Today we’d like to introduce you to Rev. Calvin Peterson.
Rev. Calvin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Nothing is impossible is the mindset that got me to where I am today. It is the motto I live by. Doctors advised my 18-year old mother to let them send me to a state facility. They said my defect would render me helpless for the rest of my life and I would only be a burden to her.
My father rejected me at birth stating, “I could not produce a CRIPPLE!” My mother, Gertrude Peterson, accepted the challenge of raising, loving and caring for me, in spite of the doctors’ orders. I also had unlimited support from my grandparents, Mr. John and Mrs. Lizzie Harris. My grandfather always encouraged me to “strive for higher heights regardless of my condition”. Not only was I born with severe cerebral palsy with an inability to walk on my own; I didn’t get into a wheelchair until given one by the Godfather of Soul James Brown when in my teens, and I had brain surgery at an early age that damaged my speech. Mom was not equipped to take on continual challenges of such magnitude. She dropped out of school at the age of 16 in the 10th grade, pregnant with my older brother Charles. Unfortunately, no one in my immediate family were advocates for education. My grandfather John Harris dropped out in the 9th grade. My story told from a surface level could cause one to conclude, I’ve lived a gloom and doom life. But to the contrary, in spite of all of the negativism that confronted me, and, in many instances, it consumed my very being.
I am glad God enabled me to think beyond my personal mishaps, atrocities, and chronicle those painful realities of being born with disability. I had to learn to advocate for myself, my family, my community and nation since so many doors were closed to us. I am always searching for a way We can walk through my story with the obstacles, challenges, and accomplishments of my personal and community lives in the form of my autobiography book entitled “Nothing is Impossible”. Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE provided me with another solution to reach each person born in poverty with a disability to develop their God-given talents despite being born in this Exclusionary Society. When you can find comfort in your Consciousness and develop a mindset, consisting of FAITH you can live a NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE life. Not only can you live vicariously, you can edify and uplift others. In my 72nd year, I can confirm this reality.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My life has not been a smooth road. There has always been continual struggle from birth to age 71. Let’s start from my birth. I am part of the African American impoverished population in Georgia. I was born premature with severe cerebral palsy at Grady Hospital in 1948. The African American disabled community in poverty is the most ignored population in the disability arena. I am listing some of my struggles and accomplishments. I attribute all my accomplishments to God, my family, and my first teacher. I attended C.W. Hill Elementary School. My mother was able to enroll me in the first Special Education Class for black children in 1954. Mrs. Musia White, my first teacher, was consistent in instilling hope to her students by creating challenges, teaching self-evaluation and self-testing based on classroom work. I was named by Mrs. White, as Mr. Personality. I graduated from 7th-grade elementary school special education class in 1960 despite bullying and financial hardships. I endured mockery, teasing, and bullying about my stuttering, inability to walk due to cerebral palsy all through high school. Still, I graduated from 12th grade in 1967 at Booker T. Washington High School.
I began the search for employment. I was funneled through the Good Will Industry to discover its inability to meet my needs. I had to go beyond the mindset and understanding of the general population about people who are different. In 1968, I formed “The Advanced Association for The Physically Handicapped, Inc.” (AAPH). Governor Lester Maddox declared a proclamation naming AAPH a vital and needed organization for people in poverty with disabilities. During this time, I married Delores Ann Rasin and later divorced. I became a licensed minister in 1969 after my trial sermon at Antioch Baptist South. I was introduced to an exclusionary environment in the church. I advocated with the State to sponsor my college career. I was the first African American born with a disability to go to college outside of the State of Georgia. My only support system (immediate family) began to pass away. The AAPH still existed, but it was not active.
In 1978, I graduated from Long Island University. I returned to Georgia to continue to open doors for people living in poverty with disabilities. I was appointed to serve on the first Handicapped Task Force for the City of Atlanta. The Task Force’s agenda did not include provisions for people in poverty with disabilities. I introduced them to the urgent need for streets in low-income areas to have curb cuts at the beginning and at the end of each street, to conform to the Architectural Barrier Act of 1968. I introduced to the Atlanta City Council Human Resources Committee a Voter’s Registration Drive in 1979. I became a member of MARTA’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Disabilities in 1980. In 1985, I was ordained as an AME Minister. I was one of the Associate Ministers on staff at Hunter Hills AME Church. Striving to enlighten the public, I created a cable show entitled “Let’s Plant A Seed”. The program was created to illustrate to the community that people with disabilities are not limited just because they are different. The program ran for 13 years. Getting support from others with disabilities, the organization Disabled In Action, Inc. (DIA) was formed in 1986.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Disabled In Action or DIA – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
DIA advocates for all individuals with disabilities including caregivers, and family members nationally in low-income environments, since the 1986. We impact caregivers with resources, information, advocacy support, and training. We impact youth with resources, information, training, advocacy, and arts innovation such as crafts, local TV production, and community plays. We impact families of disabled with resources, information, advocacy support, and training. DIA promotes disability inclusion support, information, resources, and services into the community through church environments nationally and advocacy to the United States government for disability Information, resources, and services.
In 1988, I represented DIA with testimony to a subcommittee of the U.S. Congress on Housing and Community Development resulted in all public housing must be 5% accessible. My grandfather’s and teacher’s words were still echoing in my spirit. “There is something you can do!” “Challenge your students to challenge themselves”. I stepped down from the position of President of DIA to become a candidate for the Public Service Commission in Georgia. I was appointed by Dr. Lenora Fulani in 1988 to be the National spokesperson for the New Alliance Party. Members of Disabled In Action demonstrated against the City of Atlanta to build ramps in public buildings. We organized and led a demonstration against Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1991. Our only intentions were to educate them to the needs as well as the conditions of the poverty-stricken disabled. SCLC and DIA conducted a march and hosted a forum to raise the awareness and sensitivity of the poor and disabled. The Governor appointment me as DIA representative to the Consumer Advisory Board, Georgia Medical Assistance Department. In 1992, we publicized an Open Letter to the Governor Zell Miller 1992.
I was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Council On Developmental Disabilities. DIA questioned policy and created policy changes that opened funding in impoverished communities where funding was previously overlooked and denied. I served on the Georgia State Advisory Council. An Oral Documentary Video Tape of my life and Disabled In Action’s work was accepted by the African American Department within the Smithsonian Institute. In 1994, An Open Letter to the Churches was publicized speaking to exclusion of the disabled in the pulpit and services. It was a collaborative initiative with Howard University Disability Department and Disabled In Action, Inc. under Dr. Sylvia Walker. I authored the manual entitled “Responding to the Abuse of People with Disabilities”, in collaboration with Morehouse School of Medicine. DIA was asked to present at the Surface Transportation Policy Project. In 1996-1998, I served on the Georgia Department of Education Special Education Advisory Panel. In 1997 a curriculum was developed for Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). DIA had multiple projects with Atlanta City Schools throughout the early 2000s that included awards for favorite teachers and favorite students throughout the year; talent shows for students to express their God-given talents; and initiated field trips to Auburn Avenue Research Library and dedicated a copy of the book “Nothing Is Impossible” to Auburn Avenue Library. I married Hannah T. W. Harris in 2004 until her passing in 2008. I became an Associate Minister of the International Christian Fellowship Ministries.
In 2005, we published the autobiography “Nothing Is Impossible” that was written in 1989. We distributed the book in several libraries throughout Georgia. We began the Campaign Towards Inclusion for all people with disabilities living in poverty in 2006. The Campaign was instrumental in getting metro Atlanta churches to host Day of Inclusion worship services. The Day of Inclusion Project focused on the creation of an accessible ministry designed specifically for the people with all types of disabilities. I was asked to become a member of the Board of Directors of KES Day Inc. in 2007. KES and DIA in 2011 founded The Light of Hope Church of Inclusion now known as KES Ministries. DIA hosted Days of Inclusion in Miami, And Okeechobee, Florida 2012 – 2018. In 2015 DIA documents accepted at the University of Georgia Athens Library Georgia Disability Archives Collection on Reverend Calvin Peterson and Disabled In Action Atlanta Collection. We held a Live performance of the Play “Nothing Is Impossible” in 2018. The same year KES donates office space to DIA. We held the 2018 Oscar Award for performers of the Play “Nothing Is Impossible”. Also, within this year, DeKalb County School System Exceptional Education Department and DIA, Inc. began a partnership to increase the self-esteem of its students through mentoring, field trips, talent shows, entrepreneurship, parent and caregiver support, advocacy training, etc.
Disabled In Action is introducing an implementation of a concept called A Spiritual Realignment Outreach and In-Reach Ministry that will open the doors of the hearts of the entire Body of Christ. The ministry will provide:
1. Sensitivity from the pulpit that raises awareness to the overlooked struggles of members and community who choose the responsibility of caring for a loved one with a disability.
2. Encourage the institution of Caregivers Day every third Sunday of the month.
3. Establish a Caregivers Relief Auxiliary during every worship service.
4. Establish a Social Resource Guide Book for family who are seeking assistance for loved ones.
5. Encourage all church auxiliaries to encourage people with disabilities to join.
Disabled In Action, Inc. will present a special showing of the DVD “Moving From the Traditional Church to an Inclusive Church” to your congregation to help you kick off your participation in the Spiritual Realignment Outreach and In-Reach Ministry.
I am most proud of the Mentorship Program for exceptional education students in DeKalb County. This is a first. Existing mentoring program although helpful to students in general, they have no focus and little understanding of the needs of special needs students. We are in a recruitment process for mentors. Those interested will undergo a six(6) week training. Please contact us to participate. We thank you in advance for your love, patience, and understanding to work with the exceptional needs student population in helping us to teach them to advocate for themselves and their families and caregivers. DIA is set apart because our work focuses on the disabled living in poverty because fewer resources are available to this population.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
DIA plans to change the narrative “save the children”. Save the children usually is not inclusive of children in poverty with disabilities. We will host programs and forums in various communities. We will seek sponsorship and endorsements from traditional organizations such as NAACP, SCLC, and religious institutions. These programs will last 1 to 2 hours and will be held quarterly. We will have two mentorship programs. One will be for disabled students in middle and high school. The other will be for high school students interested in entrepreneurship. We also are looking for cast members to perform the play Nothing Is Impossible to educate, inform, inspire and give hope to disabled individuals, their families, and caregivers.
Pricing:
- Each book is $14.95. It encourages them to find comfort in their consciousness and develop a mindset about themselves consisting of faith that they can live a Nothing is Impossible life to edify and uplift themselves and others.
Contact Info:
- Website: disabledinactionatlanta.org
- Phone: 678-358-1180
- Email: disabledinaction09@yahoo.com
- Facebook: disabledinactioninc
- Other: Revcalvinpeterson
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
