DEAF/BLIND AUTHOR DERRICK PHILLIPS MAKES "VACATION" A "YOUTH MOTIVATION"

Deaf/Blind Author Derrick W. Phillips is taking another week of vacation to motivate young students to Be the best they can be! His penetrating presentation is always well received and his life story is nothing short of amazing.

Deaf/Blind author, Derrick W. Phillips, of the book "I'm Blind, So What," strikes the Illinois school system again with his 2nd motivational project "5 Days of Blaze! Youth & Education Motivational Month". Following his previous youth motivation on Disability Awareness last October, Derrick is taking yet another week of vacation March '03 to help the community. His resounding message "Yes I can. Yes I am. Yes I will." has motivated thousands of youth since 1992. Derrick extends himself to inner city and suburban schools.

This years' motivational project will begin on Chicago's south side at Percy L. Julian High School, March 18, 2003. Subsequent schools include: Westinghouse Vocational and DuSable High Schools, March 19; Marshall Metro and Chicago Vocational Schools, March 20; and Thornridge High school of Dolton, Illinois, March 24, 2003.

Comments from a variety of audiences, including last years project, evidence Derrick's motivational effectiveness. [Derrick is] "A Dynamic Speaker" Success Events International; "One of our most requested speakers" United Way;"...an inspirational force to thousands of youth" Learning for Life; "by far the best presentation we've had..." Prosser Career Academy; "... a most inspirational and motivating presentation" Hyde Park Academy.

Derrick's penetrating message tells how his life long battle with hearing loss, and later, his loss of sight to Retinis Pigmentosa, (also called Usher Syndrome) became a stepping stone, not a stumbling block to his success.

Despite his illness, Derrick obtained his B.A. in Management (1989), and his M.A. in Human Resource Development (1995) both from Roosevelt University. Derrick's tenacity gave him dynamic effectiveness to motivate students and community, while serving at the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education, as Admissions and Intake Manager.