BobcatDis Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Many have asked me, “What made you come up with this idea of wanting to help the Deaf and Hard of Hearing”? It all started when I met my Dads brothers who are both blind and mentally challenged. They are unable to walk at times, eat, bath, or doing anything by themselves. Now, at ages 55 and 51 they only have the mental capacity of a very young child. My dad always felt fortunate because he was born in between both of them and not only was he born without any handicaps but he also made it to the NFL. While playing college football, which is very time consuming, he would still find time to see and interact with his brothers and also give his time to the Big Brother programs in Evanston which he mentored several young men. My father ended up getting drafted 33rd pick (5th pick of the second round) in the 1984 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers where he was able to raise his family and often do speaking engagements and fund raisers to help the handicapped. When my Mom got pregnant with me the doctors told her that there was a good possibility I was going to be just like my dad’s brothers due to test results. I didn’t speak until age 4 and growing up in pre-school all the way to my senior year of high school I was enrolled in the Special Education Program. I would get pulled out of class 3 times a week to work on my grammar as well as my memory with other special needs students. I was around them so much I grew a passion for them and loved being around them. During my junior year of high school I had to take a foreign language class and decided to take American Sign Language at the local University. I absolutely fell in love with it and thought it was so awesome to be able to talk to the deaf. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to help coach a mentally challenged/ deaf baseball team and I would donate my Saturdays to the special needs. I hung out with many deaf kids in San Diego once I learned fluent sign language and I still keep in touch with them today all the way from Texas. Currently I play college football for Texas State University and I have met a wonderful group of deaf people here. I drive an hour away a few days out of the week to hang out with them. I ask them all, “Do you guys want to go out to the bars with me?” and they all respond, “Why when we cannot associate ourselves with the crowd and it would be awkward for us to just stand in the corner of the bar?”. Then I asked other deaf people in Texas and California if they have ever been to a concert. ALL responded “NO”!! But every single one of them replied that they would WANT TO ATTEND A CONCERT! When I told them about my idea of performing sign language during concerts they all got so excited, and told me to do it. Remember the deaf are NO DIFFERENT THEN WE ARE. The fact that the year 2015 is here and they have not been able to enjoy club life and concerts UPSETS ME. For all the hearing, we can all agree that most of the friends, girlfriends/ boyfriends, and memories you have made is because of nightlife. My love for the deaf community goes THOUGH THIS ROOF. This is why I am here today. I am here to bring the fun of going to clubs and concerts for those that never experienced it before that would like to. I will provide wonderful entertainment for all to enjoy, (the hearing and the deaf TOGETHER for the first time ever). Now everyone will have the same equal opportunity to meet new friends, socialize, and dance with other friends across your town/state. I plan on having my next performance in about 1 month from now in central Texas. I will be doing several songs that will make you laugh, dance, and put smiles on all your faces. For the deaf/ hard of hearing, everyone has different ways of signing, so I will be posting the exact signs on my YouTube channel a week prior to performance so you can all sign along with each other just like how the hearing sing along together. I will post my performance dates, times, songs, and locations on my social media accounts. Brian Guendling TEXAS STATE FOOTBALL HurricaneCal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobcatDis Posted July 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 (edited) This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Texas State Football Players in Costume:Trey GarrettDallas McClartyKyree BerryLawrence WhiteRyan CardenRusmin NickocevicJavante O'RoyJeff Banks Edited July 8, 2015 by Bill Brasky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurricaneCal Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Nice job young man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobcatDis Posted July 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 This story is on fire now and has already jumped across the pond into London Media. Proud to be a Texas State Bobcat and not a Florida State Seminole. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.