Perceptions Start With Us

Coelho also thinks people with epilepsy can do a lot to improve attitudes about the disorder by not being negative.

“When you talk to people, don’t be defensive, there’s no reason to be. You are what you are,” he said. “If you treat epilepsy negatively, you pass that on to the people you talk to.

“It’s also important to be involved in helping others. I think the way we resolve our problems is to reach out and help other people with epilepsy or other disabilities,” Coelho continued.

“Now, I’ve come to terms with my epilepsy, so this is easy for me to say. It wasn’t always easy,” he said. “But, it’s easy for me now and that can be the case for everyone—you just have to come to terms with it.”

The critical part, Coelho believes, is loving yourself and knowing who you are. And sometimes, it’s a matter of finding strength in unexpected places.

“I have to say—and this might sound a little out there—the greatest gift God gave me was my epilepsy because, in effect, it forced me to know myself. It forced me to know what I was all about. I know myself and I deal with who I am,” he said.

“Sometimes people say I’m arrogant about it,” Coelho confided. “What I am is very comfortable with who I am and very comfortable with what I believe in.”

When Coelho speaks to young people, he always tells them to look into a mirror. “If you think you’re too short, you can’t do anything about it. But, if you don’t like the color of your hair, you can change it,” he says to them.

“But look at who you are and accept who you are. If there’s something about you that you can change, change it. If there’s something about you that you can’t change, accept it.

“Once you find acceptance in yourself, it’s wonderful. You have tremendous freedom and then you have tremendous ability to help others,” Coelho said.

What’s Next?

“Jobs are the great equalizer in our society. Without a job, it’s hard to participate in the joys of life,” Coelho said. “I think with a job that gives you the opportunity to fail, as well as succeed, people with disabilities will succeed because they want that job and they will be loyal to that job and to their employers.”

Coelho also said he plans to spend more time with his family. “I love my kids and love for them to have opportunities to do things,” he continued. “And I want to provide them with the means to do as much as they want to do. If we have grandkids, I want to make sure they’ll have the opportunity to do what they want to do.”

Both of his daughters are young adults now, having benefited over the years from their father’s emphasis on the importance of public service and giving back to the community. “Now they’re out there starting to make a difference in the world and I’m so proud of them,” Coelho said.

“I still think I can make a difference. I can do it from a different pulpit,” Coelho concluded. “I still have a podium, because I demand it. What I want to do is devote more time to making life better for people with disabilities.”