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Pete
© 1998 all rights reserved
My name is Pete and I was born on in 1969 here in
Rochester, New York.
I have 3 older brothers (no
sisters). Neither my parents nor my brothers show any signs of any disabling
condition.
My disability is considered Bilateral Amputation which means both of my legs
were removed surgically (in 1973). My hands only have 2 fingers and I use a
brace on my left hand known as an Opposition Post. This allows me to grasp
things and made writing possible. I also had Open Heart Surgery in 1979 to
repair a Ventricular Septal Defect which isn't uncommon in children. Basically
the repair was to a hole in the Septal wall of my heart. No evidence or reason
has surfaced regarding the cause of my disability. Many people have suggested
that my mother used Thalidomide and I will say very solidly here that the
suggestion is false.
The amputation was done to allow me to use artificial limbs which I later gave
up due to the hassle and annoyance they caused me personally.
I went to standard schools as a youngster and graduated proudly from high school in 1987. After high school I bolted out of New York and went
to a small college in Greensboro, North Carolina. While
I learned a great deal down there I also discovered my independent streak. Being
alone with no family, I really did not pay a great deal of attention to my
academic responsibilities and basically failed out of the school after one
year. I had to get myself together. This was a time when I truly discovered
myself.
I came home and cleaned myself up quickly and began working for a market
research firm. I also picked up a night job as a receptionist at a YMCA and this
was the norm for almost two years.
Then in 1990, my academic interest revived itself and I began taking classes at
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). I quickly became comfortable there and
settled into the Social Work program. While at RIT, I was invited onto a
committee called the Commission for Promoting Pluralism which examined the needs
of under represented groups on campus and what needs to be done to give equal
opportunities for those who are students, staff or faculty. My term on this
committee ended in June of 1998. I also served as a member of the Disabled
Students Advisory Group as well as making myself available as a speaker on
disability issues for RIT, other colleges and regional high schools.
After graduating in May of 1995 from RIT, I realized finding work in this field
would be more difficult than I thought. I worked as an Adolescent Counselor for
a brief while, then worked as a Substance Abuse Intake evaluator briefly in an
study role. Unfortunately those did not pan out. I worked at The Sutherland
Group as a Tier I Internet Tech Support Agent for 3 years. I currently work as
a Tier II Internet Tech Support Agent for Frontier Telephone of Rochester, a
Citizens Communications Company and I love my work!!! I work on a telephone
help desk helping both Citizens and Frontier Internet users gain and maintain
their access to the Internet.
When I first wrote this I was single. I am now *engaged* to be married 10/18/02
to an amazing woman named Suzette who is truly my soul mate. My hobbies
include bowling (I am Volunteer Coordinator of a disabled bowler's league),
billiards, swimming, movies, good food and a cold beer on occasion. I currently
drive a 2002 Astro Safari mini-van which is of course my baby.
Pete's Photo Gallery
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Pete
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