Gary has lived for 40 years in his current home. He lives with his mother, in southwest Missouri. He is 60 years old, and his father is deceased. Gary has Cerebral Palsy, and some might consider Gary disabled. He certainly does not share that feeling. He communicates with people who do not know him well through a translator, and he uses a scooter with an electric motor to get around.

The days start early for Gary. He gets up about 6:30, gets ready for the day, and goes to a volunteer job five days a week. He works in a nursing home, delivering papers between the offices of the large facility for two hours each day. He also goes to a lot of meetings. He serves on the Missouri Planning Council, and is vice-president of People First. He also serves on the board for the Tri County Council for Independent Living, and is a 1996 graduate of 'Partners and Policymaking.' He goes to lots of seminars.

After completing his job for the day, Gary goes home and has lunch. After that he sometimes goes out into the community, or to WalMart. He also often goes to math classes in the afternoons. Gary is the first person with a disability to take part in the Consumer Directed Support Program in Phelps County. Gary is quite a traveler. He goes all over Missouri to meetings and seminars - usually to St. Louis or Columbia. He attends church regularly at the local Christian Church. He is there every Sunday morning, every Sunday evening, and most Wednesday evenings.

Why does Gary work so hard advocating for others? His reply is "I feel like I can help people like myself. More people should get involved. More could be accomplished if more people like me would get involved. And, I've met all kinds of different people - not just people with Cerebral Palsy. When I see [disabled] people living in bad homes, it makes me mad because the owners are making money off of them."

When asked how he got involved in advocacy, Gary said "A friend of mine, Dorothy (I met her in 1994), took me to a People First meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks, to try to get a local chapter started in [his hometown]. That got me started as an advocate." And why does he stay involved? "I like to see what I can do to try to help other people. Every time I go out I learn something new."

Gary said that the one thing that is 'really him' is "My big mouth! I'm very vocal for people who are getting a raw deal. Speaking out defines me best." As for what means the most to him, Gary responded "God, my home, my family, and my meetings." And, if he were to tell others about 'successful aging' he would say: "Live one day at a time, eat properly, and worship God. Others refer to him as one who has successfully aged because, "I don't look or feel old!", Gary said, and added, "I grew up in a loving Christian home, had loving parents, and the best of care. That prepared me to live and age well." He has one brother. His sister, 20 years younger, was killed in a car accident on June 10th, Gary's birthday. "She was my backbone," Gary said in tribute to her.

If faced with a challenge, Gary had his own prescription for coping with it. "Don't give up. Use your full potential, fight your disability, and don't just lie down and give up." If things are not going quite as you want or expect them to, Gary advised: "Pray about them." But he had no advice for what to do when you are feeling 'down,' because, in his words: "I really don't get 'down.' I have everything I want now. I have lots of friends and family that keep me up."

Gary's volunteer job at the nursing home was his first, and he has been there eight years. He has lots of friends from church, family, and advocacy involvements. He said that "Phyllis, Donnell, Dorothy, and David are my very closest friends." He had the opportunity to go to the Promise Keepers rally in Washington, DC a few years ago, and has also attended one of their rallies in Texas. "My advocacy activities keep me from going as much as I'd like, but I do like being busy."

Asked what he would do differently with another chance at life, Gary said, "I would love to go back in time and learn at a much younger age that I have rights and be able to speak out."