In January 2024, after 5 months of arduous work, Antrone “Juice” Williams acquired his Non-Medical Unbiased Transportation Supplier license, one thing he takes nice pleasure in. To Williams’s information, he’s the primary Particular Olympics athlete to obtain this certification. By his new position, he believes he’s making a tangible influence throughout the incapacity neighborhood.
However it was occasions years earlier that made the accomplishment of acquiring the license much more significant.
William’s life spiraled in a course 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 may hear the whole lot 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 may repeat the whole lot 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 how one can stroll, speak and run. Nonetheless, regardless of the obstacles he confronted, he stored a optimistic mindset and outlook for the long run.
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 among 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 a variety of melancholy 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 way in which, 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 lots as a result of I am making a huge effect, not simply in my neighborhood however all through the nationwide neighborhood,” Williams says about his position as an athlete chief.
These alternatives and the management abilities discovered by Particular Olympics led Williams to need to make an excellent larger influence on the incapacity neighborhood.
“I do know lots of my fellow Particular Olympics battle with funds, some do not have a superb dad or mum, or something like that to assist them alongside the way in which, and there are such a lot of that aren’t getting good healthcare,” Williams says with a variety of ardour. “That is why I wished to advocate for and assist my friends as a lot as doable.”
In January 2024, after 5 months of arduous work and a lifetime of preparation, he acquired his Non-Medical Unbiased Transportation Supplier license, one thing he takes nice pleasure in. To Williams’s information, he’s the primary Particular Olympics athlete to obtain this certification. By this position, he believes he’s making a tangible influence throughout the incapacity neighborhood.
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 totally 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 neighborhood 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 consider in one thing that ,” he shares. “My recommendation could be to check whether it is one thing that you simply really need to do.”
Williams believes sure issues are supposed to occur in life, and you’ll study priceless classes and abilities from adversity. He’s grateful he was put within the place to make a optimistic distinction in folks’s lives and discover a significant option to assist his household. He encourages different Particular Olympics athletes to make use of their voices and life experiences to create change of their communities as properly.
