Rising Stars: Meet Cecil Williams of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecil Williams

Hi Cecil, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was involved in a hit and run car accident on May 9th 2003 during my Freshman year at a local community college. I had just graduated from Hixson High School. in May 2002 The car accident left me with a fractured left wrist and a chipped pinky finger. My older cousin, who was in the passenger seat, just had some scrapes and bruises. In March 2004, my hand doctor sent me to a neurologist at a diagnostic center. After the nerve conduction test, I learned that the nerves in both legs and in both arms were assymetrical. (Abnormal) The doctor’s nurse assistant told me something that I’ll never forget. “I had gotten more than I had bargained for.”

I went on to develop peripheral neuropathy in my upper and lower extremities. I had developed a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease as well. I lost my temporary job in Januarary 2008 and had to file for permanent physical disability in the same year. Transitioning from an able-ied to a person dealing with a physical disability was a daunting task. I am now in a wheelchair.

“The Adventures of Cecil”: In the year of 2018, I (Cecil Williams) decided that I wanted to live more despite the physical challenges. (Cerebellar Ataxia- The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by incoordination, slurred speech, and swallowing difficulties.) On the quest to share my story and inspire the world, I wanted to try new things and do things that I have never done before.. I tell my story by going on adventuring and sharing my experience on social media. The good and the bad. After 10 years of living in a box, I ready to face my fears and step outside of the box.

How is it going? I have a part-time job at a local YMCA, I am a disability advocate that serves on the Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee as a Vice Chair, I have traveled near and far doing adaptive Sports, and I am going for my dreams by experiencing life like I never had before. I have been skydiving, hang gliding, scuba diving, adaptive snow skiing, and racing to name a few things I have went on to do.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning how to accept the disability, things and people change, and accepting what is, was a long process. Dealing with my new normal, anxiety, depression, pain and being misunderstood was a challenge for me. I have always been a fighter and I’ve love a good challenge. By networking, putting myself out there, and going on adventures was how I was able to find and reinvent myself. I learned how to truly love myself and to do what made me happy. Sometimes that meant walking away from things, places, and people.

When I started step outside of the box and try new things, everybody wasn’t on board at first. You got to understand that I was going after my dreams. I didn’t mind failing before I succeeded because of the things I had to learn from not knowing. There is a difference between constuctive criticism and being cynical. People will talk you out of your dreams and project their fears on you if you let them. I had to develop a deep belief in myself and a belief that whatever I was pursuing could actually happen for me. I am grateful for the teachings from my late mentor/pastor, Bishop W.C. Hunter, which prepared me for life’s battles and for giving me the unadulterated Word of God. I am thankful for my strong faith and for God’s goodness and mercy upon my life!

Doing things alone, not always having the support, hearing no, jumping over hurdles, and be criticized only made me stronger. I have the whatever it takes approach and attitude, while holding onto my integrity. I am truly grateful for the people who have supported me and my spontaneous adventures along the way! Opportunities look more like hard work. I don’t mind doing the work.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Adventures of Cecil was once an empty photo album that I had created on my personal Facebook page during the beginning of 2018. I wrote a note of declaration to myself and shared it on social media. It read “I want to experience life like never before this year and the years to come. In a great way, of course. I want to love more, live more, give more, travel more, save more, and experience all good things more. Anything is possible and achievable if you believe. The only limits are the ones that we set in our minds.” After that, I started to live more, started to put myself out there, try new things, and my photo album started to grow. I became fearless and I alive for the first time in a long time. It wasn’t until November of that year that I realized that I had created and was doing something special. You can call The Adventures of Cecil a brand and a blog. It really took a world of it’s on. I am hoping to turn it into a book and an entity one day. I like helping and inspiring others.

I had gotten introdruced to adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation in April 2018. After attending an Adaptive Cycling Clinic and riding a handcycle for the first time. I had an aha moment. ” You mean, I can live again.” My curiosity went wild and I wanted to try everything. I went on to go kayaking, attend a paratriathlon camp, go hang gliding, skydiving, adaptive water skiing, scuba diving, racing and so much more.

I do Professional Speaking engagements, where I share my story with a Power Point Presentation, about “How to overcome and deal with adversity.” I have spoken at a couple of churches and at several non-profits. My audience is generally geared towards people who were 21 and older but I have shared my story with high schoolers and middle schoolers.

I have gotten into disabilty advocacy over the years. I was already advocating for adaptive sports, so I had just answered the call when it came. I’ve served as a Program Chair on the Mayor’s Council on Disability for one term. The Mayor’s Council on Disability is an advisory group of citizens with a mission to provide direction and guidance to the Mayor and Chattanooga City Council by proposing policies, programs, practices, and procedures that give equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, empowering them to achieve inclusion and integration in all aspects of society. Currently, I am going into my second term as a Vice Chair of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee. The Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is an independent nonprofit governed by people with disabilities. Our goal is to advance advocacy and independence for Tennesseans with disabilities by collaborating with all interested parties.

Being authentic and a likeable person sets me apart from the rest. I am relatable, passionate, and an inspiring person. I bring out the best in others. My work speaks for itself.

I am most proud of everything that I have set out to accomplish these past 7 years, the network that I have been able to build, the people that I have positiviley impacted over the years and I am thankful for family and friends. I like sharing my story, encouraging others, giving people hope and defying the odds. I really enjoy going adaptive surfing.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you are looking for a speaker or a collaboration partner just email me at [email protected]

You can find me on Instagram: @theadventuresofcecil

I need help with getting an wheelchair accessible vehicle. It would make it easier on me when I travel near and far.

If you would like to donate/support me and my adventures: Venmo- Cecil Williams/@theadventuresofcecil

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadventuresofcecil
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theadventuresofcecil
• Other: https://blog.gogrit.us/rider-spotlight/grit-rider-spotlight-cecil-williams/