Alvin Law
Inspirational Armless Speaker/Musician
Style
On the platform Alvin’s unique message is delivered in an equally unique manner. Just breathtaking.
Books
Profile
Alvin is a speaker like no other. You will recognize him as soon as he takes off his shoes to eat or read. Born without arms, Alvin has always lived by the motto: “There’s no such word as can’t!” Alvin’s story is about the incredible power of humanity and the difference one person can truly make in a world searching for answers to why we’re here.
In the early 1960s over 13,000 babies were born with so-called deformities when their mothers were prescribed the morning sickness drug, Thalidomide. Alvin Law is one of the Thalidomide babies, born in Northern Saskatchewan in the ‘60s. Not only did the drug cause Alvin Law to be born without his arms, but also experts suggested his quality of life would be severely limited. It seemed his future was bleak. His birth family felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of such a severely handicapped child and he was given up for adoption. Almost two months passed without any adoptive parents showing any interest, so baby Alvin was placed in foster care until a more permanent home could be found. It turned out to be more than a foster home; he never left. As a baby, Hilda and Jack taught Alvin to use his feet so that by the age of five there really wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. With a little hesitation on the part of educational experts, he attended a regular schools, graduating from College earning a diploma in Broadcasting. Today, Alvin is married, a father and speaks professionally to over 150,000 people a year.
Clients Comments
“Your presentation to our delegates was extremely well received … all the reviews were glowing and enthusiastic.” Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Topics
- ALVIN'S LAWS OF LIFE
- How is it possible for someone to succeed in the face of so much opposition? That question provides the foundation for a presentation that will make you laugh, cry and most of all, think about the power each of us possesses. A power that we cannot only use for our own benefit, but a power that can transform those we deal with everyday. Many describe Alvin’s use of his feet (he plays the piano and snare drum in the program) as amazing. But, as you will see, this is more than just another motivational speech about human achievement. It challenges our perceptions of the status quo and perhaps most important, it’s real. As Alvin would stress, this program isn’t just about what he has done, but what is truly possible for everyone. It’s about life, something we all have in common.
- THERE IS NO SUCH WORD AS CAN'T
- Aimed at adolescents and young adults (Grades 7-12), this program challenges the audience to believe that anything is possible with the right attitude. Alvin talks about growing up in the sixties when attitudes towards disabilities were anything but positive, including being stereotyped as severely crippled. With the support of his parents, teachers and friends, Alvin not only overcame his disability, but participated in most sports and music.