Volunteers With Disabilities

James P. Steward, Armed Forces Emergency Services Award

James P. Steward

Muscular Dystrophy has left Jim Steward with little use of his legs or arms—but it has done nothing to take away his courage, compassion, or desire to help others.

For the past 18 years, Steward has been an Armed Forces Emergency Services volunteer with the Ashtabula County Chapter. In recent years, due to his disability, Steward volunteers from his home, handling all after-hour, weekend, and holiday emergency military message traffic.

In this age of information technology, he has purchased a hands-free telephone, fax, and computer, which enable him to be available to those in need 24-hours a day. Whether its three o'clock in the afternoon or three o'clock in the morning, Steward takes the call when an emergency makes it necessary for a family to reach a loved one in the military—perhaps half a world away. He has never missed a case and always performs with excellence.

Steward has also functioned as a liaison between the Red Cross and other organizations and for all his good work received on-stage recognition as a Red Cross volunteer at the 1996 United Way annual dinner. Because of his Red Cross activities, he was also chosen to participate as an Olympic Torch Bearer.

By example, Steward has given people with disabilities and others outside Red Cross the inspiration and hope to develop their own worthwhile avocations. And because of his courageous example, numerous newspaper articles and awards have placed him in the spotlight of community service on behalf of the Red Cross.

Jim Steward has demonstrated time and again that when there's a will, no disability can get in the way.