In his fully motorized wheelchair, Rusty Crump, a 24-year-old aspiring journalist parks himself right in front of his computer in his bedroom. While his legs have never worked, his fingers and arms tap away as he types what he hears from his voice recorder. It is the latest interview Mr. Crump has gathered for his next piece for Morning Pointe Senior Living. He wants to be full-time writer.
“When I write I get to create but I also get to tell about people’s lives and share aspects of the world that others might not be exposed to. I get to be the one that brings it to them,” said Mr. Crump.
Mr. Crump was born with Cerebral Palsy, but he hasn’t let his disability get in the way of his desire to become a working journalist. After qualifying for a scholarship through the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, a state agency, he graduated with a degree in English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in four years. He is now participating in a job readiness program through Siskin Hospital and the Vocational Services Department. That’s how he met his job coach, Joe Neale “He is willing to do anything to further his writing opportunities,” said Mr. Neale.
So Mr. Neale got to work helping Mr. Crump do just that and that is how the young aspiring journalist became a volunteer at Morning Pointe of Hixson. He is writing regularly for the Morning Pointe monthly newsletter, profiling different residents and sharing their stories. “It’s been a wonderful experience so far,” Mr. Crump said. “I try to get them to reveal something about themselves that would be meaningful to other people.”
Mr. Crump believes people open up and share with him because he does the same with them. During a recent interview with a widowed woman, they both started talking. “After she got to know me and I was willing to answer her questions; she was willing to answer mine,” said Mr. Crump. Kelly Hailey, the life enrichment director at Morning Pointe of Hixson sees firsthand how Rusty is with the residents at the assisted living community. “He is a good listener and you can tell he is really thinking about everything they say and how it will make a story. The residents really enjoy him.”
Mr. Crump feels the same. “I hope that what I write brings some sort of positive reflection or influences people who read it.” Mr. Neale believes he is already making an impact and as his job coach, he couldn’t be more proud. “That gives us a sense of pride, that we were able to make a couple of connections. It’s inspiring to see him take the ball and run with it.”