My name is James Norris and I’m the founder of Handi Capable Fitness but I’ll share more details about that later.

Here’s just a little bit about myself and how I got where I am today. I was born three months premature. I weighed 2.5 pounds and measured 11.75” from head to toe; that’s shorter than a Velveeta box. I stayed in the hospital for three months. About a month after being released, I was rushed to the hospital to undergo an emergency hernia surgery. During the procedure, the tube that was to deliver my oxygen was not taped to my mouth; I moved during surgery and was deprived of oxygen for five minutes. At the time, it was unclear if I was going to survive. By the grace of God, I did.

Before my second birthday, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). There are many different types and severities of CP; my type affects my legs and left arm, leaving me with poor balance and limited use of my arm. As a child, I had many surgeries on my back, ankles, hips, and hamstrings, each with the goal of loosening the muscles to increase range of motion and flexibility. This, of course, was followed by years of both physical and occupational therapy and thanks to these heroes I was able to use braces and a walker.

Growing up in Boston I was a HUGE sports fan , so my parents got me involved in Challenger baseball and basketball. I immediately fell in love. Every Friday night, I became either Mo Vaughn or Michael Jordan. It was that passion for sports that lead me to the Connecticut School of Broadcasting after graduating high school.

I had the privilege of working at a local Boston radio station for five years and I loved it! Then I had the opportunity to head west to California where I worked for a production company for a year before being laid off.

At the time I was crushed because radio was all I knew and all I wanted to do! This lead to a major stint with depression and weight gain. Looking back this was a major blessing because it set me on the path I’m on today.

I’ve since found fitness and have lost 65 pounds but it goes far beyond the physical benefits I can honestly say I truly believe fitness saved my life by opening up doors I never even thought of as of today I’ve completed several Sparten Races, rock climb, play sled hockey and practice jujitsu.

I realize how blessed I’ve been so that’s why I founded the nonprofit organization “Handi Capable Fitness” our mission is to help handi capable people live a fit and active lifestyle however they define it by connecting them with access to both qualified fitness professionals and the equipment needed to do so. We want to show them that just because they have a “disability” that doesn’t mean it defines them in fact we want them to feel empowered and see it as their superpower.

In closing this is why I absolutely love and support the work A Buddy Just Like Me is doing and I’m excited and humbled to be on their advisory board. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously!

Connection.Community.Support.

Find A Buddy. Mentor A Buddy.Join A Caregiver Community.

A diagnosis is not our entire story, but an important detail woven into our beautiful life chapters

- Jenice Watson, Executive Director | A Buddy Just Like Me

Connection.
Community.
Support.

Find A Buddy. Mentor A Buddy.
Join A Caregiver Community.