Alex Garcia from Brazil, is an educator for disabled people.
Alex says : “I have learned to be strong so that no one defeats me and I have learned to be myself so no one forgets me”.
When Alex was just 14, he read about Helen Keller and was so impressed by her life and achievements, that from then on he has continued working on proving to people that disabled people have one and the same dignity as all the others have.
Helen Keller continues to be the greatest example of a human being’s overcoming their difficult conditions. And Alex says “Keller was a deafblind person, just like me and thousands all over the world. Keller made writing a powerful tool and so have I. Yes, I believe that words and writing have an infinite power of social transformation.
He has concentrated on writing and publication topics related to developments in Inclusion sector. He works on Developing lectures and participating in national and international congresses on subjects of daily life of people with disabilities in general, and deafblind people in particular.
“ My steps for development “ is a guide written by Alex for people with disabilities.
Alex says – in my guide “My steps for development” I want to guide person with disabilities – and perhaps even to guide person without disabilities on how to achieve development. As usual, in my thoughts I will tell you a truth – “ my truth. I think there are many truths. Every human being has his truth.
In 2014 Alex wrote the book “Beyond Existing We Should Be!“
About this book Alex says : It is a book in which I write several thoughts and reflections that gave me and still give me sustenance to my development. I, Alex Garcia, a deafblind person, graduated and post graduated in Special Education, overturned paradigms and I still do it mainly because I am an extremely fulfilled human being. These thoughts follow me, they are part of me. To me, these ideas were and are a kind of “recipe to success “, built from my daily relations with the people and the environment that surround me. The thoughts and reflections which are in “Beyond Existing We Should Be”, taught me two maxims: to be strong so nothing can defeat me and to be myself so no one can forget me.
Please do read his Profile and his “Dreams of a Deafblind Person”
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Dreams of a Deafblind Person
I dream that one day… I will be “less” invisible for Humankind.
I dream that one day… Humankind will recover the patience it has lost.
I dream that one day… Humankind will recover its wisdom and will understand my communication.
I dream that one day… Humankind will be close again as in ancient times.
I dream that one day… Humankind will be free of prejudice and will be able to touch me without any fear.
I dream that one day… I won’t be “just a brick in the wall” anymore, as Pink Floyd said in the song “Another brick in the wall”.
I dream that one day… I won’t need to “drink from the same water fountain” as Carl Jung, one of the founders of modern Psychoanalysis, said.
I dream that one day… Humankind will be able to eliminate the label that deafblindness is the most terrifying condition.
I dream that one day… Humankind will assume that “being alone” doesn’t mean to be abandoned.
I dream that one day… I will sow the “loneliness” that deafblindness imposes us as a possible aim to be enjoyed because we won’t be afraid of ourselves.
I dream that one day… I will change the pre-assumptions concerning my identity and the sentence which is currently repeated “Poor thing, he/she is deafblind” will be left in the past.
I dream that one day… Humankind will see my being and will indeed value my essence as my fight and then will say “Great! He/she is a deafblind person”.
I dream that one day… I will erase the shame from Humankind’s mind as a tool of controlling.
I dream that one day… Humankind will understand and value that all people are a Divine Creations: alike, however, incomplete.
I dream that one day… I will not just “exist” but actually “be”.
I dream that one day… I will learn to be “strong” so that nothing can defeat me.
I dream that one day… I will be “me” so nobody will forget me.
I dream that one day… My dreams will design the future.
I dream that one day… Humankind will be “human”.
Alex Garcia’s profile
The “gaucho” Alex Garcia, is one of the most famous persons with Rare Disease and Deafblind Persons in the world.
Specialist in Special Education by the UFSM/RS. He was the first Deafblind Person and Person with Hydrocephalus and Rare Disease to finish a post graduation degree at a Brazilian university.
He is the founder of the Gaucha Association of Parents and Friends of Deafblind people and people with Multiple Disabilities – AGAPASM. He is the pioneer in Brazil who developed the first research to find Deafblind people all over the state of Rio Grande do Sul. And he had as one of the most important supporters the Swedish Federation of Deafblind persons and the World Federation of Deafblind.
He is considered “the father” of Deafblindness in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Since 2004, as a volunteer, he structured for the first time in Brazil a programme of Home Care with families of Deafblind people to help them with information and educational orientation and also medical and social referrals, training of professionals to attend Deafblind people in their original places, adapting theses places and special programmes in schools.
Writer: he is the first Deafblind Person to write a book about education in Latin America. His book “Deafblindness: empirical and scientific” was published in 2008. In 2010, he has published a book for children: “The big revolution”. He has never given up of his sovereignty, and so he is registered at the National Library as individual editor – Editorial Prefix 908690.
In 2009 he won the “Sentidos” Award, a national award, because of his overcoming story of life chosen as the biggest of the year in Brazil.
He is a Honorary Rotarian – Rotary Club of São Luiz Gonzaga in the state of RS.
He was the first Deafblind Person to be alumni at the Mobility International Programme in the USA in 27 years of history of this organization. He was the first Deafblind Person in Brazil and Latin America to participate of a training programme for teachers with total liberty and it was held in the city of Cuiabá, in the state of MT. He was also the first Deafblind Person in Brazil and Latin America to work in a training programme for teachers with total liberty and where he had as students two people with disabilities (a young blind educator and a young deaf educator). This was held in the city of Niteroi, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Alex also writes for the Magazine Reação. Alex Garcia was the only Deafblind Person in the world to participate of the High Level Meeting on Disability and Development “The way forward: Disability Inclusive Development Agenda for 2015 and Beyond” held in 2013 at the UN headquarters in New York.
He was the proponent in 2013, of the public hearing to treat social inclusion of the people with deafblindness – the first hearing to deal with the issue in the history of Brazil. He is active, participant and collaborator of the IDA Forum – International Disability Alliance (IDA). He is a collaborator of the Secretariat for the Convention on Human Rights of People with Disabilities, Division of Politics and Social Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Alex Garcia was one of the winners, in the category “Personalities” of the Award Brasil Mais Inclusão 2016.
Alex Garcia – Contato: You can write to him on the below email ID.
Alex Garcia – CV Lattes:
http://lattes.cnpq.br/4055194419684987
Alex Garcia – Facebook click for his FaceBook page.
Agapasm – Facebook Click for Agapasm Facebook page.
