. human determination is often the subject of inspirational stories throughout history we will show several stories of great determination that led our guests to what many believe inpossible. on this edition of equal time. >> san jose state university. you are watching equal time. exploring new issues each week, giving equal time to competing points of view. >> hello. from the campus of san jose state university. welcome to this edition of equal time. i'm your host, bob ruckers. jason becker was one of the world's greatest guitarista is the 17, however physical challenges would later test his

determination. anthony brings us a story of a rock star that becomes even greater despite physical challenges ♪ [ music ] >> jason was a 19-year-old rock star. he was already regarded as a prodigy at age 15 and he was just getting started >> if you don't know who he is, he played great with david lee roth, tell me about him. >> he is a miracle. he was a kid who at age 15 was playing perfectly on the electric guitar >> 1077 the phone disc jockey steven sea weed recalls one of becker's performances. >> he would be playing with his left hand and playing with a yoyo with his right at the same time

♪ [ music ] >> . >> ozzie osborn lead guitarist said playing for becker was beneath his abilities. >> he was out of this world playing. the way that i have heard jason play, i cannot imagine there would have been much of a problem to play those tunes. >> however, becker's dreams would come across one major problem. >> lou gehrig's disease started to paralyze his body. he was losing the ability to use his hands. >> the als, he had started to weaken my left hand so, i had a difficult time with ea, easy parts. >> als will eventually

paralyze his entire body. he uses ice movements to talk, a system invented by his father, also a known artist and musician. >> we would drive through hollywood and look at these big mansions and he would pick one out, which would have made us happy but the doctor said you are going to die soon. >> i have heard they give them with that disease three to five years jason didn't die. >> he is among the 5% of people who live for more than 20 years with als despite not being able to soar with david lee ross he had a positive attitude. >> i wa, was, in -- wasn't as, as, pe, depressed as i should have been

because mike helped me continue to make music >> musician and producer would make it possible for becker to record music, through a computer system from uc berkeley. >> the only thing was to figure out how to make a shift from just from stuff that's guitar to other forms. >> he went onto compose the only album by a person with als. he called it perspective michael lee perkins played on his album and preformed it in front of people. he said the music was so complex it presented challenges for the orchestra. >> they played it great but then suddenly the director said why don't we do this in tempo now. so, the orchestra people were having quite a bit trying to

play these things at the right tempo. >> reporter: a ceo of shrapnel records signed becker to his first deal and matched him with david lee ross. >> to be restrictioned like that and still come up with this great music and note by note and to do it in your head, that's really a commitment and it's deserves of deserving of greater recognition. >> in 2008 becker released his favorite album called collection on the label. his motto in life. >> i don't let obstacl es stop the fun. >> he was featured in this documentary called not dead

yet. in 2011 a benefit concert was created by close friend and player, david lopez. the event draws the world's greatest. >> it feels like you go see like the all-star game in football. everybody, all the baddest guys are together and everybody is having fun, enjoying themselves and it's for fun and for love. >> gretchen man is one of the all-stars who looks forward to playing for becker every year. >> jason is one of the funniest, one of the warmest, one of the kindest people and i think that tends to make people want to rise to theo occasion and see the best version of themselves. >> the sort of fundamental message is to never loose your sense of humor, never loose your sense of love or gratefulness. >> when we come back we will look at the story of a bay area football legend who was determined to play the sport that he loved. stay tuned and be inspired when

equal time returns. . welcome back. neil perry was a proud san jose player who would sacrifice a limb for his university. anthony shows us how determination could not keep him off the football field. >> nobody notices that the man on the left has a fake limb.

neil was in his second year of playing football on this field in 2000 for the spartans when a injury would break his leg and change his life. >> i knew my leg was sitting in a position that was not natural so i didn't -- purposefully didn't look down. that was the one thing that was really going through my head. i knew that my season was over and i was going to have surgery and i was really more upset at the time because we were having such a good season. >> the injury would finish his season but he would soon face a bigger problem. the injury became infected and put his life at risk. >> you know what happens if you don't have this done? i knew as soon as i signed that form that i was -- no longer going to have a leg and it was really a tough thing to sign away on. >> 42 surgeries and three years later he would be the first man to play football on a fake limb.

it was during that time that he met his wife. she said his motto never give up caught her attention. >> when he was trying to come back that was the thing he would always constantly, keep repeating to himself, keep next to his bed, on his wrist. >> the day finally arrived for his come back. he would be on the punt return key but he would have to wait for the defense to get off the field. radio announcer mike chissem did the radio play-by-play. >> he didn't get in the first half and this of course was the stage is that we set for the broadcast and the pregame show. then in the second half there was a third down situation, the spartans held him. he went out there and place got on its feet. the nevada fans were on their feet and it was something that i will never forget. >> by this time his brother josh was playing with the philadelphia eagles in the nfl. two current assistant coaches played with perry a brother in

philadelphia in 2003 when neil made his come back. >> he wanted to them win and josh was the same way when we played together in philadelphia. it's like being around josh. >> the big thing is when i first got here to go see the trophy case and see his leg in there and just know what he got to do. i said how cool is this? >> it was just a remarkable deal and we were proud to have his brother on the team and proud to see neil doing the positive things he is doing. >> if you think of tough growing, you just have to look at neil. he just picks me up. >> ten years later perry is now a grad student in mass communication. a grad assistant with the football team. >> we all face adverse ty and he had his in a tough manner and he overcame it so my hat is off to him and i'm so glad to have him a part of the program. >> his presence is felt among

the football players. at the military ball he was asked to give the pregame speech. >> to have somebody like that, supporter and been on the team and understands what it takes, it's amazing and just to get -- you heard the story from everybody but him so to get the story from him is really just a deep moment. >> no normal moment is a book by author and public speaker dan millnan. he was a world known gymnast, going to the olympics until his ankle was shattered in a motorcycle accident. his struggle is in the movie the peaceful warier. >> it's important to accept your thoughts and feelings as natural in the moment. at the same time the question always remains, what will i do now? >> get yourself ready and put yourself in a position so when you are given that opportunity, you are ready to take it and you aren't surprised by it. heros and cowards feel the same fear. they just respond differently.

that's true of adversity. some go into a victim state, life will grind us down or lift us up. >> i won't let some event or some hurdle that's thrown at me, stop my goal of -- stop my achievement of that goal. . welcome back. our focus today is overcoming adversity. let's meet our guest. >> i'm gary becker, father of jason becker, one of the greatest composers to live.

he has had als for 24 years, he is paralyzed and can only speak through a sign language i invented for him. he continues to compose and inspire people all over the world to this day. >> i'm gretchen mann, i'm a composer and jason is one of my biggest heroes and inspirations and a very dear friend. >> my name is neil perry. i played football, was hurt while playing in his second year. an infection set in and the doctors had to remove my foot. i was able to come back and play after three years of rehab and working out and have been the only amputee to ever play college football. >> [inaudible] cp --. >> anthony, producer and reporter for this episode of equal time. >> thank you for being here.

this will be a special show. i want to ask about the general concept. the public understands the importance of respect for people with disabilities and challenges. we also don't always understand how far we should go to reach out and help. you created the language for your son. talk about that. >> yes. well, jason slowly -- he was doing a record with david lee roth and he slowly lost his ability to play the guitar and had to quit the band and come home and spend time with me. over the next few years he continued to work on a new album but his voice was becoming difficult for me to understand and i was very worried that i would not be able to help him or attend to his needs. i went to my studio and thought, i had seen the boards where you point to a letter, until you get the right one and i wanted it to be direct.

basically i put it in six squares, four letters in each square and held it up and said point to your letter and it turned out every letter had an englishl, to the square and the letter, eventually we memorized that and now we talk without the board. it's like conversation those his words come out of my mouth and he is free to talk whatever he wants. >> that's remarkable. then speaking of that, this young man on the end here, i remember i was at san jose state when you had your career, first time, injury, you were quite a hero to many of the people out there watching. why did you come back to work here? >> it started as -- i was in the hospital watching a game on tv and i was -- i had no idea what i would be able to do when i got out of the hospital. i was asking my dad questions and it came up and i said will

i be able to run and my dad said yeah, why not, a lot of guys run, they have the para olympics, and i said if i can run why can't i play football? he paused for a second and said, i guess when you put it that way nothing. i think you will probably be the only one to determine that. that is how it all came up. i said i will try and get back with a team. and then once i said i was going to come back to play it was -- i had to accomplish it for myself. i wanted to finish on my terms. i wanted to walk out on senior day with my family and they call my name and i walk out. that's how i wanted my career to finish. i didn't want to finish my sophomore year being wheeled off on a stretcher. >> gretchen you have a friend who has a disability, it gives you power to be a good friend? >> jason is just a wonderful human being. first and foremost he is a

wonderful, sweet, kind, funny person second to that he is a very amazing musician and not just as a player but as a composer and he has continued to compose. he translates what he wants to say to gary and then he has created plenty of music sense als even not being able to play. then in terms of being his friend, yeah, i think any time you have a close friendship or something, you -- it's very easy as a player to be constantly consumed by your own sense of not enough because so many are amazing at it and interestingly enough jason had a level that's almost unheard of. part of how he has affected me is feel that every time i pick up the guitar it's a gift and i'm glad to do it and i appreciate it. >> these are heart warming storeys and this young man also with the cap, mr. booster from san jose state.

we appreciate that. how is your life. >> first of all [inaudible] i want to thank my mom more helping me into the world. as a person with a disability i need to overcome, other people can't do it, they can't live it for me. i have to live my own disability. it's like overcoming -- and one thing about having a disability is you take -- i take out everybody has a disability. once you take out the disability, you have the ability to be free anybody, anybody has a disability. you have to find a way. my disability is like -- got to be stronger. you have to be stronger to know it. i got to be stronger in my disability. >> absolutely. >> you have an ability with in it. >> i can see why tony wanted to look into this. >> i have ten years experience

working with special ed counselor. so, yeah, it's something as someone -- as under graduates studied here and then graduate school, counseling, i have always looked at the parts of being a human and what is -- how much does -- is the value of say determination play a factor into overcoming hurdles is what really drew me to the subject. some of my topics have, you know, physical challenges but their minds and hearts shine through in a way that could be -- as gretchen said is unreal orrin superioring. my friend is pretty shy but he has an amazing life. he is very close to the football program here at san jose state. they flew him out for the military bowl right. >> yeah. the game too. out at every practice. >> i see him on the sidelines. he is up and down the

sidelines. this guy is amazing. >> to me, to me this -- i have always wanted to be neil perry. he is -- he was able to do something -- he was able to overcome something. prove people wrong, that he could come back onto the football field and prove to people that i can still do it. >> you both inspire this campus by your lives, what you have done and we are proud of both of you. >> one thing with that, there is always people that are going to be there that tell you what you can't do. there will never be a shortage. when i was coming back, i'm sure murphy has heard it, you can't do this, you can't do this but as he said it's a weight and you have to overcome it and carry it on your back and move forward and say you aren't going to tell me what i can do. i will determine what i can do. keep your opinion to yourself. if you want to say it say it to

yourself. i don't want to hear it. that's -- murphy has taken that mind set and that's how i approach coming back to the field. >> that's a good message for all of us. i have shared i have a sister with down syndrome and i remember as a child the doctors would be telling my parents well, don't expect much, she may not have much time in this world and setting limit that seemed so pain . . she just celebrated her 58th birthday and she has had a life, a fulfilling life, an opportunity to showcase her talents and abilities. is that what you wanted for your son, to be continued with his extraordinary music career? >> of course i did but -- in defense of the doctors, great doctors did say that to him and it's -- it's based on science and labs and stats and that leaves out the heart all that i have done for jason we rode on his energy.

it's because he wanted too, he just -- he didn't care. i have this disease, i'm going to work no matter what it takes. he has a lot of people working with him and they all love him. it's his energy. he wanted to and he admits to -- you need a team helping you out. you definitely do. jason supplied the energy as these other gentlemen i'm sure supply the energy first and then we will get on board. >> the energy in, the abilities are there, ton write when tony what else did you find out? >> they had great support systems. this whole thing has been a message of determination and of great love. jason, just being around him in and his family and friends something that's changed my perspective on life too. i appreciate playing guitar a great deal more. to just be the presence of this guy who is kind of angelic but very funny at the same time.

he just drops your guard and you wind up having a deep conversation with him. what you swerve is that his friends and family love him very much and it's very, overwhelming. then when i did neil's story i noticed the same thing. there is this brother connection, this san jose state connection, a philadelphia eagles connection that's just amazing, besides his wife and now three children as we are -- pretty close to ten year mark of his anniversary returning to the field. so, there is -- it's an split message of human determination. put your best foot forward and overcome what you feel is something that is worth you to overcome. i noticed that earlier on, like when you made the decision to come back and play football. you waited, was it worth it, what do i have to go through to get to from a to b. you know and it was absolutely something

that they were determined to do and then surrounded by love in order to get that done. it seems to be the formula. >> and you have family member that are a great support. >> exactly. >> and people in the community, neighbors, friends, churches, whatever. gretchen. people watching would say it requires a lot of patience. some are uncomfortable dealing people with disabilities. they don't know how to approach it because they don't want to offend. >> i guess i can understand that. i'm named after my dad's sister gretchen elizabeth that's -- she was the first. she has cp. she is married to a man with it also, named jim murphy interestingly enough. >> really? . >> i grew up at peace with the idea you can have a fully functioning brain but maybe speak a little slower. and with jason it was -- it was easy.

he is so sweet and so funny and so quick and one thing i appreciate about gary is that -- there is something natural when you speak to somebody, you look them in the eye. the fact that jason's eyes do the talking and -- all that happen is gary said is the words come from your mouth but you still make eye contact. you still watch the flow of conversation and you get to know someone better and because the system works through spelling out words, you start predicting words and then you can start predicting sentences and that moves things along faster. the communication feels normal and maybe slightly slower and i think probably the only thing that takes a bit of getting used too is we get used to a certain amount of conversational supportiveness. we get used to people kind of encouraging you to go on when you talk and with jason, you know, he can still express, he can smile and you can read his phrase face a lot but some

don't want to leave the space because they don't -- because he doesn't interject. >> you can related to some of that. people coming up since the accident, how have of has that come across to you? >> you know i still get asked to speak to schools and to children which i really enjoy. >> do you ever find people who will come up and say is it all right to talk about your situation? >> everybody. that's the first thing most people say when they -- i don't want to touch anything you are -- you are sensitive about. that's -- with me i have always -- i just want to be treated like it never happened. i want to be the person like everybody else. that's kind of -- i just wanted to get back to normal. i want things to be normal. i don't want to be treated different. i want to be neil perry, not the one the amputee. treat me like me, like you would talk to your brother. >> i have been teaching for about 23 years, we have had a variety of students with disabilities come through the

program. we do work to make accommodations because we want to give everybody that sense of power, we want to help them to forward and use. i noticed with students in class, at first everybody is caution, they wait, they don't want to offend. once the student showcases, i can do this and with just a little help i can work with you, there is just a magic energy that takes over and before the end of the semester they are good friends, working together, including everybody. is that sort of thing you see and that's what you would encourage people to look for that connection? >> i think i would just say like be open to connection in all it's different forms. people take all different shapes and sizes and manifest on a physical level that really doesn't matter that much. if we think of how any of us really connect with things we were born with or whether it's a scar we have or anything like that. we don't own it the same way we

own who we are. >> we have to be patient, we have to be human. >> yeah. >> and recognize that in other people. >> and care about people. >> great program. thank you. it was a pleasure and a privilege to have all of you here today. thank you for picking the topic. thank you for joining us. come on back for another edition of equal time.

♪ [male #1] we are going on a roadtrip. [female #1] to stop off at different cities. [male #2] and talk to inspiring people. i don't feel like i've been away from my normal life for six weeks, but i guess i have. is this mr. wessen? [male #3] yeah, randii wesse. [male #1] did you have any hardships that you went through? oh, i think i've had a lot of hardships. let's throw out some. [laughter] [female #2] i love where i am. i love what i do. but i had to reject things that i didn't love, and i had to have the courage to reject them. [female narrator #1] roadtrip nation would like to thank the college board for supporting this series. the college board: connect to college success. [male narrator #1] this public television series is supported