Colourful Dave

 

disABLED Motivational Speaker

 

St Francis of Assisi said words to the effect of 'Spread the gospel(Good news) and where needed use words.

I have disabilities including Aphasia which means of have trouble pronouncing words at times amongst other communication difficulties, {see www.aphasia.org.au }, eplilepsy and other uncontrollable neurological difficulties, asthma, non insulin dependant diabities, underactive thyroid disease, am in a wheelchair to lessen falls and back pain, I am in pain every time I get in, out of or during sleep from a back pain, ( I have a disk out of place confirmed by medical tests), various mental illnesses,have lost friends and family to suicide, and nearly myself too, BUT, DESPITE ALL THIS I GO ON!!

HOW?  Well the best way to do that is get me to come and speak to your group at church, large or small, school, youth group, business meeting, community group, ladies or mens meeting etc

I speak on subjects such as:

*Growing up different to those around you and remaining a person of worth.

*Being disabled mentally and or phyically and not knowing why.

*Becoming disabled midlife or in teenage years.

*Learning how to accept those around you who are different to you - disabled

*Possibly soon included - Relaxation tecniques to relieve stress from your body

I can also talk on my various illness particuarly mentally, epilepsy and aphasia and not knowing why. How doctors and other medical people react. What to do. All of my talks point to how I have learnt to cope and how you can cope with your adversities, whatever they are and remain a person of worth. I am a Christian but never force my beliefs on anyone else. I can talk to totally Christian groups, mixed groups and totally un believers.

I have several self published books of my own experience and my autobiography for sale at meeting or by post. (They are cheaper in person at meetings and they can be autograped by me there to you). I can also bring quality non - judgemental Christian books on various aspects of mental health and disability at below retail prices with no force to buy any. I have a  short 6 and a half minute DVD I like to show on making the disabled more friendly in your community.Despite being disabled I run 5 websites, have wriiten 4 books of my own, run a Christian bookshop from home, and am now branching out into doing motivational speaking.

To book a meeting; I have a flexible diary and yet, you need to book best at least 2 months in advance, however sometimes less can be aranged but at least 2 months is best. To contact me best is Colourful Dave P.O. Box X2222 Perth WA 6847 but I also have email at colourfuldave@gmail.com  I can come most days of the week and weekends but bookings and payment are essential for all meetings in advance.

What I require for a meeting? I primarily need advance warning, wheelchair access, an idea of who I am speaking to in what setting ie; Christian/non Christian/mixed, age group, gender,etc, what subject from those listed you want me to talk on, address, time advaced booking and advanced payment. Also a phone number of person to confirm it with best time to ring them. I can also be interviewed if you prefer as part or all of it.

Price: Prices haven't been set at this stage but watch this space for updates. In the mean time amounts can be worked out as they come in depending on various factors. Travel costs need to be covered. Accomodation and special diet if staying overnight etc.

More on me.

 Colourful  Dave is now a guest speaker and was born David on January 12th 1969 and according to my Dad I always loved colour....right through to the point that he said you could stop me crying as a baby in the pram by putting bright colours in front of me. That may not seem strange to some except that he said it didn't happen with my older three siblings.

 It went on through life into primary school when I came home with the make up put on me by a teacher for me to look like the character - Frankenstein.  I felt alive for once. I mean really alive, like when your'e sporting team has won the ground final starting the year as the underdogs... the real losers. And I still feel like that everytime I get really dressed up in bright clothes or in costume.

And I now everyday got out everywhere I go like that in costume increasingly, but otherwise always in bright colours with one of my large collection of hats {over 50} and accesories like eccentric sunglasses or sometimes cheap jewelry. Yes I go everywhere like that to my very supportive church, to work, the shops, even on public transport.

You may wonder why I get dressed like that........

Is he a clown, entertainer, kids performer, busker, is it because of drug taking or selling, or overseas, cultural, religion beliefs or as some ask is it because of homosexual orientation that he dresses like that. Well the answer to all is the same. NO.

Originally I only do this because I enjoy it. NO SPECIAL REASON.

Now I take advantage of it to show that it doesn't matter where you come from in life, always sick, disabled, in a wheelchair, mentally ill, long term unemployed, not done well in school or life in society or your familys view, lonely, even gay or not fitting into what the contempory church thinks is O.K; In God's view YOUR ARE O.K to Jesus. I know because I fit into all of those groups mentioned and have experienced acceptance from God. See "My books page. You can buy them in print form from this site.

 

I take encouragement from the following passages;

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were pharisees saw him him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this Jesus said to them, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark Chapter 2 verses 15 - 17      AND

Jesus said " Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" Mathew Chapter 11 verse 28.

God loves you just as you are. In that culture eating with someone was a right given only to the most special.......and here Jesus is giving it to outcasts, those the 'church' of his day rejected.

You see my view and that of more and more churches is that God is not are hard judge but a loving compassinate parent, even if yours hasn't been one. See more in my books r here me talk, but for now enjoy the various parts of my website. You don't have to have the same or even any faith to enjoy this site or here me talk. I'm not just aimed at Christians and I never force my views on anyone.

Common questions.

Where do you get your clothes?

The material to make my clothes althought most of it is second hand from shops like Good Sammy Industries, Salvation Army Family stores and Vinnies (St Vincent De Paul Society). Clothes are then made by me or a proffessional tailor.

For work I started selling THE BIG ISSUE magazine on the streets of Perth and Fremantle when I could. I work part time to supplement my disability support pension from that and hope to venture more out into motivational speaking.

 The Big Issue is a street magazine sold on the street corners of Australia by disadvantaged people of almost any age. They employ virtually anyone...the homeless, disabled, mentally ill, recovering addicts, ex - prisoners or just plain long term unemployed.

 All the people selling the magazine  receive ongoing training, a uniform of a vest or T - Shirt, bag to carry magazines for sale and I.D. We are all genuinly trying to get our lives back together so why not give us a go and buy one next time you see someone selling one near you.

 It's a good read and a great laugh - a hand up not a hand out. There are similair ventures overseas.

I also have  other websites which are on the links page: I started with www.theencourager.info/  but it is changing over to www.christiansformentalhealth.com   That one is set up to help and encourage mentally ill Christians. It was originally aimed at Christians because when I started it, that was all there was I could find in Australia aimed specifically covering all mental illnesses in Australia of a Christian view and people needed it and still do. But there are links etc to other groups both Christian and non - Christian available. There are other non mental health websites listed on the links page. You may not think mental illness is relevant to you but with 1 in 5 Australians having mentall illness at some point in the lives mental illness is relevant; regardless of whether you're a  Christian or not. Then there are the friends or relatives, work mates and cost to society -Yes it affects eveyone at least once. Colourful  Dave .