Edwin "Lee" Mehrlich

I was born with Cerebral Palsy, a disability that limited my physical movements and speech skills. When I was 5 years old, I had an accident that caused me to lose most the rest of my speech and motor skills. My mother became my mouth, because I had no speech. While I was growing up, I went to a special school for children with disabilities. Today students with disabilities attend community school alongside their peers. God is an important force in my life. When I was 17 years old, I pushed my wheelchair towards the altar. My mother looked on in astonishment, she had no idea why I was doing this. I did it because I felt God’s love and calling.
The congregation watched on and offered their love and support to me. I am now a minister at my church, the Zionsville Christian Church. I have earned the title of Reverend, through my work there.
When I was 22 years old, my family moved to Florida and my mother began searching for a facility that would help me. She found such a place and spent much time there as a volunteer to help me with my physical needs and to speak for me.
One day a magazine with an advertisement for Bliss Symbols, a symbol system for those unable to speak was left in our mailbox. No one knew where this magazine came from but I knew it was a gift from God. My mother, students and some professors from Florida State University put together a book with over 500 Bliss Symbols.
At the age of 22, I finally had a way to communicate. Bliss Symbols are idea graphs and pictures used to represent words and parts of speech. My Bliss Symbol notebook enables me to point to symbols and have words printed. I currently use a voice output device called an Eco2. The voice output lets me talk on the phone as well as talking to individuals. It allows me to talk to individuals or groups. I do this by recalling words, phrases or speeches. This device has close to 4,000 words so you can understand why it sometimes takes me a while to formulate my thoughts.
I moved to Indianapolis about 40 years ago and I entered New Hope of Indiana, residential facility for people with disabilities. My faith in God continued to grow and in 1990, I attended a convention there where I experienced the call to bring the message of God to others, who use Bliss Symbols. After an examination by ministers, I was accepted as a lay minister. My life is dedicated to teaching others learn the good news about Jesus Christ. To do this, I am the chairman of the religious Bliss Symbols for others to use.
In the USA, this means learning about theology with the help of my church ministers. I identify a word that is currently represented in Bliss Symbols and have others read the definition from a dictionary. I study the many meanings of the word and the meanings churches and people believe the word represents. I identify a word that isn’t currently in Bliss Symbols, I choose a word that will make the meaning clear to those who use Bliss Symbols.

The greatest gift my parents ever gave to me was to raise me in the exact same way they raised my brothers. I was given the same discipline, the same love and the same importance of family. When I became an uncle to Ashley and Amanda my heart was overflowing with pride and joy. Being a great uncle to Cameron, Eva and Aubrey would fill me with a greater love than I could have ever imagined.
My mother was my Angel, my voice, my hero and my rock. After my mother died, God sent a second Angel to me when Kenneth married Gail. She became my Angel, my voice, my hero, and my rock. Having my family by my side gave me the courage to keep going and NEVER give up.