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Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Dear Al,
The Islander Cultural Alliance and Disabilities Center of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was thrilled to have you speak at our campus on October 27. Disabilities Awareness Month a very critical opportunity to educate people and make them realize what it means to be person with a disability.
Your talk was informative, humorous, emotional, and most of all helped send the message that having a disability is just a minor obstacle toward leading a productive life
All of the attendees gained a better understanding of how to approach and treat people with disabilities; as well an outline for goal setting that can be applied to any one, whether or not they have a disability.
Your informational sheets about disabilities will be available and on display in our office. Thank you for gracing us with your appearance and we hope to work with you again in the future.
Sincerely,
Taposh Rudra
President, Islander Cultural Alliance
Texas A&M University Audio Testimonials
 MP3 Maria
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Seattle Central Community College
Dear Al Foxx,
Onbehalf of the Student Leadership of Seattle Central Community Col. I would like to expressour sincere appreciation for your wonderful work in the motivational workshop you presented on May 2 1, 2002. I am so proud to let you know how much our community enjoyed the event an appreciated your efforts. We received so many compliments from the audience for the successful and heart-warming event you have presented. Your passion and inspiration has touched so many people and has raised the spirit of our community. The motivational workshop would not have happened in such a short time and such a fashion without your hard work and good work. Again, thank you for your caring and your selflessness!
Sincerely,
Lexie M. Evans
Associate Dean
Student Leadership Division
Tacoma Community College
Dear Mr. Foxx,
Thank you so much for sharing your inspirational message with the students of Tacoma Community College. Our students really appreciated you taking time out of your schedule to come. Your message about looking below the surface and S.A.C.K.ing people was particularly inspirational. We would highly recommend you to any other college. You were a wonderful speaker and we hope to work with you again in the future. Thanks again.
Sincere1y,
Lisa Sullivan
Kisha Twitty
Adam Flores
Student Programs Multicultural/Educational Team
Central Washington University
Dear Al,
Thanks so much for your presentation to my class of preservice teachers at Central Washington University, SeaTac. Your message of hope and inspiration reaches all of the students in so many ways. They are able to take your practical suggestions from the simple "Winners Don't Quit" slogan to the ways to fill your self-esteem bucket and utilize them in their classroom situations immediately. Your ability to share your message with humor and candor makes it all the more rewarding.
The following comments are representative of the way you have impacted students over the years that you have come to my class:
Your story and 'winners don't quit attitude' brought me to be thankful for what I have...
I really like your emphasis that hope produces energy. When ever I feel down I just remember what you said.
I would like to personally thank you for sharing your inspiration.. ..I now possess the drive and attitude I need to be the person I want to be.
His acerbic wit was very entertaining.
He helped me understand that most disabled people are not asking for pity, or often, even help. They only want acceptance as much as 'normal' people.
I look forward to having you back again for our next quartets class. Thanks for the time and effort you take to do an incredible job each time you come.
Sincerely,
Trez Buckland, M.Ed.
Central Washington University Faculty
University of Washington DO-IT Program
Dear Al Foxx,
Thank you for participating in the 1998 DO-IT Summer Study Program as our Mentor Night stand up comedy act and motivational speaker. We have asked the students in your audience to give you feedback on you presentation. Below are they’re actual remarks.
What did you learn from his presentation?
"That everybody can do stuff and not give up easily"
"No matter how bad things are don’t give up you can still succeed.
"I learned that he never gave up and his disability only gave him more courage and confidence within himself to do things he wanted to do."’
What did you like the best about it? Was there anything you didn’t like about it?
"I liked it -when he said winners don't quit."
"One should always try to accomplish everything that they can even when they are told that they can not do it."
"I liked it very much."
"The stories about the stores where people would yell while thinking he was deaf and he would respond back in kind."
"His motto."
Was there too much comedy, not enough comedy or just the right amount of comedy in his speech?
"I enjoyed ‘Al’s speech. I felt that it was appropriate for our age group. The most vivid point I got from the speech is that things happen in a split second, and once they do, you cant change them no matter how much you want to. Along those same lines, his 'winners don’t quit' message was a good one, especially for disabled people. It gives them inspiration, I believe. The speech was great, and I feel that there was just enough comedy to make it light-hearted, but to still keep a serious theme going."
"I really enjoyed his speech. I think it was a good idea to have him here to tell his story. The comedy made us laugh but at the same time he taught me a valuable lesson. It’s easier for me and others to learn important things while having fun. And yes I think it was appropriate for my age group."
"Just the right amount."
Do you feel that his speech was appropriate for your age-group?
"Definitely"
"Yes"
What suggestions would you have for him to improve his presentation?
"None that I can think of."
"To keep presenting it just the way it is so, others can relate and learn the moral of the story being told about his life."
Again, thank you for participating in the DO IT program this summer!
Kristin Otis
Counselor/Coordinator, DO-IT
Springfield College-New York
Al just did this presentation last week, so we have not received an official letter yet, but here are some comments by participants.
Terrific, funny, very deep message when you got through laughing. I thought about my attitude toward individuals with disability and prognostications all the way home.
Refreshing and renewing for those who work with individuals with disability or professionals in rehabilitation!
The winners don’t quit message was important, especially being sensitive to focusing on a person’s positives, the need for self acceptance, caution with predictive statements that either lower expectations or “put people in a box”….individual motivation needs more attention by diagnosticians…adaptive or resilient behaviors are not cut and dry.
College aged students particularly enjoyed the “humor is the best medicine” element of the talk…
Overall, people were pleased, amused and enjoyed attending this event…
Dr. Bern Graney
Dept of Rehabilitation
University of Nebraska-Kearney
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