It
isn’t just the job that Luis Enrique Chew does on a daily basis
that makes him an inspiration to many students. Even more inspiring
is his overcoming of several life-altering obstacles he has had to
face.
Chew has been the Director for Volar, a community support service
that helps people become interdependent, since 1998. According to
Chew, Volar provides four major services for persons with disabilities
trying to get back on their own, such as: advocacy, peer counseling,
independent living skills and training information and referral services.
He became part of Volar, “As a consumer, seeking assistance
while getting ready for job interviews.”
Chew was only 17 when he was involved in a car accident while traveling
with family. “We were going to Casas Grandes, Mexico,”
said Chew. “It was about 3 a.m., it was dark and there was a
vehicle in the middle of the road without lights on. I tried to go
around, but my Blazer’s front, right tire got punctured,”
he said.
Injured
seriously in an automobile accident, Luis Chew has dedicated his life
to helping others with disabilities.
Photo by Leslie Council
From
there, Chew told about how the vehicle overturned several times, before
landing on its back. Everyone else sustained minor injuries, but when
Chew tried to stand, he was unable to.
Chew attributes his injury to not having his seatbelt on at the time
of the accident. From Juarez, he was transferred to El Paso’s
Providence hospital where they revealed to him that the accident had
caused a major spinal injury, leaving him quadriplegic.
“When you acquire a severe disability, like I did, you don’t
know how to react in different situations,” said Chew. “Just
going to EPCC and watching the way students interacted with student
of disabilities made it easier for me to continue my education,”
he said.
Chew had been attending NMSU, majoring in animal science & agronomy,
but was later forced to change his major. He transferred to EPCC’s
Valle Verde campus for a year where he said he was fortunate enough
to have met Dr. Lumpkin, just as the Center for Students with Disabilities
(CSD), at the beginning.
“The CSD was instrumental and encouraged me to continue my education,”
said Chew. “It’s much easier for a person with a disability
to find a job with an education.”
Chew continued until he earned a degree in business administration.
He believes that all individuals rely on something to help them through
life and that we live in an interdependent society.
“Some of us have a disability early in life, or as you grow
older, you acquire disabilities like diabetes, hypertension…
you name it,” said Chew. He said his goal is to make Volar a
better agency every day. He said he likes his job because it helps
the community. Currently he is working with Volar to pass an ordinance
that will ensure that new houses being built are preemptively handicap
accessible in case of disability. The ordinance asks for wider doors,
reinforced walls for grab bar installations in bathrooms, and switches
and outlets where persons in wheelchairs can access them.
“It’s much easier and less expensive to have houses built
for the future,” said Chew.
Chew encourages students to educate themselves. “Because you
have a disability doesn’t mean you’re not capable of doing
other things.” He said it amounts to extra planning and a positive
attitude. “Once you have a disability, it’s not the end
of your life. We try to educate the community and people that you
can overcome any disability.”
