My name is Joe Navera, I was born in the Philippines in the year 1963. I have Cerebral Palsy (CP) and I have a speech problem, but you can understand me when you get to know me. I crawl on my knees sometimes to get around the house, otherwise I am in a wheelchair. I have both manual and motorized wheelchairs. My CP is called Athethoid cystic fibrosis in which I show constant uncontrolled motions. I am living with dad and mom. I have a sister.

I am a honest man who loves to go to church. I like people who are honest with me. My hobbies are using the computer, such as using the Internet to get information, chatting with friends online and writing stories or poems about my feelings. I listen to romantic music. I also go out with my motorized wheelchair to the park to have peace and quiet moments to think.

In 1967, I enrolled in a special school in Oakland, California called "Charles Whitton School." All the teachers thought that I was a retarted kid, but then two years before I graduated in 1979, one special teacherwho believed in me said that I wasn't retarded. So it was proven that I wasn't retarded. I was just a little slow because of my Cerebral Palsy, but my thinking is very normal.

In 1979 we moved to Pittsburg, California. I enrolled to Pittsburg High School, a 'regular' high school. I was considered mainstream because there was no handicap school for my age. During my high school years I went to every home game and school dance, and I did not miss any school functions.I had friends, and some teachers came and picked me up at my house. I enjoyed every moment. Out of four years of high school, it only took me three years to graduate, I accomplished this by taking night classes and one summer class. I was told by the Pittsburg school district of that I was the first disabled student to graduate. I was very happy during those years. During our graduation ceremony I was overwhelm with joy because the whole audience gave me a standing ovasion when I was called to receive my diploma.

After high school, I attended Los Medanos Community College located in Pittsburg, Ca. I took computer classes, and got my Certificate. While I was at Los Medanos College, I had an idea to make the campus safer for disabled students. After I received my certificate I put my education on temporary hold and became a family man, I wanted to stay with my wife to experience the progress of her pregnancy and the birth of our child. After the birth of our daughter, we decided to go our separate ways. Wake up its only a dream So I decided to go back to school in 1998 to pursue how to make web pages.