VCU news

By Sian Wilkerson

Author-therapist and motivational speaker Ronnie Sidney II will achieve a longtime dream during Virginia Commonwealth University’s spring commencement celebrations this month.

Sidney, who received a master’s degree in social work from VCU in 2014, will serve as the keynote speaker at the Accessibility Achievement Ceremony. The May 6 event, which is one of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs’ Cultural Achievement Ceremonies, celebrates undergraduate and graduate degree candidates with disabilities.

For Sidney, the occasion will mark a full-circle moment. In 2015, he published “Nelson Beats the Odds,” a graphic novel that tells the story of Nelson – based loosely on Sidney – who is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He is placed in special education and then graduates at the top of his class, giving a speech at the commencement ceremony.

“It’s an opportunity that I welcomed and was really excited about,” Sidney said of addressing VCU graduates. “It’s a fictional book [but also] semi-autobiographical, sort of symbolizing me giving a graduation speech at VCU. So to have an opportunity to speak to students with disabilities and share my story when my original goal with the book was to encourage more students to apply to college and attend, it’s a 360 [degree] moment.”

Sidney grew up in Tappahannock and spent seven years in special education. He attended Reynolds Community College before transferring to Old Dominion University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in human services in 2006. In addition to self-publishing several books, including “Nelson,” Sidney started his own motivational speaking business, Creative Medicine. The father of four also works full-time as a therapist.

Amanda Long, a two-time VCU social work graduate who now is coordinator of community-engaged child and family well-being initiatives in the School of Social Work, had heard Sidney share his story as a guest speaker at a youth leadership conference years ago. She described the speech as authentic, gracious and powerful.

“I believe this was an opportunity for the young people in the room to feel truly seen,” she said. “I know Ronnie will keep fighting the good fight. His story inspires others to do hard things.”

In “Nelson,” the graduation speech represents “a pinnacle moment,” Sidney said. “Anytime you can make a speech or are given the opportunity to speak in front of people, especially when you’re sharing your experiences and thanking the people who helped you get to that point, I think that’s a momentous occasion. To have the opportunity to do it at VCU with this audience is picture-perfect.”