In January 2024, after 5 months of laborious work, Antrone “Juice” Williams acquired his Non-Medical Unbiased Transportation Supplier license, one thing he takes nice delight in. To Williams’s information, he’s the primary Particular Olympics athlete to obtain this certification. By means of his new position, he believes he’s making a tangible affect throughout the incapacity group.
Nevertheless it was occasions years earlier that made the accomplishment of acquiring the license much more significant.
William’s life spiraled in a route he wasn’t anticipating when he had a medical scare in 2012. Seemingly wholesome main as much as this occasion, Williams had a large stroke on September 26th, 2012. And identical to that, he discovered himself with a brand new regular.
Following the stroke, he was in a medically induced coma. Throughout this time, he might hear all the things folks mentioned, and comprehend his environment however as a result of he was in a coma he was unable to speak. It was like he might repeat all the things mentioned to him in his thoughts however was not capable of verbalize it or get anybody’s consideration.
After popping out of the coma, Williams needed to relearn the best way to stroll, discuss and run. Nonetheless, regardless of the obstacles he confronted, he stored a constructive mindset and outlook for the longer term.
Whereas he had already been a Particular Olympics Ohio athlete for a few years, competing in basketball, bowling and golf, it was after his stroke that he realized the true energy of Particular Olympics. He credit the group and his mentor, Eric Johnson, who he met in 2021, with serving to him overcome a number of the darkest occasions in his life.
“I am simply blessed to be part of Particular Olympics as a result of I used to be going by plenty of despair and it helped me,” Juice says. “It has been serving to me by my journey.”
His journey again to “regular life” has not been with out bumps alongside the best way, however Williams has crafted a brand new regular, discovering his place as a Particular Olympics athlete chief. He’s served on his native Athlete Enter Council and had the chance to journey for public talking engagements. “It means so much as a result of I am making a big impact, not simply in my group however all through the nationwide group,” Williams says about his position as an athlete chief.
These alternatives and the management abilities realized by Particular Olympics led Williams to wish to make an excellent greater affect on the incapacity group.
“I do know lots of my fellow Particular Olympics wrestle with funds, some do not have a very good mother or father, or something like that to assist them alongside the best way, and there are such a lot of that aren’t getting good healthcare,” Williams says with plenty of ardour. “That is why I needed to advocate for and help my friends as a lot as doable.”
In January 2024, after 5 months of laborious work and a lifetime of preparation, he acquired his Non-Medical Unbiased Transportation Supplier license, one thing he takes nice delight in. To Williams’s information, he’s the primary Particular Olympics athlete to obtain this certification. By means of this position, he believes he’s making a tangible affect throughout the incapacity group.
Throughout days he’s on the clock on this new position as an Unbiased Supplier, you’ll discover him driving his shoppers to their on a regular basis obligations and completely different appointments, together with work, volunteer alternatives, and academic packages. He says, “I don’t thoughts driving lengthy distances as a result of I’m serving to others who want it.” He feels very lucky to have the liberty to do the issues he likes. He acknowledges that not everybody throughout the incapacity group can try this and values giving others that very same freedom. He additionally hopes that his journey will encourage others to beat their very own challenges.
“Be nice in what you do and imagine in one thing that ,” he shares. “My recommendation could be to check whether it is one thing that you simply really wish to do.”
Williams believes sure issues are supposed to occur in life, and you’ll study useful classes and abilities from adversity. He’s grateful he was put within the place to make a constructive distinction in folks’s lives and discover a significant method to help his household. He encourages different Particular Olympics athletes to make use of their voices and life experiences to create change of their communities as effectively.