When alumnus Travis Davis ’11 transferred to Azusa Pacific University, the trajectory of his life and career path completely changed, opening up opportunities to help countless people with disabilities. Davis was born with cerebral palsy and has spent his life in a wheelchair. He never intended to become a disability advocate, but a single interaction ignited a passion for changing how people with disabilities are seen and how they live.
APU has always fostered a tight-knit community that is a defining part of students’ college experience. The caring campus community is what started Davis’ journey. He was visiting with a friend at The Grill one day when three girls approached them and joined the conversation. His experience with cerebral palsy came up briefly in the conversation, and it stuck with the girls. The next day, Davis was approached by the group who had come up with a list of ways they wanted to help others with disabilities. Within 24 hours, Davis found his calling, thanks to the caring nature of his fellow students.
Since graduating from APU with a bachelor's in English, Davis has become a disability advocate. “It’s about letting people know about accessibility and how people with disabilities live in the world,” he said. “There’s a lack of education around disabilities, and the more we make them visible, the more people are willing to help out and be allies.” The initial passion sparked from his lived experience, but Davis’ work has sustained that passion by building his confidence and creating a determination to keep going.
Part of Davis’ work is public speaking. Notably, he has given two TED Talks. The first one was delivered 10 years ago, focusing on social inclusion in education. Last month, Davis was invited to speak at a TEDx conference in Austin. His talk was titled “How My Crutch Became My Strength.” He has also been on chapel panels at APU during the university’s annual Disability Awareness Week and has his own podcast, Off The Crutch, where he shares his experiences with a broader audience and interviews others with disabilities.
Although disability education is an important aspect of bringing positive change, Davis has taken his work a step further, putting his words into action. Last year, Davis opened up an acai bowl and smoothie shop that employs people with disabilities. Two friends of his with a four-year-old daughter with down syndrome approached Davis about opening the store, and since he is a certified Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator, he decided to help them make their idea a reality. “I get to share my experiences about how to create a welcoming workplace for people with disabilities,” he said.
Davis sees this as an extension of his TEDx talk. While his speech centered around educating students and teachers, he is now branching out to educating those in the business field. “I’m always willing to help educate other businesses about what it means to be open with people with disabilities.”
Throughout all of Davis’ speeches and projects, he leads with faith to fulfill APU’s mission of cultivating difference makers. “To be a difference maker, you need to have faith to put into action, and you need to have trust in God,” he said. “If I learned anything from my time at APU, it’s to trust in God, and that goes hand in hand with APU’s mission and my own experiences.” Faith has also played a part in pushing Davis to keep helping others despite the challenges of having a disability himself. His story is a testament to the way God uses our individual gifts to help others, so while cerebral palsy may hinder Davis’ ability to walk, it has only empowered his public speaking ability, something most people fear. “This is how God made me, so in order for me to live up to my full potential, I need to use the gifts God has given me.”
Davis already has plans to continue educating others about the importance of disability awareness. In September, he will speak at an event in Austen with Disrupt HR, a worldwide organization focused on creating positive change in HR settings. “It’s a cool full-circle moment to talk about disabilities and employment for people with disabilities,” he said. “My TED Talks have given me a credibility booster and allowed me to share my message with more people, so I would love to continue doing more speaking engagements.” Davis continues to spread education, encouragement, and the importance of being an advocate and ally. His future projects will only further improve the workplace, education system, and broader community for people with disabilities.