Roger Kelley, left, and State of Alabama Independent Living staff member Maria Carroll discuss some of his exciting plans for the future. Roger, with help from the SAIL program, is launching a home-based website design and marketing business.

Improvise, adapt and overcome has been the motto for Hartselle resident Roger Kelley since a car accident in 1981 left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Though he has had his ups and downs, Roger has never given up. Now that he has been connected to State of Alabama Independent Living/Homebound and Vocational Rehabilitation Service Hybrid Counselor Maria Carroll, he is ready for the next step in his journey.

Roger’s passion is computers and technology, and for the past 40 years he has been learning and planning to grow his own business. Of course, he said the journey has been built around small victories.

Before he was creating websites and marketing strategies Roger was unsure how life after his accident would unfold. One morning, a simple spoonful of Cheerio’s became the mustard seed that moved mountains.

His mother normally fed him, but after gaining some use of both arms he asked her to let him try feeding himself. He succeeded and anything seemed possible from there.

“When I got that first bite of Cheerio’s I knew I had won,” he said. “It was a defining moment in my life. I knew if I could feed myself that it was only the beginning.”

Roger went through training programs and eventually moved to Birmingham after landing a job at a printing shop. In no time, he was able to create systems that compounded work that took an hour down to minutes.

He continued to gain confidence, but transportation and workplaces in the 1980s were not as accessible as they were after the Americans with Disabilities Act passed.

Roger moved back to Hartselle and continued to learn and began building websites. He again had his ups and downs but kept learning and kept adding clients.

When his mother died in 2003, he again felt alone and defeated. But another wonderful surprise was awaiting him. Roger reconnected with a young lady who was the daughter of one of his former nurses. They continued talking, and by 2010 they were married.

Again, the desire to keep learning and keep growing knowledge was ignited.

That desire hit its peak recently when Roger reached out to SAIL and VRS to discuss starting a new business that creates websites and makes businesses more visible in search engines. Carroll said they were able to provide computers, software, marketing tools and other assistance to get the business off the ground.

Roger’s preparation has not only created a great opportunity for himself, it will also mean jobs for others when he has fully launched. He plans to use the business to provide inspiration and a purpose to others with disabilities.

Carroll said she is excited to see how far Roger and his business can go. She said it has been a joy to work with him and see him make progress.

“He is so motivated,” she said.  “He definitely has that as well as the knowledge.”