Christopher Coleman – The able-bodied person would define Christopher as a two-time published author, life coach, TED Talk presenter, motivational speaker, and thought leader. Though he is all of those things, that is not who he is. No doubt the things he has accomplished are amazing; such as teaching himself how to read and having earned a degree as well as several certifications in spite of being born with a severe disability known as cerebral palsy. However, success is not always defined the same way. A surviving victim is also a definition of success. 

Christopher’s success is he manages to be resilient in spite of the biases, stereotypes, and preconceived notions with which he deals on a daily basis. What makes Christopher remarkable is the fact that he rises above the ableism he faces daily; even within his own family. He has the tenacity to journey around the proverbial glass ceilings that the limited community may never break. He continues to find the strength to rise above the ignorance of many in order to make the world recognize that individuals with limitations have a lot to offer. He continues to face discrimination head on, in spite of layers of marginalization as a black man with limitations living in the south and in the core of civil rights battles in the 20th and 21st century. Christopher daily persists even though there are times he doesn’t want to get out of bed to face the traumatizing world.

His ability to endure the trauma of life during this time is what is remarkable about him. It is inspiring that he finds a passion for people in spite of their different race, beliefs, and cultural experiences.  Christopher finding the courage to get out into the free market of the US as an entrepreneur with a limitation is almost unheard of. His courage has led him down some dark paths and caused him to suffer some traumatic experiences, but he is not letting that hold him back. This is why his legacy will always be living an Unconfined Life. His vision is not to be a phenomenon, but an icon for the limited community.