As a broadcast journalist for 15 years, John Hockenberry has reported the news from places all over the world.
As an author, a playwright and an actor, he has received critical acclaim for his candor and sense of humor.
As the keynote speaker kicking off Investing in Ability Week, he showed that all this can be done from the view of a wheelchair.
Hockenberry, a two-time Peabody Award Winner and a paraplegic since an auto accident at the age of 19, spoke in the Michigan Union Ballroom last night.
In his speech to a crowd of about 50, Hockenberry discussed themes related to disability issues, such as inclusion and accessibility.
"The interesting thing about disability is that it is an issue of inclusion that does not come with some big historical burden. I can demand inclusion, public access, and I don't have to get into a discussion on how your parents caused my disability," Hockenberry said.
During his speech, Hockenberry related personal experiences, such as reporting from the floor of the Republican and Democratic conventions, to how those experiences affect the disabled and the country as a whole.
"The election campaign that has boiled down to issues purely of money makes it almost impossible to set social priorities in America," Hockenberry said. "We need to figure out how, in our language, to get back to understanding that this nation was founded as a place that would include the widest number of people.
"Disability has never been an issue - never. All of a sudden it's like two competing Oprah shows trying to schmaltz people to death," he said.
Hockenberry devoted a large portion of his speech to defending the Americans with Disabilities Act, and pointed out that every human has something to give to society.
"The issue shouldn't be about cost-effectiveness, it should be about helping as many people as possible contribute," Hockenberry said.
The few students who attended last night came to the event with little previous knowledge of Hockenberry, but said they walked away impressed.
"He had a lot of interesting stories. It's interesting ... the different kind of views people kind of see," said John Dunn, an LSA junior.
"I enjoyed it. I heard about disability before, and he related it to a lot of interesting political issues that are going on right now," said LSA senior Chiara Liberatore. "It was a little bit general, but I liked what he said about how people are measured on what they can offer, rather than the connection they can make."
In an interview before the speech, Hockenberry spoke of his current projects, including an eclectic talk-oriented show on MSNBC titled Edgewise.
"They wanted a show you could see nowhere else - a show about a different world," he said. "They wanted a smart, personality-based show that I would anchor from the moment I got there."
DAMIAN PETRESCU/Daily
John Hockenberry speaks to about 50 people in the Michigan Union last night.