By Telesha Ramnarine 

HE has a bright, positive, vibrant personality, so much so that one conversation with him teaches the average person many encouraging lessons about life, and how the simplest of things should not be taken for granted.

Meet 30-year-old Norris Rosslee Cummings, who has given himself a nickname: “DJ Foot.” He loves music and now enjoys DJ’ing, but because he has to cope with cerebral palsy, he is unable to use his hands and must rely completely on his feet to be able to play.

As unbelievable as it may sound, Norris does everything for himself using just his feet. His disability, which occurred at birth, makes it impossible for him to properly balance his head and control the movement of his hands. His speech, too, has been affected somewhat, although he is quite capable of carrying on an intelligent conversation.

Apart from DJ’ing with his feet, Norris eats and writes, carries on a photocopying and printing business from his home, and does many other personal things for himself just by using his feet!

But he makes nothing a problem; none of these tasks is too hard for him, nor does he complain or frown upon the reality of his life. In fact, he says he thinks about the fact that many others with disabilities may be worse off than him.

“I look around me and see people who are in a worse position than me; they have a worse disability…one foot, one leg, no hands, no feet. So all of that is motivation for me that if they can make it, I can too,” he expressed during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine at his home.

The Pepperpot Magazine visited Norris at his home in New Hope, on the East Bank of Demerara, where he lives with his caring parents, Danny and Yvonne Cummings. Mr. Cummings is the breadwinner of the family, while Mrs. Cummings has devoted her entire life towards caring for her son.

She is always at home and on hand to care for her beloved Norris, particularly in instances where he cannot help himself. And she too is an amazingly positive person who maintains a joyful spirit in her less than perfect circumstances.

‘Work with what you have’

Norris loved school and said he was way ahead of his peers when he attended the Diamond Special Needs School. He regrets that the school only went up to the primary level, and wished he could have moved on to the other levels. Norris was sure to point out that his disability is physical and not mental.

Despite the challenges, Norris is happy to be alive. He expressed: “After realising how my disability affects me, I had to make some adjustments. You work with what you have. You don’t have any other choice than to make the best of what you have, and this brings out the best in you and challenges you to do things in other ways.

“I am happy to be alive because I can be able to show people that despite any circumstances, once you make the best of what you have, you can make it in life. It doesn’t matter if you live with a disability or without. You have to have a positive mindset and be innovative.”

Norris is grateful for the support that he has been receiving from family and friends and said they never once discouraged him.

Despite being a recipient of the government’s public assistance, Norris feels strongly that there is a lot more that the authorities can do for persons with disabilities. “Guyanese really need to change their culture and perception towards persons with disabilities. I am pleading with Guyana, everyone, to include persons with disabilities.”

To help make ends meet, he explained how he gets other work done: “I do it using my feet. I load the paper, type stuff, and also work as a graphics designer. I studied at Global Technology a few years back, and I am also working on being a DJ.”

Norris once participated in an ‘Amateur DJ Clash’ on the West Coast of Demerara, and came off as the winner. He was the only person with a disability in the competition.