Meet Cory

Cory Valencia was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 26, 1981 at Tripler Army Medical Center with Spina Bifida, a condition in which the Spine does not fully form. Cory’s form of Spina Bifida, Myelomeningocele, is the most severe.  As such he has been paralyzed from the waist down his entire life.

Like many others Cory has faced a lot of adversity in his life; having 13 surgeries before he was a senior in High School for example.  He has, however, also experienced much joy.

As a child he participated in sports and other activities like Wheelchair Track, Karate, and Skiing.  In 1999 he moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico to attend New Mexico State University where 4 years later he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work.  Since then he has had the privilege of working in independent living, the university system and the correctional system with each experience giving him the chance to improve how he works. He has even had the opportunity to travel internationally; in 2004 Cory went to Tokyo, Japan on a 16 day Cultural Exchange on Disability.

Now Cory is the sole proprietor of his own business, “Joyful Expression,” a Motivational Speaking venture. He hopes that through his talks he can engage listener’s minds to begin to look at the adversity they face in everyday life as not a hindrance to their goals but as something that will propel them closer to achievement.  He also hopes to engage those with disabilities to look at their disabilities not as a challenge or obstacle that needs to be overcome but as an opportunity for them to be the best versions of themselves that they can be.

Cory invites you to join him as we Roll Through Adversity and into The New Paradigm of Disability!

If you or your organization are interested in having Cory speak to your group he can be contacted through email at valenciaco2003@yahoo.com