Dr. Laura welcomes #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author and Inspirational Speaker Michael Hingson to Where Work Meets Life™for a conversation about his escape from the World Trade Center with his guide dog Roselle and the lessons we can all learn from their teamwork. Michael shares his story of being born blind, never allowing that fact to hold him back, and how the trust between him and his guide dog helped him overcome fear on a very dark day. His advocacy for disability access and employment is now changing the world alongside his story.

On 9/11, Michael Hingson was at work in the World Trade Center when the first plane hit the tower. In the panic that followed, Michael’s guide dog Roselle stayed calm, which allowed him to also remain calm and use his emergency preparedness knowledge to work with Roselle to walk down 78 flights of stairs to safety. Thirty other people followed them down and also escaped. Michael explains how teamwork with a guide dog works, how overcoming fear is part of everyone’s life, and the ways in which his parents set the tone for his life by raising him with the belief that he could do anything. Dr. Laura learns about important accessibility tools, why disabilities are not limitations, and the power of hope in these trying times from Michael.

“I learned all I could about everything concerning the World Trade Center, where things were, where all the emergency exits were, what the process was, even what the firefighters would be doing when they come up the stairs. I learned all of that so that I would know in reality. And as we all know, knowledge is power. And so by knowing all that, what I never thought about was until much after September 11th, when the emergency happened and the plane hit the building, and it tipped, and then it came back vertical, a mindset kicked in that said, you know what to do and how to get out of here. And so I didn't allow fear to overwhelm me. I just focused and used every skill in my body to focus, to deal with the events. And among other things, observed Roselle, and how she was behaving. And she never exhibited fear.” - Michael Hingson

About Michael Hingson:

Michael Hingson is a #1 New York Times Best-selling Author & Inspirational Speaker.

On September 11, 2001, a blind man escaped the World Trade Center by walking down 78 flights of stairs with his guide dog. Days later, America fell in love with Mike and Roselle and the special bond that helped them both survive one of the country’s darkest days.

Immediately after the 9-11 tragedy, Michael was featured on the Larry King show five times. To quote Larry King…

“Michael Hingson is an international hero honored and awarded by top organizations worldwide.” This media exposure changed the course of Michael’s life and launched him into a speaking career that has spanned over nineteen years. He now travels the world as a keynote and inspirational speaker who can motivate audiences to action.

Resources:

Website: MichaelHingson.com

LinkedIn: MichaelHingson

“Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust” by Michael Hingson and Susy Flory

“Live like a Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and his Dogs about Being Brave, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward in Faith” by Michael Hingson and Keri Wyatt Kent

“Running with Roselle: How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America’s Darkest Days” by Michael Hingson and Jeanette Hanscome

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