reach my goals and be an inspiration to others," Edwards said. "I don't let anything hold me back."
Wendellyn C. Trice, president of the Society for African-American Cultural Awareness, said concepts such as self-determination attract interest in Kwanzaa.
"The principles, the concepts of family and unity are what people are looking for," Trice said
T.R. White Sportsplex is the setting for the 19th annual cultural event
December 21,2006
James Theus Jr. said the turnout of more than 250 people of different races, cultures and nationalities on a rainy Saturday night encouraged him to continue planning Kwanzaa programs in Jackson. Theus is a co-founder of the Society for African-American Cultural Awareness, which organized Saturday's 19th annual Kwanzaa celebration at the T.R. White Sports Complex. "It gives me strength to know that people are hearing about Kwanzaa and are celebrating Kwanzaa," he said. "It motivates me to continue going on with the Kwanzaa programs. If we want our Kwanzaa to continue to be a part of our children's future, we have to teach them about it and continue to have programs."
Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. It is a seven-day cultural, not religious, holiday. It is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, and on each day, celebrants light a candle for one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
The principle for Saturday, the fifth day, was Nia, which means purpose. The principle stands for making our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. The theme of this year's celebration is "Nguzo Saba: The Principles and Practices of Bringing Good Into the World." The event featured presentations from the NAACP Youth Council, the Bantaba Drum and Dance Company from Memphis, South Elementary Students and the Griot Collective of West Tennessee. Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement.
One of the featured speakers was Edward Mitchell, 20, of Jackson, who spoke about Kujichagulia, which means self-determination. Mitchell, who was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in March 2003, shared how he transformed what could have been a major setback into an opportunity to inspire others to never give up on their dreams.
"As I was lying in the hospital, lots of doctors were telling me what I could and could not do," Mitchell said. "They said that I should have been paralyzed from the neck down. But I overcame all of those obstacles with self-determination. I don't let anyone tell me what I can or can't do." Mitchell is a sophomore at Lane College, where he has a 3.8 grade point average. He has become a community advocate for the disabled and was honored Friday night for his determination with the first "100 Courage Award," at the annual 100 Black Men gala.
"I received that award for staying determined enough to continue to reach my goals and be an inspiration to others," Edwards said. "I don't let anything hold me back."
Wendellyn C. Trice, president of the Society for African-American Cultural Awareness, said concepts such as self-determination attract interest in Kwanzaa.
"The principles, the concepts of family and unity are what people are looking for," Trice said
100 Black Men gala fosters goodwill
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Scholarships & fellowships
Dec 30, 2006
Some people are willing to give as much as it takes for a good cause. That type of goodwill shined through Friday night at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, where more than 400 people attended the 100 Black Men of West Tennessee Inc. 14th annual Scholarship Benefit Gala. The 100 Black Men of West Tennessee, Inc. was charted in 1992 and was organized to provide positive role models and mentors for African-American males.
The 21st Century Scholars Program is the organization's premier education initiative and provides scholarships to disadvantaged young men who want to attend college. 100 Black Men gala fosters goodwill
This year's theme for the $100-a-plate event was "Holiday Splendor 2006" and proceeds will fund the 21st Century Scholars Program, the organization's premier education initiative, the FAMILY (Forming an Alliance to Mentor, Influence and Lead our Youth) and the Book Buddies Reading Program at Denmark Elementary School.
The organization also presented it's first "100 Courage Award" to Edward Mitchell. Mitchell, who is paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in March 2003, became a community advocate for the rights of disable individuals.
The fact that Mitchell didn't give up is the reason he received the award, Woods said.
"We presented him this award because of his heroic effort and his tenacity to achieve above all odds," Woods said. "He didn't allow his physical circumstances to hamper his goals.
"The Distinguished Education Award" was presented to Lane College President Wesley McClure
Musical entertainment was provided by the Bar-Kays
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Scholarships & fellowships
Dec 30, 2006
Some people are willing to give as much as it takes for a good cause. That type of goodwill shined through Friday night at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, where more than 400 people attended the 100 Black Men of West Tennessee Inc. 14th annual Scholarship Benefit Gala. The 100 Black Men of West Tennessee, Inc. was charted in 1992 and was organized to provide positive role models and mentors for African-American males.
The 21st Century Scholars Program is the organization's premier education initiative and provides scholarships to disadvantaged young men who want to attend college. 100 Black Men gala fosters goodwill
This year's theme for the $100-a-plate event was "Holiday Splendor 2006" and proceeds will fund the 21st Century Scholars Program, the organization's premier education initiative, the FAMILY (Forming an Alliance to Mentor, Influence and Lead our Youth) and the Book Buddies Reading Program at Denmark Elementary School.
The organization also presented it's first "100 Courage Award" to Edward Mitchell. Mitchell, who is paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in March 2003, became a community advocate for the rights of disable individuals.
The fact that Mitchell didn't give up is the reason he received the award, Woods said.
"We presented him this award because of his heroic effort and his tenacity to achieve above all odds," Woods said. "He didn't allow his physical circumstances to hamper his goals.
"The Distinguished Education Award" was presented to Lane College President Wesley McClure
Musical entertainment was provided by the Bar-Kays
Lane College Edward Mitchell Day
Published March-30-2006
Lane College, city honor paralyzed student Edward Mitchell was struck by a hit-and-run driver in March 2003 "What happens to a dream deferred?" asked Edward Mitchell Wednesday morning in front of nearly all of Lane College, quoting a poem from Langston Hughes. "Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore - And then run?" Three years ago, Mitchell was riding on his bike when a car struck him from behind and drove off, leaving him injured on the side of Ash-port Road. Two surgeries and more than a month later, Mitchell was left paralyzed from the waist down. The person responsible was never found. "Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?" he said at a ceremony held in his honor.
Mitchell future was nearly destroyed in March 2003, but since then the young man has overcome nearly all obstacles to maintain a normal everyday life and has since become a community advocate for the rights of disabled individuals. Out of three anniversary dates that have passed since the hit-and-run, two of them have been officially named in his honor by the city government as "Edward Mitchell Day." Councilman Ernest Brooks II made the announcement this morning inside the Lane College gymnasium in front of 600 students, faculty members and friends. " We encourage all citizens to congratulate this outstanding young man for his courage and perseverance - for illustrating that will and determination can overcome all obstacles," Brooks said. This is Mitchell..s first year attending the private, historically black college, which is affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He is majoring in business administration. "My life around me has changed, but I refuse to succumb to the negativity or be destroyed by what has happened," Mitchell told the audience.
He also took the time to thank members of the community for supporting him in the past. Lane College President Wesley McClure recalled how he visited Mitchell as he was recuperating in the summer following the accident. McClure told Mitchell that should he ever decide that he wanted to attend college, he would be able to do so free of charge at Lane. Mitchell decided to take McClure up on his offer, he said, adding that he hopes to one day enroll in graduate school. Since Mitchell..s arrival, the buildings on campus have been updated for wheelchair access. "It..s great," said Mitchell after the ceremony, next to a prototype minivan that he hopes to one day purchase and drive. "I feel so honored." When asked if he got more attention from the opposite sex after a city proclamation, Mitchell smiled and said, "Oh, yeah. Not many girls can say they got friend that..s got his own holiday." Edward Mitchell, right, sits in a car made by Freedom Motors USA, Inc, similar to the one he will be driving this coming fall. Mitchell..s friends at Lane College stand in the background - excited about his new car that allows him to drive, even though confined to a motorized wheelchair after he was injured in a hit-and-run accident 3 years ago.
Published March-30-2006
Lane College, city honor paralyzed student Edward Mitchell was struck by a hit-and-run driver in March 2003 "What happens to a dream deferred?" asked Edward Mitchell Wednesday morning in front of nearly all of Lane College, quoting a poem from Langston Hughes. "Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore - And then run?" Three years ago, Mitchell was riding on his bike when a car struck him from behind and drove off, leaving him injured on the side of Ash-port Road. Two surgeries and more than a month later, Mitchell was left paralyzed from the waist down. The person responsible was never found. "Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?" he said at a ceremony held in his honor.
Mitchell future was nearly destroyed in March 2003, but since then the young man has overcome nearly all obstacles to maintain a normal everyday life and has since become a community advocate for the rights of disabled individuals. Out of three anniversary dates that have passed since the hit-and-run, two of them have been officially named in his honor by the city government as "Edward Mitchell Day." Councilman Ernest Brooks II made the announcement this morning inside the Lane College gymnasium in front of 600 students, faculty members and friends. " We encourage all citizens to congratulate this outstanding young man for his courage and perseverance - for illustrating that will and determination can overcome all obstacles," Brooks said. This is Mitchell..s first year attending the private, historically black college, which is affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He is majoring in business administration. "My life around me has changed, but I refuse to succumb to the negativity or be destroyed by what has happened," Mitchell told the audience.
He also took the time to thank members of the community for supporting him in the past. Lane College President Wesley McClure recalled how he visited Mitchell as he was recuperating in the summer following the accident. McClure told Mitchell that should he ever decide that he wanted to attend college, he would be able to do so free of charge at Lane. Mitchell decided to take McClure up on his offer, he said, adding that he hopes to one day enroll in graduate school. Since Mitchell..s arrival, the buildings on campus have been updated for wheelchair access. "It..s great," said Mitchell after the ceremony, next to a prototype minivan that he hopes to one day purchase and drive. "I feel so honored." When asked if he got more attention from the opposite sex after a city proclamation, Mitchell smiled and said, "Oh, yeah. Not many girls can say they got friend that..s got his own holiday." Edward Mitchell, right, sits in a car made by Freedom Motors USA, Inc, similar to the one he will be driving this coming fall. Mitchell..s friends at Lane College stand in the background - excited about his new car that allows him to drive, even though confined to a motorized wheelchair after he was injured in a hit-and-run accident 3 years ago.
!!!! ABOUT MY TOKYO JAPAN TRIP!!!!
August 2 2005
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
2005 grad in Tokyo for exchange program Edward Mitchell has flown landlocked Tennessee for a perch on the rim - the Pacific Rim, that is. He left Saturday on a jet plane from Nashville to San Jose, Calif., where he took a connecting flight across 0the ocean to Tokyo. He will return home Aug. 16. It is a trip that Mitchell, whose motto is ..no boundaries,.. had awaited several months. He was tapped to go before his June graduation from North Side High School. Paralyzed from the waist down after a hit-and-run bicycle accident two years ago, Mitchell gets around on a specially equipped power wheelchair. He also uses a manual chair because ..I have to do a lot more, and that makes me more independent,.. he said. He heard about the Japanese exchange program while undergoing rehabilitation at a Shriner s hospital in Chicago. He visits the hospital every three or four months for checkups and has been treated at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for his spinal cord injury.
They (the Shrine's) sent the fliers back to the house,.. Mitchell said, ..and I looked the program up on the Internet and applied... Now he is one of a dozen young people from across the United States taking part in the ..U.S./Japan: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Disability and Volunteerism. Mobility International USA is leading the delegation of young adults with disabilities to Tokyo, where they will participate in leadership sessions and discuss disability-related topics, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Japanese Disability Discrimination policies and diversity in the United States and abroad. They will also sample Japanese culture and traditions, play sports with other people who have disabilities and volunteer at an international work camp. It sounds like a lot of work.
But it..s going to be fun, too,.. assured the 18-year-old Mitchell, who is no stranger to work. He answers the phone, does inventory and works the cash register at Little Caesars, a local pizzeria. On a typical school day, he was up at 5:30 a.m. to catch the6:20 bus. After classes and work, he would get home about 7 in the evening, eat supper, do homework and then lights out around 11 p.m. And this summer has been anything but rest for the honors graduate, who played bass drum in the high school marching band; was president of the student chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; competed in the Links-sponsored Beautillion, a leadership youth program; and was involved in Project Graduation. Mitchell was a delegate at a week long Tennessee Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities immediately after graduation. He also applied for and was accepted into a state rehabilitation program in Smyrna for recreational therapy to learn techniques to help him adapt to college. He wrapped up the last of his two-week
Smyrna visits Wednesday, just days before packing for his Asian sojourn.
An educational assistant, Lefonda Miller, a student at Jackson State Community College, accompanied him to Japan.Besides his luggage, Mitchell left bearing gifts of Tennessee products and symbols for his host family. ..This is a wonderful opportunity for Edward, said his mother, Simone Mitchell, who moved to Jackson with her family four years ago. Her husband..s job transferred him from San Francisco. ..The trip will give him a greater sense of independence.James Mead, general manager at Little Caesar..s, agreed. ..This will be a great learning experience for him. I would love to go to Japan myself to learn about the culture,.. said Mead, who sponsored a wrestling benefit to help Mitchell with the trip. St.Paul CME Church, where Mitchell is a member and Walnut Grove Baptist Church
August 2 2005
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
2005 grad in Tokyo for exchange program Edward Mitchell has flown landlocked Tennessee for a perch on the rim - the Pacific Rim, that is. He left Saturday on a jet plane from Nashville to San Jose, Calif., where he took a connecting flight across 0the ocean to Tokyo. He will return home Aug. 16. It is a trip that Mitchell, whose motto is ..no boundaries,.. had awaited several months. He was tapped to go before his June graduation from North Side High School. Paralyzed from the waist down after a hit-and-run bicycle accident two years ago, Mitchell gets around on a specially equipped power wheelchair. He also uses a manual chair because ..I have to do a lot more, and that makes me more independent,.. he said. He heard about the Japanese exchange program while undergoing rehabilitation at a Shriner s hospital in Chicago. He visits the hospital every three or four months for checkups and has been treated at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for his spinal cord injury.
They (the Shrine's) sent the fliers back to the house,.. Mitchell said, ..and I looked the program up on the Internet and applied... Now he is one of a dozen young people from across the United States taking part in the ..U.S./Japan: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Disability and Volunteerism. Mobility International USA is leading the delegation of young adults with disabilities to Tokyo, where they will participate in leadership sessions and discuss disability-related topics, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Japanese Disability Discrimination policies and diversity in the United States and abroad. They will also sample Japanese culture and traditions, play sports with other people who have disabilities and volunteer at an international work camp. It sounds like a lot of work.
But it..s going to be fun, too,.. assured the 18-year-old Mitchell, who is no stranger to work. He answers the phone, does inventory and works the cash register at Little Caesars, a local pizzeria. On a typical school day, he was up at 5:30 a.m. to catch the6:20 bus. After classes and work, he would get home about 7 in the evening, eat supper, do homework and then lights out around 11 p.m. And this summer has been anything but rest for the honors graduate, who played bass drum in the high school marching band; was president of the student chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; competed in the Links-sponsored Beautillion, a leadership youth program; and was involved in Project Graduation. Mitchell was a delegate at a week long Tennessee Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities immediately after graduation. He also applied for and was accepted into a state rehabilitation program in Smyrna for recreational therapy to learn techniques to help him adapt to college. He wrapped up the last of his two-week
Smyrna visits Wednesday, just days before packing for his Asian sojourn.
An educational assistant, Lefonda Miller, a student at Jackson State Community College, accompanied him to Japan.Besides his luggage, Mitchell left bearing gifts of Tennessee products and symbols for his host family. ..This is a wonderful opportunity for Edward, said his mother, Simone Mitchell, who moved to Jackson with her family four years ago. Her husband..s job transferred him from San Francisco. ..The trip will give him a greater sense of independence.James Mead, general manager at Little Caesar..s, agreed. ..This will be a great learning experience for him. I would love to go to Japan myself to learn about the culture,.. said Mead, who sponsored a wrestling benefit to help Mitchell with the trip. St.Paul CME Church, where Mitchell is a member and Walnut Grove Baptist Church
Hit-and-run victim's friends honor him
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Mar 29, 2005
Friends and community supporters of hit-and-run victim Edward Mitchell will gather today to honor him and urge the public's participation in supporting the Friends of Edward Mitchell Fund.
This is the second anniversary of the automobile accident that left Mitchell paralyzed from the chest down. While riding bikes with his brother, the 16-year-old Mitchell was struck by a car and the driver did not stop to assist. Mitchell's brother found him minutes later and called for help.
The perpetrator of the crime has not been found. Crimestoppers continues asking for the public's help in catching the driver.
Paramedics took Mitchell to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital where he would undergo 40 days of treatment including two surgeries, according to a news release from the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation.
"To be told your son is paralyzed, you see a lot of dreams go down-his first dance, walking at graduation. You feel like the living dead because you can't do anything," said Mitchell's mother, Simone, in the release.
Mitchell has made remarkable progress and has kept a good attitude, the release said. In addition to prayer and words of encouragement from family, friends and the community, Mitchell's support has also come from donations for his medical care.
His friends, neighbors, family, band mates, church, the NAACP youth council, Aurora Foods, and his employer at the time of the accident, Little Caesar's, have helped with his medical care and recovery.
A 10 a.m. press conference will be held today at Little Caesar's on North Highland in Jackson.
"Edward still has a lot of adjustments and progress to be made," said Foundation President Frank McMeen in the release. "The foundation is ready to help with his recovery and the public's assistance and support are needed."
Local businesswoman Nell Huntspon is lead volunteer for the Friends of Edward Mitchell Fund and encourages people and businesses to lend their support. For more information, call the foundation at 731-984-2140 . All donations collected by the foundation goes to help people in need. None is taken out for overhead costs, the release said
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Mar 29, 2005
Friends and community supporters of hit-and-run victim Edward Mitchell will gather today to honor him and urge the public's participation in supporting the Friends of Edward Mitchell Fund.
This is the second anniversary of the automobile accident that left Mitchell paralyzed from the chest down. While riding bikes with his brother, the 16-year-old Mitchell was struck by a car and the driver did not stop to assist. Mitchell's brother found him minutes later and called for help.
The perpetrator of the crime has not been found. Crimestoppers continues asking for the public's help in catching the driver.
Paramedics took Mitchell to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital where he would undergo 40 days of treatment including two surgeries, according to a news release from the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation.
"To be told your son is paralyzed, you see a lot of dreams go down-his first dance, walking at graduation. You feel like the living dead because you can't do anything," said Mitchell's mother, Simone, in the release.
Mitchell has made remarkable progress and has kept a good attitude, the release said. In addition to prayer and words of encouragement from family, friends and the community, Mitchell's support has also come from donations for his medical care.
His friends, neighbors, family, band mates, church, the NAACP youth council, Aurora Foods, and his employer at the time of the accident, Little Caesar's, have helped with his medical care and recovery.
A 10 a.m. press conference will be held today at Little Caesar's on North Highland in Jackson.
"Edward still has a lot of adjustments and progress to be made," said Foundation President Frank McMeen in the release. "The foundation is ready to help with his recovery and the public's assistance and support are needed."
Local businesswoman Nell Huntspon is lead volunteer for the Friends of Edward Mitchell Fund and encourages people and businesses to lend their support. For more information, call the foundation at 731-984-2140 . All donations collected by the foundation goes to help people in need. None is taken out for overhead costs, the release said
Leaders honor teen for tenacity, drive
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Mar 30, 2004
The vehicle that hit Edward Mitchell a year ago took the use of his legs, but it didn't take his spirit.
Edward, 16 at the time, was struck in a hit-and-run accident last year while riding his bike on Ashport Road. Afterward, Edward was diagnosed as paraplegic and still undergoes physical therapy.
While some might give up, not Edward, who was honored on Monday by city and county officials for his tenacity and drive to become a productive member of society despite being confined to a wheelchair.
March 29 was declared Edward Mitchell Day by Jackson Mayor Charles Farmer at a ceremony at Edward's workplace, Little Caesar's Pizza on North Highland Avenue. Store owner Kevin Colbert also was given an award for helping accommodate Edward, who was humbled by the day's events.
"I feel great that people would take time out of their busy schedule to come out and see me," he said. "I just think they're great people who have come out and helped me."
In the year since the accident, Edward has learned many things, including how to look on the bright side of things.
"I've learned to have some compassion for others who may have it worse than me," he said. "I've learned to be more patient with people."
Now a North Side High junior who is on the school band's drumline, Edward plans to attend college after graduation, majoring in business marketing and sales and minoring in computer programming.
To Edward, how a disability affects a person depends on their state of mind.
"A wheelchair is not a disability," he said. "It's an ability to do things other people can't."
His mother, Simone Mitchell, said the event could be an inspiration to others with disabilities and that the past year has brought several learning experiences for her as well.
"We're learning things we didn't know before," she said. "Given that previous to this he didn't need the wheelchair and accessibility things. To think that a year ago I didn't see any of this because I didn't know what a year later was going to bring. Now I am happy, because it's shedding light on the fact that disabled people can become a vital part of our work force."
Simone said without help from several Jackson-area schools and Edward's classmates, it would be even more difficult for him to adjust.
"He's a part of them, and he would still be a part of them no matter what they had to do to help him," she said. "You hear about kids not caring, yet those kids took the time to come by and support him."
In addition to Edward's classmates helping out, his little brother, Rendell Mitchell, 15, is an enormous help, she said. Since the accident, life has been different for the whole family, Rendell said.
"I want everyone to know him for him, not just because he's in a wheelchair," he said. "There are some things he can't do, but he's striving to do. He's trying to take on life as normally as possible."
What to know A fund has been established by the West Tennessee Health Foundation to help Edward Mitchell as well as other victims of hit-and-run accidents. Donations to the Edward Mitchell Fund are tax deductible. Anyone wanting to donate can call 731-984-2140.
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Mar 30, 2004
The vehicle that hit Edward Mitchell a year ago took the use of his legs, but it didn't take his spirit.
Edward, 16 at the time, was struck in a hit-and-run accident last year while riding his bike on Ashport Road. Afterward, Edward was diagnosed as paraplegic and still undergoes physical therapy.
While some might give up, not Edward, who was honored on Monday by city and county officials for his tenacity and drive to become a productive member of society despite being confined to a wheelchair.
March 29 was declared Edward Mitchell Day by Jackson Mayor Charles Farmer at a ceremony at Edward's workplace, Little Caesar's Pizza on North Highland Avenue. Store owner Kevin Colbert also was given an award for helping accommodate Edward, who was humbled by the day's events.
"I feel great that people would take time out of their busy schedule to come out and see me," he said. "I just think they're great people who have come out and helped me."
In the year since the accident, Edward has learned many things, including how to look on the bright side of things.
"I've learned to have some compassion for others who may have it worse than me," he said. "I've learned to be more patient with people."
Now a North Side High junior who is on the school band's drumline, Edward plans to attend college after graduation, majoring in business marketing and sales and minoring in computer programming.
To Edward, how a disability affects a person depends on their state of mind.
"A wheelchair is not a disability," he said. "It's an ability to do things other people can't."
His mother, Simone Mitchell, said the event could be an inspiration to others with disabilities and that the past year has brought several learning experiences for her as well.
"We're learning things we didn't know before," she said. "Given that previous to this he didn't need the wheelchair and accessibility things. To think that a year ago I didn't see any of this because I didn't know what a year later was going to bring. Now I am happy, because it's shedding light on the fact that disabled people can become a vital part of our work force."
Simone said without help from several Jackson-area schools and Edward's classmates, it would be even more difficult for him to adjust.
"He's a part of them, and he would still be a part of them no matter what they had to do to help him," she said. "You hear about kids not caring, yet those kids took the time to come by and support him."
In addition to Edward's classmates helping out, his little brother, Rendell Mitchell, 15, is an enormous help, she said. Since the accident, life has been different for the whole family, Rendell said.
"I want everyone to know him for him, not just because he's in a wheelchair," he said. "There are some things he can't do, but he's striving to do. He's trying to take on life as normally as possible."
What to know A fund has been established by the West Tennessee Health Foundation to help Edward Mitchell as well as other victims of hit-and-run accidents. Donations to the Edward Mitchell Fund are tax deductible. Anyone wanting to donate can call 731-984-2140.
Star makes time for paralyzed teen
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Oct 25, 2003
In his lifetime, North Side High School student Edward Mitchell has met two famous people, former President Bill Clinton and NAACP President Kweise Mfume.
But on Friday night, Edward was looking to add one more name to his list Ginuwine. Edward's father, Sandy Mitchell, said the family works to keep Edward's spirits up.
The 17-year-old was struck from behind by a vehicle and left on the side of Ashport Road while riding his bicycle in March. Edward's accident left him paralyzed, although he is able to move his upper body and has some feeling in his legs, Mitchell said. Thomas Media Account Executive Aldtric Johnson volunteered to help Edward meet R&B artist Ginuwine after his concert at Oman Arena. "I can really empathize with what his family is going through, and I wanted to uplift his spirits," Johnson said.
On Friday afternoon, Edward was very excited to meet Ginuwine. "It's a great honor for me to meet him," Edward said during a telephone interview. "I've grown up listening to his music."
Edward is determined to resume his life before the accident, which includes playing the drum in the school's band and returning to his job at Little Caesar's Pizza.
"I made a decision to stay up," Edward said. "There's too much to live for in the world for me to break down crying." A junior, Edward is looking forward to college and is considering Arizona State University and Lane College. "I want to share my story to anybody who's willing to listen," Edward said. "I want to give other kids inspiration." The Mitchell family is also hoping for some community support in fund-raising to help with the increased medical expense of Edward's condition. "We have a lot of medical expenses that are not covered by insurance," Mitchell said. Edward uses several home learning aids such as computer software and a tape player. Johnson credits Mastermind promoters for helping Edward to meet Ginuwine.
"Everyone has been warm and open to helping," Mitchell said. Tajuana Cheshier,
The Jackson Sun - Jackson, Tenn.
Oct 25, 2003
In his lifetime, North Side High School student Edward Mitchell has met two famous people, former President Bill Clinton and NAACP President Kweise Mfume.
But on Friday night, Edward was looking to add one more name to his list Ginuwine. Edward's father, Sandy Mitchell, said the family works to keep Edward's spirits up.
The 17-year-old was struck from behind by a vehicle and left on the side of Ashport Road while riding his bicycle in March. Edward's accident left him paralyzed, although he is able to move his upper body and has some feeling in his legs, Mitchell said. Thomas Media Account Executive Aldtric Johnson volunteered to help Edward meet R&B artist Ginuwine after his concert at Oman Arena. "I can really empathize with what his family is going through, and I wanted to uplift his spirits," Johnson said.
On Friday afternoon, Edward was very excited to meet Ginuwine. "It's a great honor for me to meet him," Edward said during a telephone interview. "I've grown up listening to his music."
Edward is determined to resume his life before the accident, which includes playing the drum in the school's band and returning to his job at Little Caesar's Pizza.
"I made a decision to stay up," Edward said. "There's too much to live for in the world for me to break down crying." A junior, Edward is looking forward to college and is considering Arizona State University and Lane College. "I want to share my story to anybody who's willing to listen," Edward said. "I want to give other kids inspiration." The Mitchell family is also hoping for some community support in fund-raising to help with the increased medical expense of Edward's condition. "We have a lot of medical expenses that are not covered by insurance," Mitchell said. Edward uses several home learning aids such as computer software and a tape player. Johnson credits Mastermind promoters for helping Edward to meet Ginuwine.
"Everyone has been warm and open to helping," Mitchell said. Tajuana Cheshier,