Joni: Hi, there, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to Joni and Friends and another opportunity for me to introduce you to some of my friends, especially friends with disabilities. I have on the line my friend, Nick Rice. Nick, greetings! How are you doing?
Nick: Okay!
Joni: Well, you are over in Colby, Kansas, right?
Nick: Yeah!
Joni: Nick, it might help our listeners to know a little bit about your disability. Could you explain that?
Nick: My disability is that I have a visual impairment.
Joni: Are you in a wheelchair?
Nick: Well, I have a wheelchair, but I use it for long transportation.
Joni: Sure. And I can just picture that when you graduated from high school and applied to college you decided to use your wheelchair because a college campus is pretty tough to get around with just a walker, huh?
Nick: Yes.
Joni: Well, you went to Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas and what did you study, Nick?
Nick: I studied radio broadcasting.
Joni: And here we are sitting at the microphone together. This is fun. I love it! Do you want to tell our listeners what’s going to happen next year?
Nick: Yes. I’m going to come to serve as an intern with Joni and Friends in radio.
Joni: What verse from God’s Word really encouraged you those years you were at Community College studying broadcasting, because you know having Cerebral Palsy in a wheelchair on a college campus can be a bit challenging. What from God’s Word really helped you through it?
Nick: Psalm 71 verse 8.
Joni: Tell us that one.
Nick: My mouth is filled with your praise.
Joni: Well great. I’m sure you were praising God as you were zooming around campus. Nick, we are very excited about your coming next year to serve as an intern with us and Joni and Friends. We’ll put you to work in our radio department. But you must have some advice for other young people with disabilities about pursuing a secondary education. Anything you would like to say to some of our listeners… maybe parents of kids with disabilities like you?
Nick: Well, one thing they need to know is if you are going to be in radio you don’t have to be afraid the microphone and you don’t need to be scared to talk in front of people.
Joni: What advice would you give young people who are considering going to college?
Nick: Well, they need to follow their dreams and just let their dreams take them where they wish to go.
Joni: Absolutely! And sometimes seeing those dreams fulfilled is a matter of going to college and deepening your knowledge, wisdom and understanding and getting into God’s Word. What church do you attend there in Colby?
Nick: I’ve been attending the Colby Berean Church.
Joni: Lotsa of good singing in the Berean denomination. When you come out here I promise we’ll sing a couple of hymns together.
Nick: Okay!
Joni: I’m so grateful that your mother is going to be able to join you to assist you with your personal care routines during your internship. Thanks so much, Nick and we’re looking forward to seeing you next year.
Nick: You’re welcome.
Joni: God bless you brother.
Nick: God bless you too, Joni.
Joni: Well, I’m glad you had a chance to listen to my friend Nick and I think it will tell you something about our internship program here at Joni and Friends. You see, we accept everybody who has a heart to serve God and a heart to reach out to people with disabilities. No matter what their background skills or abilities, we want them here at Joni and Friends… the least of the brethren. So if you have a disability or know someone with a disability that you think would benefit from an internship with us at Joni and Friends, then go to our website and just click on our “Christian Institute on Disability” page. It will tell you all about our internships that are available. So, looking forward to hearing from you at joniandfriends.org.
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