PAUL NANKIVELL

Paul Nankivell was born in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The difficult circumstances of his birth caused him to have a brain hemorrhage. Doctors deemed his prognosis so dire that they didn't think he would survive the first few weeks of life. And, if he did, he would be in a permanent vegetative state. But, he overcame those odds. Now, although he has to use a motorized wheelchair, due to cerebral palsy--which in Paul's case--causes severe balance and coordination issues, he's well above average intellectually. At age 27, he proved the doctors wrong by earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University Northridge--(C.S.U.N.)--in 1991. His debut novel, Redefining Normal, is based on his experiences as one of the first physically challenged children to mainstream into "regular schools." Today, Paul lives in Ventura County California where he's actively participated in accessibility rights for physically challenged people.