ICYMI: Northport Man Talks Founding LI Buddy Club, Podcast

NORTHPORT, NY — Paul Scancarelli was dealt a rough hand early in life when he was choked by an umbilical cord and sustained minor brain damage as a result. Fast-forward 26 years, and Scancarelli not only overcame that experience, but he parlayed it into helping others.

Scancarelli, 26, of Northport, grew up with a learning disability as a result of what happened in the womb. He learned in smaller classrooms, required the resource room, tutoring and a lot of extra support. That led to him being bullied more than the average kid, he said.

"As you can imagine, for any young adult, it affects your confidence, the way you view yourself, the way you view the world and interact," Scancarelli told Patch.

His experiences drove him to participate in volunteer work, which ultimately led him to shift his mindset and view his disability in a more positive light. Now, armed with the moniker "Paul Vibes," he hopes to help others accomplish the same, doing so through his podcast, not-for-profit organization he founded and motivational speaking.

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