You won't hear Remon Jourdan complain about the car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Regrets? Just one. ``That I'm not able to pick up my daughter,'' he says.
But the Randolph resident would rather talk about all that he can do for his 6-year-old, like give her big bear hugs or play her favorite Disney movies.
Only now he delivers his hugs from a motorized wheelchair, and he starts the videos by using voice-activated controls on his television.
A lot has changed since Aug. 12, 2002, the night Jourdan fell asleep at the wheel while driving home from a singing gig in Canada. ``I take a lot less for granted,'' the 33-year-old said. ``The accident made me lose whatever false fear I had -- that 'what if' thing. It inspired me to take more initiative.''
That is a message that Jourdan has taken to the streets, hoping to inspire others. He spoke to the students at the Patrick O'Hearn School in Dorchester on Monday.
One-third of the school's students have a disability. The school is held up as a model in the special-education world because of the degree to which students with and without disabilities learn side by side.
Jourdan, a poet and an Easter Seals Massachusetts board member, read one of his poems and toured the elementary school classrooms, pausing at times to speak one-on-one with children.
``It's important for the children to meet adults who are contributing, to counteract some of the stereotypes that people with disabilities are incapable in some way,'' said Principal William Henderson, who met Jourdan at an Easter Seals fundraiser. ``We thought he would be an impressive person for them to hear from.''
Despite a quiet demeanor, Jourdan commanded the attention of a group of fifth-graders while reciting a poem he wrote that reflects on the accident. ... It really was the end of my life as I knew it. I can't change the past but I've got to live through it ... ````''
After the accident, Jourdan wrote a list of things he never got a chance to do before becoming paralyzed, including starting his own Web site and writing music. He now has done most of the things on the list.
Jourdan said a positive attitude has helped him through many of the challenges, along with assistive technology that Easter Seals set up for him, like the voice-activated television and voice recognition software on his computer.
Faith Eutsay, an Easter Seals representative who was at the school Monday, said the organization's goal is to help people with disabilities live independently -- and that is why Jourdan, with all of his accomplishments, is a popular spokesman.
``A disability doesn't dictate what your life is,'' Eutsay said.
Jourdan said he can offer a unique perspective, having lived with a disability and without one.
``I've had this opportunity to tell my story, and I think it is a good story,'' he said. ``I'd like to think it inspires people.''
That is exactly what it did for 9-year-old Chanel Keenan, who has osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease.
``He inspired me because he shows that no matter what type of disease you have, you can still do anything,'' she said.
Fajr Harris, a fifth-grader who has an uncle with autism, said she found it ``touching how (Jourdan) could live through all that.''
It reminded Fajr of her uncle's daily courage.
``Even though we can't talk to him, he still has great spirit,'' she said. ``(Disabled people) can do everything they want if they have a good spirit.''
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