My Acceptance Speech for My Award.

I would like to share my acceptance speech for those of you who could not make it to the event. Thanks for your support!

Good evening, everyone.

I hope everyone is doing well. I apologize for not being able to attend in person.

My name is Juan Escalera.

I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the Scott Davis Amplify Awareness Award from I AM ALS. This recognition is not just a celebration of my efforts, but a testament to the strength, resilience, and unity of the ALS community—a community that inspires me every single day.

Advocating for those affected by ALS has been a journey of profound meaning and purpose. One of the most fulfilling aspects of this journey has been serving as an ALS Peer Mentor. Through the I AM ALS Mentorship program; With their training and guidance I learned how to become a great Mentor for our local ALS community. I have mentees from coast to coast. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with over ten mentees globally.

I chose this mission to support PALS no matter where they are in the world, and I am grateful for the skills I AM ALS has provided me to guide and uplift others within our community. I'm very grateful for my mentors Aditi Narayan Minkoff, Patrick Nicholas, Juan and Meg Reyes and Elin Adcock. This award is yours also.

I also have the honor of being part of the Scribe of Strength writing team, where I contribute my artwork and writing as a powerful tool for advocacy—raising awareness, sharing heartfelt stories, and inspiring action. I am involved in the creation of events for the ALS community, and I help out in one of the largest Facebook groups. Additionally, I’ve founded my own support group, where every admin team member is part of I AM ALS, ensuring a close-knit and supportive network.

I’d like to take a moment to give special thanks to Bridging Voice. They are more than an organization—they are like family, embracing me as one of their own. As a BV Ambassador, I am proud to inform the ALS community about their upcoming events, share their invaluable services, and support anyone facing challenges with AAC devices. Their dedication to our community is extraordinary.

I am also in the process of completing my training to become one of the first PALS to hold the title of Peer Support Specialist. This position will allow me to directly connect with and support anyone in the ALS community who needs help—a responsibility I embrace with pride and purpose.

Reflecting on my journey, I realize that I became an ALS Advocate without even knowing it. All I did was support fellow brothers and sisters who needed help. Over time, I understood that my efforts were reaching thousands within our community. I accepted this role as an Advocate with pride, standing among the strongest warriors on this planet.

None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my family, my friends, and my wife—who has been my unwavering source of strength. My faith in God has guided me through this journey, and I am eternally grateful.

This award is a reminder that together, we can create meaningful change. Together, we can amplify awareness, inspire action, and bring hope to those living with ALS and their families. I dedicate this honor to every individual who has faced this disease with courage and to those who continue to fight for a world without ALS.

I will continue to advocate and work for the ALS community until my flame runs out. And my hope is that I have done enough to inspire and empower the next generation of advocates who will carry this mission forward.

Thank you to I AM ALS for this recognition, to Bridging Voice for their boundless support, to my incredible wife, and to God for giving me strength in my ALS journey. Together, let’s continue to increase awareness and work toward a brighter future.

 Thank you so much.

Juan Escalera aka,

The Resilient Scribe