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Contact: Mateo Delgado 505-262-9308 |
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September 16, 2002 EL PASO NATIVE PURSUES LAW SCHOOL AT UNM
Delgado frequently traveled up and down I-25 and I-10 between UNM and
El Paso while working on a bachelor's in psychology and anthropology.
He graduated in May and thought his time on the road might be over, but
law school beckoned him back to Albuquerque. Now as a first year law student, Delgado says he was "exposed to
the legal world" as a child. His father is Hector Delgado, an El
Paso attorney. "I am interested in studying constitutional law as well as business
law," the younger Delgado says. Constitutional law will give him
the background necessary to pursue advocacy work for the disabled. Business
law will give him the insight into how the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) is put into practice. Delgado says a trip to the library sold him on the need to focus on the
ADA. Searching the library's collection for research on disabilities law
and legislation, he found very little, but he found an extensive collection
of materials on civil rights. "The rights of the disabled is the biggest issue to be addressed
since civil rights, but very little has been published," he says.
A student in the law school's class of 2005, Delgado says that the disabled
need to get out and push for their rights. "It's not always convenient.
Disabled people need to be visible and outspoken," he says. Delgado finds it hard to be away from his family in El Paso, but thinks
he made the right choice to stay in New Mexico for the time being. "There
is a smaller legal community in New Mexico. When I finish school, I'd
like to take the bar in both New Mexico and Texas and practice between
the states," he says. Delgado's condition has presented him with challenges. He has had to
have metal rods inserted in his arms and legs to support the long bones.
To build up muscle, he's been a swimmer since his first days at El Paso's
Cathedral High School. "Coach Leo Cancellare supported and encouraged me. Without him,
I wouldn't be here today," says Delgado. Cancellare, who died a few
years ago, also served as the school's principal. "He took the time
to help me develop as a swimmer and grow as a person. He helped me develop
the discipline to get where I am today. He had tremendous drive and motivation,"
Delgado says. Delgado did develop as a swimmer, winning the 200-meter backstroke in
the U.S. Disabilities Nationals in 1998 and the 400-meter individual metal
in 1999. He also won the bronze in the 400 freestyle in the Paraolympic
Panamerican Games. Delgado swam competitively at UNM for two years. Taking
16 credit hours as a first year law student has kept him out of the pool,
but he wants to get back in when time permits. Delgado is quick to acknowledge the help and encouragement from his
family - parents Hector and Julie Delgado and sister Monica Lovaz - as
well as friends and teachers. His bones may be easily broken, but his spirit is not. |
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Please let us know what you thought of this article. Comments to: paaffair@unm.edu |
The University
of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981
El
Paso native and University of New Mexico law student Mateo Delgado was
born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease that causes brittle bones.
"Others believed in me and that's made it possible for me to be where
I am today," he says.