Little Earl Rivard wasn’t expected to survive. The 4-month-old had been in a coma for a week after the vehicle in which he rode was hit by a drunk driver. He would awaken and he would live, but the damage was irreversible. Fortunately for Earl, now an adult, he was too young to have memories of the accident or what it was like to see.

Today his students don’t care that he is blind. To them, he is a caring, talented teacher who helps them read, helps them sing, and helps them achieve what others assumed they would never achieve. Like Earl, his students have unique abilities. And, like Earl, they want to make the most of those abilities and do what they love.

Sheltered success

Earl grew up like most other kids. He attended a public school that had a program for blind students in a nearby community, attending regular classes and getting help with adaptive skills such as Braille. He was very active in drama and music, and even played some sports. He excelled academically and attended the University of California – Berkeley, graduating in 2001.

As he grew, he learned what he needed to get along, and he was provided various required accommodations in the classroom to insure he had the same access to education as his peers. But, as an adult, he found that the real world wasn’t so accommodating. “The road got a lot bumpier after college,” he says. “I really didn’t have a sense of what it’s like going through life with a disability, without the supports I had growing up.”

He tried to find work, but he soon learned that his ethnic studies degree wasn’t going to put food on the table. He had crossed the stage at UC – Berkeley graduation and hit a wall. He had to find a way to make a living, a way that minimized or negated his disability. Music seemed to be the logical choice.

Breaking through

“Music was always in the background of my life,” Earl says. His father played the guitar and had a collection of vinyl LPs that provided the soundtrack.

At 14, his family moved to Argentina, his mother’s homeland, for a year. Music is a rich part of that culture, he says, and the spontaneous, participative playing and singing sparked his passion. He’d always enjoyed singing, but something changed for him there. “It was during that year that I found the joy of performance,” he says.

Back in California, Earl got involved in high school musical theater and taught himself to play guitar. In college he sang in an acapella group. So when he had to find a way to put food on the table, he grabbed his guitar and started stumping for gigs.

He did well, performing often and recording three solo albums (“Troubadour Blue” and “Underground Railroad” are available online), collaborating on several others. He’s written some of his own songs and co-wrote others with his father. “My dad is really the songwriter in our family, and many of the songs I have recorded are his.”

While he enjoyed his chosen career, it was physically and emotionally draining. “I love performing for people,” he says, “but I never knew where the next gig would come from.”

Spreading his wings

Little did he know that his next gig would take him down a very different path. His scheduled had slowed enough that he agreed to help produce a musical program at a day program for disabled adults called Futures Explored in Lafayette, CA, where a friend was working.

It worked out so well that they asked him to teach a music class. It quickly grew from once a week to several days a week and suddenly he was a teacher. “It was the closest thing I’d ever had to a real day job,” he says with a chuckle. “I found real joy working with these special people.”

He also got married and moved to San Jose, adding a lengthy work commute to his daily schedule. It quickly became apparent that he no longer had time for performing, so he put that chapter of his life on hold.

He also started looking for a teaching opportunity closer to home and found The College of Adaptive Arts (CAA), an innovative school where adults with disabilities can explore and learn a variety of artistic and educational disciplines, much like a traditional college. (Read my blog about CAA here.)

“It’s very joyful, very rewarding, and very surprising,” he says. “I love what a supportive environment CAA provides,” says Earl. “It’s a deeply human place.”

Earl leads the concert choir and teaches Music Appreciation. He also assists with a variety of other courses and program, such as music recording, poetry, public speaking, and the student council.

“We’re going to ask you to spread your wings and grow, but we meet you where you are,” he says, offering the Reading Partners class as an example. “The students read to one another based on their level. One person might read three paragraphs, while another might read five words. Regardless of their ability, we always ask them to do a little bit more each time, and we celebrate their success.”

“I get profound joy and satisfaction teaching people where they are and celebrating their accomplishments.”

Once a performer…

While Earl loves sharing his passion for learning and music with his students, he is still drawn to the stage. He hopes to return to performing; he just needs to figure out how he can fit it into his life again.

He loves the troubadour style of musical storytelling, just a man and his guitar. “It creates a beautiful give and take with your audience.”

“My dream would be to find a way to reach a large audience with the interweaving of storytelling and music. I trust that at some point it will come together.”

About me: I am Pete Resler, a dad of two boys with special needs. I created this blog to tell stories of exceptional people, including those with special needs and those who give of themselves to make life better for them. My hope is that these stories expose more people to what’s good in the special needs world and inspire them to give of themselves to make life better for those with special needs.

You can help:  I’m always looking for new ideas. If you know someone you think should be featured, shoot me a note at specialopstories@gmail.com.