Live Your Dreams

 

Make your dreams come true
© UCP

To highlight the need for greater awareness and acceptance of disability, Ludacris appears in the recently released United Cerebral Palsy public service announcement "Dream” featuring Ruje'anne Duplessis, a teenager born with cerebral palsy.

When prom season arrived last year, Ruje'anne wrote Black Entertainment Television (BET) to ask for help in reaching her dream prom date Grammy-nominated musician and actor Chris "Ludacris” Bridges. BET passed Ruje'anne's letter to Ludacris and he flew to Massachusetts to accompany her to the Central High prom. "The prom is a very important part of a young lady's life, and it hit my heart to share it with her,” said Ludacris. "

Ruje'anne is now in college preparing for a career in the music industry. With help from United Cerebral Palsy, she found a personal care attendant and lives independently at school. "Ruje'anne Duplessis is an example of a person with a disability living without limits,” said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy.

United Cerebral Palsy, one of the nation's leading advocates for Americans with disabilities, and The Ludacris Foundation announced today the launch of a new public awareness campaign featuring Ludacris. The nonprofit partners aim to raise awareness for all 54 million Americans with disabilities, while shedding light on the disproportionate rate of disability in minority communities.

According to multiple studies, African Americans account for nearly 20 percent of all people with disabilities despite making up just 13 percent of the U.S. population. More than 35 percent of all African American families reported having a family member with a disability in 2000.

- For further information about UCP at: www.ucp.org

Related Articles

• Seniors: Cardio and Weight Training Reduces Access to Health Care
• Paralympics Changed People’s Perceptions of Disability and Disabled Sport
• Social Media Can Support Healthiness of Older People