Breaking Barriers: Phillip Bramwell’s Journey to Empower the Disabled Community

Joshua T Berglan
3 min readAug 16, 2024

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Phillip Bramwell is not your average 26-year-old. Born with cerebral palsy in New Jersey, he has faced countless challenges throughout his life. But instead of letting his disability define him, Phillip has turned his experiences into a powerful platform for change, education, and empowerment.

From Child Actor to Disability Advocate

Phillip’s journey into the spotlight began early. As a child actor and model, he was exposed to diverse environments that taught him how to communicate effectively in professional settings. “We were treated like adults when we were young,” Phillip recalls. “For disability education, it was a seamless transition because I’ve already been treated to be a good speaker and a responsible person since I was a young boy.”

This foundation in public speaking and professionalism has served Phillip well in his current role as a disability advocate and educator. He now focuses on educating pediatric medical professionals about childhood experiences with chronic conditions, a passion born from his own experiences and observations.

Challenging the Status Quo

One of Phillip’s primary goals is to challenge misconceptions and improve care for disabled individuals, particularly children. He points out common mistakes, such as the overemphasis on walking for those with cerebral palsy. “There’s a lot of people that walk too much and walk with poor form. It’s pretty much a guarantee that we’re gonna have hip problems,” he explains.

Phillip also advocates for better educational opportunities for disabled children. “Disabled children should not be automatically put into disabled school,” he argues. “It should be the opposite where you should be in regular school and then if it doesn’t work out, maybe you have to go to a separate school.”

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Loneliness

Perhaps one of the most poignant aspects of Phillip’s advocacy is his focus on breaking the cycle of poverty and loneliness that often plagues the disabled community. He highlights the financial struggles many face, explaining, “Being disabled is very, very expensive. It adds significant stress to my financial being for various reasons.”

Phillip also addresses the often-overlooked issue of touch deprivation in the disabled community. “It’s not only romantic loneliness in terms of sex, but it’s worse than that. It’s completely touch deficit,” he shares. This lack of physical contact can have profound effects on both mental and physical health.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Phillip envisions a future where disabled individuals are not just included but are active participants in shaping society. He emphasizes the need for higher employment rates and the creation of a “disability economy” where individuals can monetize their experiences and expertise.

“My vision is actually not to worry about convincing companies to hire us,” Phillip explains. “But if we all figure out how to monetize our medical problems and turn our suffering into money, I think that’s where we need to go.”

Phillip Bramwell’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination. By sharing his experiences and insights, he’s not just advocating for the disabled community — he’s paving the way for a more inclusive, understanding, and empowering future for all.

Follow Phillip’s Journey:
Instagram: @thebramwellcoach
Email: phillipbramwellcoach@gmail.com
YouTube: @phillipbramwellcoach

Watch the full episode, download the podcast and read the article here

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Joshua T Berglan

Award Winning Omnimedia Producer | Independent Media & Media Literacy Expert | Creator of "Media Company in a Box" www.JoshuaTBerglan.com