1. fall 04
Volume 2, Issue 1
T h e O f f i c i a l P u b l i c a t i o n o f T h e F l o r i d a A l l i a n c e f o r A s s i s t i v e S e r v i c e s a n d Te c h n o l o g y
Great Minds
Making It Work with
Muscular Dystrophy
FAAST ACCESS • FALL 04 1

2. By Lytha Page Belrose
Editor
Teleworking Synergy:
The Basics
for Great Minds
and Great Design
Meet the designer of FAAST Access magazine, Deborah
“Debbie” Dewell, 36. Debbie is a native Floridian who
excels as a graphic designer and mother of two despite
living with muscular dystrophy and an adaptive lifestyle.
Born and raised in Miami, she has six siblings: Jimmy, 54;
Larry, 53; David, 53; Danny, 50; Diane, 44; and Bobby,
35. They are a close-knit family and frequently vacation
together. Her father, Don Best, 80, lives next door.
She met her husband David while they were both
attending Thomas Junior College in Thomasville, Georgia.
They married in 1992 and settled in Tallahassee. David’s
family also lives near Tallahassee, just over the state line
in the surrounding Georgia communities.
Debbie and David are seasoned small business own-
ers. They recently sold his landscape company to focus
their attention on raising their children (Isabella, 6, and
Samuel, 18 months), building a greater client base for
Great Minds and volunteering with their church and
daughter’s school. In December 2002, the Dewells moved
the Great Minds office into their home prior to the birth
of Samuel on February 7, 2003. “Everything changed at
that point,” Debbie said.
“My doctors advised against having kids,” she ex-
plained, “and that’s when we stepped out in faith with
a lot of prayer. I have muscular dystrophy, which can
complicate a pregnancy.”
When asked about the onset of muscular dystrophy
and how it affected her life, she explained, “Because my
older brother Danny also has muscular dystrophy, my
parents recognized the early warning signs in me when
I was five years old. I tiptoed instead of walking flat
footed,” Debbie continued, “It did not impact anything
until I was 11. Then I had surgery to have my heel cords
lengthened.”
“By 11th grade, classes were too far apart for me to
walk—I was barely making it from class to class—and my
lifestyle was very limited,” she said. “That’s when I got
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16 FAAST ACCESS • FALL 04

3. my first scooter, which completely changed concerning toys, paper and pens, deftly
my life. I came out of my shell! I could go averting pint-sized meltdowns. During the
where my friends went and participate in interview, David was out getting building
social activities.” permits for a home-office extension and
“That first scooter,” she added, “was buying party supplies.
pretty basic without many features but “When David is busy, I cook, clean,
I thought it was wonderful. This is my answer the phone, and do whatever is
paign development, and management. In
fourth scooter and has lots of features that needed to keep everything organized and
addition to designing FAAST Access, Debbie
make it possible for me to enjoy an active running smoothly,” Johnson said. “Also, I
designs other statewide and regional maga-
lifestyle.” While in high school, Debbie was do tons of shopping from office supplies
zines, specialty publications like research
one of “Jerry’s Kids,” volunteering with her to groceries.”
books and novellas, brochures and a full
girlfriends to answer phones during the “By this time, Mandy is family,” Deb-
array of marketing and public relations
local broadcast of the “Jerry Lewis Labor bie commented. “The kids expect her to
support materials. Recently, she authored
Day Telethon.” be here and they love her. Samuel runs to
her first children’s book that features her
“I am so grateful to MDA,” said Debbie, greet her at the door everyday!”
children and little Annabelle.
“for providing scooter funds. With their Johnson has worked for Great Minds for
As vice president and secretary of the
help, I was able to get four scooters over more than two years although not contigu-
corporation, David’s duties—since mov-
the years.” ously. “For a short time, Mandy left us to
ing the office into their home—include
Today, Debbie’s scooter is an iridescent work as a leasing agent for an apartment
childcare and transportation for daughter
purple with a light grey seat that swivels. complex,” explained Debbie.
Isabella to first grade and extra-curricular
(It’s obvious with one look at the scooter “That was a lot of long hours and not
activities like ballet and the Young Ac-
and her home office that purple is Debbie’s as much fun,” Johnson explained. “This
tors Studio. “David is the glue that holds
favorite color.) It has a basket on the han- job is fun! That’s what makes coming to
our family and our business together,”
dlebars that sports a stylish handbag, a hol- work easier.”
Debbie said.
ster for a cellular phone with push-to-talk “Yes, work is fun,” Debbie agreed. “But
The Dewells employ an office manager,
nationwide radio (which she uses to keep there are pros and cons to working at
Amanda “Mandy” Johnson, 19, who came
in touch with her business partners, clients home. It is easier to be at home with the
to work for them while earning high school
and family), a horn and a headlight. kids because we don’t have to worry about
credits through the (Diversified Career
An active lifestyle for Debbie and transportation issues and the overhead is
Technology) DCT program at Chiles High
David includes volunteering to read to a lot less. It’s interesting that many of my
School in Tallahassee. Now a sophomore in
their daughter’s class, school event plan- clients arrange meetings when my kids are
business finance at Tallahassee Community
ning, graphic design to support school at home or awake in order to see them.”
College, Johnson’s duties include book
and church events, children’s ministries When asked what advice she would
keeping, managing the corporate billings
and vacation bible school. give others regarding life or telework, Deb-
and collections, scanning images and us-
Although Debbie keeps a valid driver’s bie said, “First, make sure you know your
ing Photoshop to prepare them for graphic
license, which she first got at the age of 15, priorities and stick to them. I keep mine on
production, watching the children during
she said, “I choose not to drive now because a little note in front of my keyboard: God,
meetings and running errands.
other drivers are so unpredictable and I Family, Great Minds and Friends.”
During our interview, Debbie designed
don’t trust my reflexes to deal with that.” “Most importantly,” she explained, “is
support materials for a client’s upcoming
Now she leaves the driving to David. to keep your determination and to know
annual conference and trade show, while,
However, both children and the family dog who is in charge; that everyone has a
the children ran to her, asking for atten-
prefer “riding with Mom” and hitch a ride purpose in this life. My ‘purpose’ and my
tion or approval to do something. Isabella
on the scooter whenever possible. “Our toy priorities are the same. People say that I
showed her a newly created picture. With
poodle Annie, that’s short for Annabelle, have a positive attitude and I do...with
a pouting look, she voiced concern that
is neurotic,” explained Debbie, “She loves God’s help.”
the creation was not good enough. Even
to ride on my chair and climbs into my Great Minds currently has clients from
though Debbie replied, “I love that one,”
lap on her own. In fact, Annie is so little Miami to Chicago, three contracted part-
Isabella ran off to draw it again.
that she can squeeze onto the floorboard ners and one part time employee. “I have
The atmosphere was charged with child-
with both kids.” one client who moved her home office
ish excitement as Isabella’s sixth birthday
Prior to opening her own marketing closer to facilitate meetings,” she said. “It’s
party was being planned. Patiently, Debbie
and design firm, Great Minds, Inc., in 1998, almost like we have a cottage industry of
replied to the children’s questions and
she was a partner for six years with Rapido people who put their families first, but
referred their need for attention “while
Design where she specialized in graphic there has to be a good synergy to make it
Mommy works, go ask Mandy.”
design, marketing, public relation cam- all work.”
Johnson refereed sibling squabbles
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FAAST ACCESS • FALL 04 17

4. By Lytha Page Belrose
Editor
Telework
Duck Haven Farm sustained damage from
Hurricane Frances and, at press time, Bryson
was preparing for the possible onslaught of
Hurricane Ivan.
THAT QUACKS THE BARRIERS
Often, a business is born from a creative the area as best as I can right now to keep know one thing about ducks, except that
idea or hobby that family and friends may debris from flying in and hurting them. Most I had 17 babies. So I started doing Internet
label as “crazy.” Such is the case for David of my ducks are in the wooded areas not in research—about 400 hours altogether. The
Bryson, Sr., 59, who began the hobby of cages or pens. There are lots of ditches to get more I learned about Muscovy ducks, the
duck farming four years ago, not long after in and they love it when it rains, so they’ll more I liked them.”
undergoing cataract surgery. probably swim around in the ditches or “I called the man back, bought 200
Recently, Bryson applied to the Florida hunker down in the brush.” ducks and they produced 800 ducks,” he
Alliance for Assistive Services and Technol- Bryson was kind enough to take some said. “I sold everything they produced.
ogy (FAAST) Access to Telework, a loan time out of his preparations for Hurricane That was 18 months ago. Since then, I have
program for individuals with disabilities Frances to shed some light on this imagina- about 2,000 ducks. I figure by next sum-
who are seeking an alternative to tradi- tive business endeavor. mer, I will have 10,000 to 15,000 ducks that
tional employment. He hopes to break the “I got this idea when I sent my daughter will be my breeder ducks and the ducks I
barriers of blindness and entrepreneurship to the store one day to buy what I needed,” sell,” he concluded.
by turning his hobby into a business: Duck he explained. “An hour later, she showed Bryson’s brood includes Muscovy, Mal-
Haven Farm. up with seven baby ducks but not what was lard, Rouen, Indian Runner, Pekin and
Since his home-based farm is located on my list. So I sent her back out again to Crested ducks. He enjoys operating as
just outside of Ocala in the rural com- get what I needed. She came back with 10 natural a farm as possible, including recy-
munity of Citra, Bryson knew to batten more ducks and I never did get the items cling items used on the farm to help the
down the hatches after the path of Hur- on my shopping list that day.” environment. Most of his customers are
ricane Charley. “We started raising ducks,” Bryson individuals who are looking for a naturally
“We’re preparing for Hurricane Frances continued, “when a guy out of Tampa, a produced poultry product, pets or a natural
the best we can,” he said. “I have 450 babies poultry processor, called and asked me to means to control mosquito populations on
in the brooders right now; I have barricaded raise Muscovy ducks for him. I did not their properties.
20 FAAST ACCESS • FALL 04

5. According to Bryson, Duck Haven Farm pounds and at 40 weeks old a Muscovy may
will be able to produce ducks in a natural weigh between nine and 15 pounds.
environment with no hormones, chemi- “A full-grown Muscovy duck will feed a
cals, additives or other unnatural factors. family of four,” explained Bryson. “I have
The combined ease in raising ducks and approximately 400 recipes for cooking
the desire for naturally produced products, duck that, hopefully, will soon be available
pets and mosquito control create an ideal on my Web site (www.duckhavenfarm.biz).
situation for a small farm. A Muscovy is leaner than chicken and tur-
Muscovy duck (Cairina
moschata), also called the musk
Sadly, Duck Haven Farm lost more than key, with only 12 to 18 percent total body
duck, is a large, neotropical
1000 ducks—more than 50 percent of its fat. Other ducks available for consumption
domestic duck with dark plumage,
inventory—to Hurricane Frances. Bryson’s [including the ones that can be hunted] are
blue eyes and white wing patches.
home office also sustained damage from a 30 percent body fat,” he said.
Males and some females have red
fallen tree. The operation lost power and “I chose to raise Muscovy ducks be-
facial knobs. It is a greenish-black,
gooselike duck found wild from
telephone service for more than a week. cause of all these factors. Plus, they are
Mexico to northern Argentina but
At press time, he was making damage re- very disease resistant and they do not
widely domesticated around the
pairs and shoring up again to face off with carry the diseases that other poultry may
world for its succulent flesh.
Hurricane Ivan. Setbacks like these would have,” said Bryson. “Baby ducks cannot
cause some to throw in the towel and give tolerate medicated feeds. The only feed I
up on a great idea. give is a game-starter feed for the babies,
“Life defeats you really quick if you which is 20 percent protein. They are not
don’t have a good attitude,” he said. “My 100 percent organic but I do not use any
nature is not to sit around and think pesticides!”
about what I could have done or should “What’s even more interesting,” Bryson
have done.” exclaimed, “Is that they are a form of natu-
Bryson had cataract surgery in 1999. In ral pest control themselves!”
2002, he was declared legally blind. “I fell According to his account, Muscovy
into that one-percent of the people whose ducks control mosquitoes and were
surgery does not work,” he explained. “It’s brought to Florida from South America
hard to go blind. It’s harder to get your in the 1970s by the Florida Game & Fish
Shown here is a brooder, which protects
sight back and then go blind again.” Commission for mosquito control. They
baby Muscovy ducks, with several dozen
chicks nestled together.
“I am gradually losing what sight I do are “dabbler ducks” which means that
have,” Bryson continued. “The eye special- they eat mosquito larvae off the top of
pens in the morning and putting them
ists cannot guarantee recovery of my sight, standing water, keeping the mosquito
back in the evening. I am in the start up
even with a $25,000 laser surgery. You from maturing.
of the business. It will take another eight
can’t allow things to get in the way. Life Bryson explained, “They snatch them
to 10 months to get it going. I am not able
has to go on. I was active in the Jaycees for out of the air, too. Even a three-day old
to support my family on this yet but I hope
a long time and they taught me that when chick will snatch a mosquito out of the
to do that soon,” Bryson explained during
you get knocked down in life, you get back air.”
our interview before the damage done by
up, dust yourself off and go on.” “We can walk outside right now,” he
Hurricane Frances.
In fact, Bryson twice served as president said, “at almost any time of the day, in
By estimation, it may be more than
of the local Jaycees, formally known as the the area where the ducks are and there
a year now before Duck Haven Farm is a
Junior Chamber International, a worldwide are no mosquitoes. We are in a part of
productive business endeavor. According
federation of young leaders and entrepre- the county that is the worst for West Nile
to Bryson, one female duck will produce
neurs. He served on eight state boards Virus. If we go out into the swamp, then
a minimum of 60 babies a year that will
and was president of the JCI Senate in the mosquitoes are a problem. I think the
survive. They are not monogamous and
Nebraska. “Only one out of every 10,000 reason we are having so many problems
they do not require water to mate like most
Jaycees is honored to become a JCI Sena- with West Nile Virus in parts of the US is
other ducks. A Muscovy duck will live an
tor,” he explained, “and I happened to be that they no longer have nature’s way of
average of 18 to 20 years. The first and last
that one in 10,000.” taking care of the excess mosquitoes and
year of its life, the female has no babies.
“The Jaycees also taught me that every- bugs. Our homes [have encroached on]
An adult duck is 20 weeks old and ready
thing is an opportunity, not a problem,” he the animal habitat that is needed for a
to process; at 40 weeks, they are mature
said. “This is the kind of business anyone natural balance.”
enough to start breeding. A 20-week-
with a disability can do. I spend an hour or continued on page 31
old duck weighs between five and seven
two with my ducks taking them out of their
FAAST ACCESS • FALL 04 21

6. Duck Farm
continued from page 21
There is a substantial decrease in the
natural duck population in Florida, driven
out by suburban developments. Duck Ha-
ven Farm offers a viable alternative for ho-
meowners who live in an area that allows
wild animals: own one female Muscovy
duck. “One duck would control the mos-
quitoes in a small backyard,” Bryson said.
“These ducks are very quiet and do not
quack. If they are in a backyard, clip the
wings by trimming off the outer feathers of
the wings [to keep her from flying away],”
he explained. “Muscovy ducks are ex-
tremely friendly; they are like puppy dogs
and they like treats such as cracked corn.
You can train a duck by using treats. When
you ignore them, they will eventually turn
around and go about their business. They
don’t tear the grass up like chickens. They
will eat roaches, ants—they love fire ants
and think that’s a perfect meal. They also
eat field mice and frogs. They are scaven-
gers and are omnivorous.”
“There are about 10,000 pounds of bugs
per acre of land in Florida so the ducks
never run out of something to eat,” he
explained. “Problem is that [nobody real-
ized back in the 1970s] how prolific these
ducks would be.”
Owning one female Muscovy duck
would mean having 20 eggs to harvest
every few weeks. The eggs are very desir-
able, Bryson reported. “They make the best
pound cake in the world.”
Actually, there is quite a demand for
the Muscovy duck eggs. A dozen fresh
eggs retail for $3 and 17-day old eggs are
a culinary delicacy, with a dozen retailing
at $10. “Many Asian cultures enjoy this
delicacy. I have Chinese clients who want
us to incubate the eggs for 17 days. They
boil and eat them,” he said.
However, Bryson cautioned that having
water for the lone duck is imperative for
its survival. If a mating pair of ducks is
desired, Bryson said, “We will buy back any
excess ducks. We do not want to create an
environmental problem. They are a great
tasting duck!”
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