Willard senior with cerebral palsy to compete in national speech tournament – Springfield News-Leader

Evan Kirksey, 18, a Willard High School senior recites his original oratory about disability discrimination on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.

Evan Kirksey, 18, a Willard High School senior with cerebral palsy is taking his personal message about disability discrimination to the national stage. Kirksey will perform his original oratory this weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky and then to the national speech and debate competition in Birmingham, Alabama this summer. (Photo: Nathan Papes/News-Leader)Buy Photo

A Willard High School senior with cerebral palsy is taking his personal message about disability discrimination to the national stage.

Evan Kirksey, 18, will perform his original oratory this weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky and then to the national speech and debate competition in Birmingham, Alabama this summer.

He has already performed it at the state competition last week and about 11 other tournaments in the surrounding area.

Last Thursday, Kirksey performed his oratory for the Willard Schools Board of Education Meeting. Superintendent Dr. Kent Medlin said he felt inspired by Evans story.

Evan has an outstanding message for young and old alike. His quality of message can only be paralleled by his strength of character and drive to succeed," Medlin said in a release. "This young man is a winner because he has been willing to put forth the attitude, determination, and grit needed to reach this level of success. He is a great model for Willard.

Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth, doctors said Kirksey would never walk, talk, or function at a normallevel.Many years of physical therapy gave Kirksey the chance to thrive as a student at Willard, eventually leading to accomplishments as a speech and debate competitor and the Class of 2017 graduation speaker.

Its always been very important to me that people know that just because you have something a little bit different about you, doesnt mean that people should look down upon you or think of you different than anyone else, Kirksey said.I have a very important message to spread and this event is a great way to do that.

Evan Kirksey, 18, a Willard High School senior recites his original oratory about disability discrimination on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Kirksey will perform his oratory at the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky and then to the national speech and debate competition in Birmingham, Alabama this summer. (Photo: Nathan Papes/News-Leader)

"Whenever people think of discrimination, they think of racism or sexism or things like that," he said. "They don't often think of how much it affects the disabled, too. I wrote this to bring light to that, as well as to try to have success in speech and debate."

Kirksey said hesometimes thinks he'd like to be an attorney. Other times, though, he wants to be a speech pathologist.

"Being in speech and debate has shown me how important communication is between people," he said. "If I can help somebody else learn to communicate and communicate better, I feel like I would be fulfilling a purpose."

Kirksey wanted to thank Kathy Tobin, the head debate coach, and Chelsea Russell, assistant coach.

Kirksey performed his oratory Tuesday morning at the district office for members of the media.

Using examples like Stephen Hawking and Franklin D. Roosevelt in the oratory, Evan addresses the exceptional capabilities and challenges of some of the most famous individuals with a disability.

He talked about hitting a mailbox when he was learning to drive. He talked about never being particularly good at math.

"The point is I've tried and sometimes failed. But that doesn't mean I'm incapable. Incapable. That word resonates with me like no other," he said. "I've always been told I'm incapable simply because I'm different.

"My disability doesn't define me," he continued. "I can write my own story."

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Willard senior with cerebral palsy to compete in national speech tournament - Springfield News-Leader