Welcome to
HDV Speaks
Where faith meets action,
challenges turn into victories,
and your best life begins.
Where faith meets action, challenges turn into victories, and your best life begins.
A Grassroots Movement 43 Years in the Making
In 1982, during my senior year of high school, a spinal cord injury changed everything I thought I knew about my future. I didn't know it then, but that moment was the beginning of something far larger than my own recovery.
What started as one person finding his footing became a lifelong calling: helping others find theirs.
From sharing a stage with President Ronald Reagan in 1984 to speaking in schools across the country, working alongside families in the hardest seasons of their lives, and building transition education programs from the ground up — this work has grown into a movement. One built around identity, purpose, and leadership in the life that comes after rehabilitation.
HDVSpeaks.org exists for the people who survived —
and are still figuring out what that means.
Why This Movement Exists
Each year, approximately 17,000 Americans sustain a spinal cord injury. Thousands more face diagnoses and accidents that rewrite their lives without warning.
Rehabilitation teaches the body how to survive.
Transition teaches the person how to live.
When someone leaves a rehabilitation facility, they often carry questions no medical chart addresses:
Who am I now?
Where do I fit?
What am I capable of?
What happens next?
These are not small questions.
They shape everything.
And most people face them alone.
This movement exists to change that.
Leadership Journey
This work didn't start with a plan. It started with a choice —
to show up, keep going, and eventually, to bring others along.
Since 1982, that path has included:
Graduating alongside my class after completing rehabilitation
Receiving personal encouragement from President Ronald Reagan at the White House
Participating in national injury prevention campaigns
Walking in Hands Across America
Being recognized at a Madison Square Garden tribute event
Speaking to students in schools across New Jersey
Walking alongside families navigating the real, daily weight of disability
Co-authoring collaboration books with survivors from across the country
Every one of these experiences shaped what this movement has become.
Message Evolution
The early prevention work was blunt by design...
"I drove drunk and got the chair for life."
It was meant to shock — and for a time, it did. But over the years, something shifted in me. That message quietly carried an assumption I could no longer stand behind: that disability is the worst thing that can happen to a person.
It isn't.
The message changed because the truth changed — or maybe because I finally caught up to it.
Today, the message resonates on a soulful level
and offers profound empowerment:
This happened to me. And life is still worth showing up for.
Hector Del Valle, MSW
Founder of HDV Speaks,
Speaker | Author | Advocate
Having a purpose, as you may be painfully aware, is everything. I believe mine is to uplift and empower people with disabilities—especially those who are newly injured, going through major transitions, or simply feeling stuck.
My 'why' is simple... I’ve lived this life since 1982!
I became paralyzed at 17. Since then, I’ve faced addiction, heartbreak, and cancer (three separate times) — and still, I rise. God has given me this time, so I’ve committed it to using my voice, my experiences, and my heart to help others thrive through their own transitions.
I'm humbled and incredibly honored to be recognized as a leader and advocate in the spinal cord injury and disability communities.
I pray God will use my story to meet you where you're at and give you hope.
(Click on each logo to see the related article/interview.)
Featured In
SPINALpedia features Hector Del Valle as an SCI (spinal cord injury) Superstar.
"In the realm of spinal cord injury survivors, Hector Del Valle, MSW, might be the most eloquent. Having lived with a spinal cord injury for 42 years and is now 61 years old, he’s become a prolific writer and speaker after having lived and witnessed immense change in the disability/SCI world."
The Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida features Hector Del Valle during Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month:
"Knowing that this injury has left him to be dependent on others which also places him in a vulnerable position, he has created a “medical support network” of people he knows he can trust. As a board member of CIL, he hopes to be someone who others may be able to relate to and trust."
United Spinal Association features Hector Del Valle:
"United Spinal Association recently announced Hector Del Valle, a wheelchair user from Central Florida, will join other prominent disability advocates at United Spinal Association's Roll on Capitol Hill, June 16-19 in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Del Valle will speak directly with legislators on issues that affect the independence and quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D)."
Key Life Network features Hector Del Valle, watch the interview!
Wheelchair Ric of Wheelchair Mafia features Hector Del Valle. Watch the interview on YouTube.
What We're Building
Transition after disability isn't a single conversation. It's a process — and most people navigate it without a map. This initiative builds the infrastructure for that journey through four connected areas:
Identity
Rediscovering who you are after everything shifts.
Education
Gaining the tools and knowledge to move forward with clarity
Housing Exploration
Understanding options, rights, and real pathways to independence.
Leadership Development
Stepping into influence and contribution in your community.
These aren't separate programs.
They're a pathway — from rehabilitation to a life with direction.
Memoir Series
Beyond the Chair is a four-decade account of what it actually looks like to rebuild a life — not the highlight reel, but the full, unedited journey. The series includes:
• Beyond the Chair (Available now)
• Sex, Drugs, and a Wheelchair (Coming soon)
• The War Within (Coming soon)
These books don't offer easy answers. They offer honest company for a hard road.
Courses & Workbook
Thriving Through the Transition is a six-week course designed for people navigating life after disability — not to tell them who to become, but to help them remember who they already are.
The companion workbook extends that work into rehabilitation programs, faith communities, and peer support groups — creating space for reflection, discussion, and forward motion together.
Collaboration
Some stories need more than one voice to be fully told. Through collaboration books, survivors and their families share what they've lived — not to perform resilience, but to give it to someone else who needs it:
• Still We Rise
• Unbreakable
• Make It a Great Day
• Families Navigating Life, Love, and Disability Together
If you have a story and are interested in contributing to a future collaboration, we'd love to hear from you.
Beyond The Chair Podcast
Real conversations with survivors, family members, educators, and leaders who are actively building better transition pathways after disability.
No scripts. No performance. Just honest dialogue about what works, what doesn't, and what's possible.
East Coast Tour
An upcoming East Coast outreach effort will bring this work back to the rehabilitation centers, universities, churches, and community organizations where transition support is needed most.
If your organization is looking for a speaker, partner, or resource for the communities you serve — let's connect.
Partnership Invitation
If you are working to strengthen the lives of people after disability, there is likely a place for us to work together.
This movement is bigger than any one person's story. It requires collaboration. HDVSpeaks.org actively seeks partnerships with:
Universities and academic programs
Housing advocates & independent living
Authors and storytellers
Rehabilitation facilities & clinical teams
Faith communities & chaplaincy programs
Disability advocacy organizations
This work was never built on perfection.
It was built on honesty — about the hard days, the wrong turns, and the slow, stubborn process of finding meaning again after loss.
Forty-three years of it.
And we're just getting started.
Our Mission Statement
We are committed to empowering people with disabilities to thrive, rediscover their purpose, and overcome the barriers they face. Whether through his courses, coaching, public speaking, or housing advocacy, Hector seeks to create a world where individuals with disabilities can live with dignity, independence, and fulfillment.
Unlock your potential with interactive courses and workshops designed to empower people with disabilities and their allies. From personal development to advocacy training, our educational programs combine real-world experience with faith-driven inspiration.
Navigate life’s transitions with personalized one-on-one or group coaching sessions. Gain practical tools, emotional support, and spiritual insights to overcome challenges and discover your true purpose.
Inspire your audience with Hector’s powerful story of resilience and triumph. Whether it’s a keynote address or a community seminar, we deliver faith-filled motivation that promotes inclusion, accessibility, and hope.
Partner with us to create customized workshops, events, and campaigns tailored to your organization’s needs. From co-developing advocacy initiatives to guest-speaking opportunities, we’re committed to impactful collaboration.
Discover uplifting publications like “Beyond the Chair” and companion workbooks that foster personal growth. We also collaborate on book and podcast projects to share powerful stories of resilience.
Championing affordable, accessible living is at the heart of our mission. We offer consulting and advocacy to help individuals, nonprofits, and policymakers develop sustainable housing solutions for people with disabilities.
Need something more specialized? We design unique programs, mentorship opportunities, and advisory board leadership to address the specific challenges of people with disabilities—and those who support them.
You're
NOT Alone
Let's Connect!
This is more than a business...
It’s my life. It’s my story. And it’s my ministry.
So, I invite you to connect with us—not only to stay updated on our endeavors but also to exchange ideas and inspiration, support one another, and celebrate every little victory.
Let’s thrive through this transition—together.
What Our Clients are Saying
Jane D.
I was skeptical at first, but this course truly changed my perspective. Each week challenged me to confront my fears and embrace my strengths. Now, I feel more confident in my daily life and closer to my faith than ever before. It’s amazing how much growth can happen in just six weeks!
Michael T.
Before I started working with Hector, I felt stuck and overwhelmed by my physical limitations. The supportive community and practical tools in this program helped me realize that my circumstances don’t define me. I’ve regained a sense of purpose, and I’m finally living with renewed hope and motivation.
Sarah M.
I’ve tried other programs, but none of them connected with me on such a personal and spiritual level. The lessons each week were like a breath of fresh air, helping me see new possibilities instead of obstacles. I’m so grateful for the transformation I’ve experienced—my mindset has completely shifted for the better!
Accessibility Commitment
Having lived with a spinal cord injury for more than 40 years, I have a deep appreciation for the significance of inclusive design, which is why we aim to ensure that this site, along with the services we provide, is accessible to everyone—regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
If you face any accessibility challenges or have recommendations for enhancements, I invite you to share your thoughts. Please reach out and connect with us so we can continue to transform this into a welcoming and user-friendly environment for all.
Get in Touch
For inquiries about courses, workshops, speaking engagements, or collaborative opportunities, contact Hector Del Valle today. Together, we can create lasting change and inspire others to thrive through life’s transitions.