On Saturday, June 1^st, 2024 Notre Dame College (NDC) held a closing mass. Fueling many emotions for those with ties to the small liberal arts college. The event marked a time to celebrate the institution’s 100-plus year history, which started with a vision from the Sisters of Notre Dame. Although, behind the celebratory vibes loomed a somber sadness. An unsettling feeling class had indeed let out for the final time and no new friendships would blossom at 4545 College Road.

While sad, one can take comfort in knowing Notre Dame College’s legacy will live on. As reported by Spectrum 1’s Kristen Anzuini, the entire rugby program will move to Walsh University. Bringing some Falcon spirit to Walsh seems inevitable.

Similarly, as long-time staff and faculty obtain new employment the cores and values which kept the workers at NDC will spread to those new employers. Additionally, the Notre Dame College legacy will continue through the difference alumni make. Whether a teacher who gained their education degree at NDC, a nurse who prepared for their career with Notre Dame’s nursing program, or alumni who went another route to make an impact.

To risk sounding arrogant, an alum like me. Years before taking the moniker “The Cerebral Palsy (CP) Vigilante,” I carried a different title, “Notre Dame College Class of 2009.” Reflecting upon my disability advocacy efforts, I realized an undeniable truth. I am the disability advocate I am today thanks to NDC. To honor the college, allow me to explain how.     

Experience Points Harvest! 

Possessing firsthand experiences to draw on goes far for building credibility. Whether falling Welcome Weekend freshman year before I could even say to others, “Hi. I’m Zach,” or responding to a fall senior year caused by a wet floor by jokingly shouting, “Dry campus my @$$!” I collected stories I could use to tell others. Hopefully empowering others to advocate for themselves by taking ownership over slips and falls, rather than slithering away in embarrassment.      

Now with more formal advocating, prior to college I lacked a proper advocacy mindset. Instead, I focused on blending in with my peers. In high school as members on my individualized education plan (IEP) team discussed possible accommodations for me, I pondered how these arrangements would impact my goal to blend in, as opposed to how they would position me to succeed.

That eventually changed at Notre Dame College. IEPs end with high school. While a 504 plan provides protection for access to accommodations, I no longer possessed a team behind me. No designated educator to check in on me. I still had my parents, but because I lived on-campus, their concerns became distant. For the first time, advocating for any needs fell directly on me.

This brings us to mid-terms, my junior year. As I completed an essay heavy English mid-term, I found myself thinking, “This test is more representative of how much I can handwrite in a certain amount of time and not how much I know.” A preventable situation if I had utilized an accommodation made available to me through my 504 plan. Taking my tests to the Dwyer Learning Center where I could use a computer to type my answers. Afterwards I contacted the Dwyer Learning Center Director, checking to see if I still had the option to take tests there. She confirmed I did and I elected to take any further essay heavy mid-terms or exams there.

Taking the Stage

These above experiences helped me develop meaningful messages to share. However, sharing requires possessing a platform to share on. A stage to take, so to speak.

Again, I must credit Notre Dame College. Through NDC I found my stage, writing. The discovery occurred while writing for the student newspaper, The Notre Dame News. Looking to fill an empty space in the Fun & Advice section, I wrote a piece last minute talking about the valuable lessons I learned rehabbing from temporary paralysis in my right leg when 14 years old. A situation which arose due to complications from a major spinal surgery.     

Writing such a personal story for a public outlet proved a drastic departure from my demeanor in high school. Back then I avoided discussing my disability at all. Even in one-on-one conversations with close friends!

Along with such a dramatic change comes nerves and anxiety. How will people react? Will anyone care? Feedback from that aforementioned article reassured me. Yes, people cared. Going as far as finding the piece powerful. Setting me forth on an incredible path.

A GPS for Life

Between messages shaped by experience and a platform to share on, Notre Dame College provided my life direction. Upon graduation I planned to write a book. An idea sparked by a comment a professor, Sister Karita, gave me when I handed her my final exam for my music theory class. Sister Karita looked at me and said, “You are an inspiration to anyone who has to overcome challenges.”

Previously I never thought of myself as an inspiration. Sister Karita’s comment made me think telling my story could help someone else. Admittedly, the journey to publishing what would become my first memoir Off Balanced contained difficulties. Or construction zones, to keep with the directional metaphor. Yet I found myself able to navigate the challenges, thanks in part to Notre Dame College remaining there to help reroute me.

This rerouting, or “recalculating” as your actual GPS might say, occurred through maintaining connections I first made at NDC. Beta readers for my initial manuscript included two professors from the college and a good friend who graduated with me. Their commentaries helped Off Balanced go from unfocused ramblings from a 22-year old with cerebral palsy to a teenage memoir exploring my emotional journey from embarrassment to embrace over my disability.

Publishing Off Balanced further strengthened connections I made at Notre Dame College too. Particularly with my friend James. Reading Off Balanced left James becoming a powerful cog in my support system. In 2016 when I hesitated over focusing my writing strictly to cerebral palsy/disability related issues, James reminded me I can speak about CP in a way others cannot. He even played a crucial role in developing my moniker, “The Cerebral Palsy Vigilante.”

His support extended beyond words as well, speaking with action and walking 26.2 miles alongside me. Witnessing firsthand my transformation into a marathoner. A journey I detail in my second memoir Slow and Cerebral. Through his words and actions James actively encouraged me to take a greater leadership role in the CP community. Taking the direction NDC gave me and insisting I settle into the metaphorical driver’s seat.

Ten and Two

Please, allow me to clarify my playful remarks. I am not saying I represent the entire CP community. Nor do I speak for anyone else with cerebral palsy. I only speak for myself. Rather my “leadership” credentials come from any natural clout you gain in a community running a blog or publishing books.

Although, publishing Off Balanced did lead me to get recruited to help start the cerebral palsy Twitter (now X) chat #CPChatNow. A chat I still co-host a decade later. Every Wednesday, 8pm-10pm ET, for anyone interested.

Anyway, helping to manage any community for so long requires addressing inevitable challenges. Situations I am better able to handle thanks to my experiences running NDC’s student newspaper as Editor-in-Chief. For example, I recall the Campus Activities Director vocalizing concern over a statement in an opinion piece. I supported the writer, defending the piece, but also compromised with the Campus Activities office. By setting up a review process for Campus Activities to review relevant articles before publication we worked together to prevent future issues.

Likewise, compromise popped up with #CPChatNow regarding the weekly recaps my co-hosts and I started writing. Concern over consent for using tweets arose. In a private group discussion, we surveyed community members to gauge concern levels. Afterwards, we created and agreed upon recap rules. Enabling us to address concern over consent while allowing my co-hosts and I to complete recaps in a timely fashion.                                         

Keeping the Notre Dame College Legacy Alive

Overall, my CP Vigilante efforts continue to make an impact. Evident by comments, messages, and emails to me from individuals with CP saying they feel less alone. Better yet, hopeful! Plus, comments, messages, and emails from parents and professionals (therapists/teachers/nurses) who tell me they gained a greater understanding about CP thanks to my content.

For any difference I make as The CP Vigilante, I must credit Notre Dame College. As I demonstrated in today’s post, I am the advocate I am due to my years there. The experiences and lessons I learned at NDC live on inside me. You could even say, I am forever Notre Dame College.

While the last students have walked the hallways at NDC, alumni like me will continue to keep the Notre Dame College legacy alive. For my fellow alumni, how are you keeping the NDC legacy alive? For those in the disability community, what institution, organization, or person helped you become the advocate you are today? Answer in the comments!

Finally, checkout Off Balanced and Slow and Cerebral for yourself. Available at Amazon!

Until next time, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary  

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