Butterflies of Wisdom is a podcast where we want to share your story. We want to share your knowledge if you have a small business if you are an author or a Doctor, or whatever you are. With a disability or not, we want to share your story to inspire others. To learn more about Butterflies of Wisdom visit http://butterfliesofwisdom.weebly.com/ Be sure to FOLLOW this program https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wins-women-of-wisdom/id1060801905. To find out more about Challenge Aspen go to https://challengeaspen.org. To find out how Win walk and about Ekso go to http://www.bridgingbionics.org/ or email Amanda Boxtel at amanda@bridgingbionics.org. On Butterflies of Wisdom today, Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Eric Thomas. Eric, a young, motivated, ambitious businessman, leads a busy life. As well as the leading force behind "EZ Awareness By Design," specializing in graphic design, custom apparel, signage, and vinyl banners, he is a public speaker, philanthropist, volunteer and advocate for the disabled. His keen business sense began before the early age of ten when he started renting his Nintendo video games in the neighborhood. Music has always been an influence in Eric’s life from writing to recording his album with the Hip Hop group “Miscellaneous.” Appreciation and the love of music and photography eventually led Eric to Lansing Community College where he pursued a degree in photography and broadcasting after graduating from Clio High School in 1996. A random shooting on the fateful night of September 20, 1997, changed Eric's life forever. A young man with dreams of a career in music or photography learned that life is not always fair. Left paralyzed from the neck down by a bullet to the C3 and C4 vertebrates; Eric spent several months on a ventilator with a halo screwed to his head to support his neck fighting for his life. Upon being released from the hospital, Eric spent the next six months in rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado learning to cope with his new circumstances. Doctors recommended an assisted living center after leaving the hospital, but with the support of his family, he made the transition from rehabilitation to his mother’s and stepfather’s home. Thanks to the hard work of his stepfather many changes and modifications were made to the home so that Eric could navigate throughout the structure. With the support of Disability Network, a self-determination living arrangement (SDLA) was developed. Having a SDLA permitted Eric to hire his staff and set goals and dreams using the person-centered plan process, allowing Eric to live independently in his environment. Eric's portfolio resonates with a vast variety of activities from public speaking to managing his graphic design company. His list of charitable works involve everything from Toys for Tots, Relay for Life, Coats For Kids, Food Bank Of Eastern Michigan, American Heart Association, president for the Flint Film Festival, co-founder of Wheels 4 Wheels, local leader for Michigan Partners for Freedom and an ambassador for Danny’s Miracle Angel Network (D-Man). Eric does not view his life as a burden, but it’s an opportunity to help other individuals with disabilities. Some of the most rewarding moments of his life include testifying at both House and Senate hearings at the local, state, and national level, for the advancement of care and rights for people with disabilities. He believes in providing both financial means and access to affordable health care. These things will allow disabled individuals to live independently and is a motivating factor that promotes his voice for those in need. Eric is not content to simply let the world pass by. He is constantly planning new opportunities that will enrich not only his life but those less fortunate. Goodwill Industries has provided Eric with affordable space for his business EZ Awareness By Design. With the support of Genesee Health System, supportive employment, and a Self-Determination Living Arrangement Eric can have his house, own his own business, and access to quality of care that provides him with the independence to be responsible for his destiny. To learn more about Eric visithttp://ezawarenessbydesign@gmail.com/. To find out more about Win Kelly Charles visithttps://wincharles.wix.com/win-charles. To follow Win on Twitter go to @winkellycharles. To support Win on Instagram go to winkcharles. To support Win on Snapchat go to Wcharles422. Please send feedback to Win by email her at winwwow@gmail.com, or go to http://survey.libsyn.com/winwisdom and http://survey.libsyn.com/thebutterfly. To be on the show, please fill out the intake at http://bit.ly/bow2017. Butterflies of Wisdom sponsored by Kittr a new social media tool that is bringing about new ways of posting on Twitter. It's fun, full of free content you can use, helps you schedule at the best times, is easy to use, and it will help you get more followers. Visit Kittr at gokittr.com. This is a 20% off code for www.gracedbygrit.com. The code will be XOBUTTERFLIES. If you would like to support Butterflies of Wisdom go to https://www.patreon.com/wcharles. If you want to check out what Win’s friend, Dannidoll, is doing (a.k.a. Dannielle) go tohttps://www.facebook.com/dannidolltheragdollclown/?notif_t=page_invite_accepted¬if_id=1492366163404241. To learn more about Danielle visithttp://www.dancanshred.com. To learn about the magic of Siri go tohttps://www.udemy.com/writing-a-book-using-siri/?utm_campaign=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email. If you want to donate Butterflies of Wisdom, please send a PayPal donation to aspenrosearts@gmail.com or aspenwin@gmail.com. Please donate to Challenge Aspen or the Bridging Bionics Foundation. Please send a check in the mail so 100% goes to Bridging Bionics Foundation. In the Memo section have people write: In honor of Win Charles. Please donate to the charity of your choice thank you in advance, Win. Send to: Challenge Aspen PO Box 6639 Snowmass Village, CO 81615 Or donate online at https://challengeaspen.org. Bridging Bionics Foundation PO Box 3767 Basalt, CO 81621 Thank you Win
