Class of 2021
6'4" - 150 lbs
Ambidextrous
Chapel Hill, NC

Ryan Lewis is a disabled student athlete and accomplished scholar.  He has managed to do the impossible by overcoming a significant motor skills impairment to develop the skills to play competitive basketball. Ryan plays Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Basketball for Team Carolina. He attends a public high school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  Chapel Hill is the home of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels.

In 7th grade, Ryan was unable to run without tripping over his own feet, unable to catch a basketball, and unable to dribble a basketball at all because of his motor skills impairment and disability.  He had never touched a basketball until he was 13 years, 7 months old.  Through repetition and hard work, he learned how to dribble and catch a basketball in only 11 months, and made his middle school's Varsity Basketball team in 8th grade.  With continued hard work and dedication, he built the skill level needed to play competitive AAU and High School basketball.  He continues to grow - in height, weight, and skill.  With true passion, he will continue to work on his development until he reaches his ultimate goal of playing collegiate level basketball.

Unlike other young men, Ryan hadn't been playing basketball from the time he could walk, nor did he have any natural talent for the sport.  What he did have was the determination and willingness to put in the hard work to actually overcome a significant disability.  In the face of others who told him he would never be able to play basketball or those who laughed at and mocked him, he persevered and never gave up. In just 40 months time, he went from not being able to dribble a basketball at all...to being qualified to attend college sponsored Elite Basketball camps.  He won't take for granted any opportunity because of how hard he's had to work.

Ryan has two more years to fully become the basketball player he is going to be. He may not excel to be a Top 150 player and that is okay. We all can celebrate in what this young man has accomplished already. He has done the Impossible! We can only hope that some small D2/D3 college somewhere will want a young man of his character, with such intense passion for the sport that he was determined to put in so much effort just to be able to be a competitive basketball player.  He has a lot of potential to work with.    One Bounce at a Time!         

   Yes Sir!

Ryan is lifted up every time his path crosses someone new who has wisdom to offer.  As he continues the journey and the pursuit of taking it all the way to playing collegiate level basketball, he enjoys being cheered on and receiving some encouragement!  We have often been overwhelmed by the kindness of others. 

Ryan is the youngest of four children. Ryan has an older brother, Kelly, who has cerebral palsy who has been his biggest supporter on his journey to overcome his own disability.  He has a great positive role model in Kelly.

Ryan is ambidextrous and does not have a dominant hand.  He was delayed in elementary school in developing his handwriting because of a motor skills impairment related to the lack of dominance. When he finally started writing, he writes with his left hand.  But he also eats his bowl of cereal each morning with his right hand.   Ryan was held back a year in elementary school and was diagnosed as having a learning disability known as "Dysgraphia".  For people with Dysgraphia, it is very common to have fine motor impairment in many aspects of daily life.  Dysgraphia is primarily a writing disability that significantly impacts learning.    

In addition to a very busy basketball schedule, with AAU and school basketball, Ryan has participated in Student Government, Robotics Club, and the Architecture Club at his high school. He also volunteers his time at the nursing home where his older brother resides playing checkers and doing activities with residents. 

For his service learning project, which is a requirement for high school graduation, Ryan has been preparing a grant application for a non-profit athletic association whose late 1960's era gym is in need of substantial repair in an effort to save the building. Ryan had an AAU tournament at the gym cancelled because the roof was leaking, the tile floor had condensate on it, and it was too dangerous to play there.  So he contacted them.

His drive to play basketball is not the only special thing about this young man.  Ryan has been equally as focused on his academics.  The type of disability that Ryan has is especially challenging for learning. If you could imagine having to put in two to four times as much time in order to be able to produce the same quality of a work product as a non-disabled peer.  Ryan is often up well past midnight doing homework. He is just as driven academically and he will often do more than what is asked of him.  Ryan has a 3.7 - 3.8 GPA which again is remarkable considering that he is significantly disadvantaged because of his disability.  It takes effort. He is very self-motivated.  Ryan has a very special drive and a determination to pursue excellence in everything he does.  His work ethic is very uncommon for a teenage boy.  He is also a humble young man.

Part of Ryan's personal mission is to help others through sharing his incredible story.

However, Ryan does not feel that he has done anything special.  He has been true to himself.

Ryan's book chronicles his journey from age 13 years and 7 months old through to what will hopefully be his college signing party. It is an inspirational story about how someone with the trifecta of disabilities managed to do the impossible through sure determination and hard work. People with Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia, and CPD typically have life-long impacts from the motor skills impairment that accompanies the disorders. It is extraordinary for someone with these types of disabilities to be able to overcome them and play competitive basketball. Through a series of video vignettes on this website, you can see the hard work, the evolution, and progress that Ryan has made on his journey to overcome disability.  It is quite amazing to watch.

It wasn't until Ryan was in high school that it was discovered that he also had "Dyspraxia" and "CPD" in addition to the Dysgraphia.  Dyspraxia sure explained a lot as to why he couldn't catch a ball, couldn't run without tripping over his own feet, and was so clumsy in elementary and middle school. Dyspraxia is thought to be caused by a disorder in the brain's ability to send messages. It affects motor skills and one's ability to do movements in a smooth, coordinated way.  CPD is actual damage to the brain in the area that controls information processing, sensory integration, and gross motor coordination functions. Ryan received a brain injury in his early childhood years.  We noted that Ryan had sensitivity to the sound of automatic flushing toilets as early as age 3.  It's truly nothing short of a miracle that he can even play basketball given the nature and extent of his disabilities. It is a testament to the amount of hard work that Ryan has put in on his journey to overcome his disability.  The repetition from his countless hours of practice is thought to have been key. The book was intended to inspire other young kids who may have been diagnosed with these types of disabilities that anything is possible with the right mindset and the willingness to put in hard work.  Ryan also shares a lot of valuable information that he learned along the way, particularly in the educational setting. 

Ryan has been blessed to have a supportive family. He has also been blessed with many other wonderful people in his life, people who have taken an interest in him and helped him along the way on his journey to become a competitive basketball player.  Who doesn't like a sports related story of the Underdog who managed to do the impossible?  Certainly the next couple of years are going to be exciting to watch. BTW - this has always been from the very beginning a non-profit venture. Ryan's story will be used to benefit Special Olympics, the Dysgraphia Foundation, and help other kids...which does not violate any amateurism rules. 

"One Bounce at a Time!" 

A young man's journey from Dysgraphia 

to Competitive Basketball

Coming to Amazon Books in 2021

Click the button below to watch a series of videos that show his progress on the journey!