Older Posts
Upon first meeting Jerome Montgomery Jr., the trials he went through may not be evident. A L2-3 paraplegic, essentially regaining most of the function of his body after his injury except for that of his ankles, he can walk and he lives an independent life.
But every spinal cord injury survivor has their own tribulations. For Montgomery, his has been finding a new way to take part in what he’s always loved, athletics. And he’s become an expert at helping others along the way, which he’s currently working towards making his next career. Read on to see how he’s making that a reality.
Gun Violence + Lost Basketball Dreams
Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, while in high school Montgomery was busy. He worked part-time as a grocery bagger and was on the varsity basketball team, where he stood out for his skills. He was so talented that college recruiters at the time of his injury were actively watching him and were likely on the verge of jockeying for his admission ticket. Unfortunately, Montgomery was paralyzed from a gunshot wound while in high school at 18 years old.
“My injury left me with a condition called ‘drop foot’ that makes it hard to have flexibility in my ankles,” he says, “which makes it harder to walk and stand for long periods of time.”
His basketball dreams however weren’t lost completely. With weak ankles, playing basketball like he previously did was no longer possible so he tried wheelchair basketball, which he was introduced to while in physical rehabilitation. After transitioning home and getting settled, Montgomery tried out for the Detroit Pistons wheelchair basketball team and played for eight years.
However in 2021, he wanted to try playing for another wheelchair basketball team that was in the area, the University of Michigan’s wheelchair basketball team, where he was able to join as a non-student community member. Montgomery had no intention of attending college itself, but that soon would change once he got to know the persuasive head coach of the wheelchair basketball team.
Becoming a Therapist
Helping keep the community safe, namely children, was the start of Montgomery’s career in the social work field in 2017. His first job was working as a licensing specialist and he now works as a transitional housing case manager. But he had bigger dreams for his career and enrolled in the social work program at the age of 38 at the University of Michigan, where he began in the fall of 2023 after some nudging from his coach.
“I’m enrolled as a part-time student at the University of Michigan, pursuing my MSW degree,” he says. “My dream is to work as a full-time therapist with inner city youth.” And he’s utilized SPINALpedia’s employment services along the way. “SPINALpedia has supported me by being hands-on with my future employment endeavors.”
Montgomery however isn’t stopping at becoming a therapist when it comes to the full breadth of his career aspirations. He also has his eye on Hollywood. “I’m also an aspiring actor and screenwriter,” he adds. “My screenwriting debut film, entitled People Moverz, is scheduled to be released this fall on all streaming platforms.”
— Follow Jerome on Facebook
— His podcast: Tha Black Disability Experience
ideas@spinalpedia.com
