Spann Cordle is a disability advocate from Summerville, Georgia, known for his work with Walmart and his
efforts to promote disability inclusion. Born prematurely, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to
oxygen deprivation causing brain scarring, which affects his physical movements but not his cognitive
abilities. He lives independently, drives a vehicle without special equipment, and graduated from Chattooga
High School in 1977 and Jacksonville State University in 1982 with degrees in Criminal Justice and Political
Science, followed by graduate studies in Public Administration from 1982–84.
Cordle has worked at Walmart since 2007, starting as a greeter and later moving to roles like customer
service representative in the electronics department and self-check host. He pioneered Walmart’s first
associate-service dog team with his service dog, Finn, a black Labrador retriever mix trained to assist with
mobility tasks like opening doors and picking up items. This initiative opened opportunities for other
disabled employees with service dogs. Finn, who passed away due to degenerative spine disease, was a beloved
figure, and Cordle has not replaced him, citing their unique bond.
He has been recognized for his advocacy, including being honored as the 2010 Careers and the Disabled
Employee of the Year in Boston, surpassing candidates from companies like Verizon and UPS. Cordle has spoken
at Walmart’s 2008 shareholders meeting, appeared in corporate training videos, and been featured in media
like Sirius Radio, podcasts with figures like Sarah Palin, and local and national publications. He maintains
a website, spannsworld.com, and a Facebook page, “From Finn’s Vision,” to share his story and advocate for
disability awareness.
Cordle’s contributions have been celebrated locally through art installations, such as a Coca-Cola bottle
painting by artist Billy Smith in Summerville’s Main Street Project, unveiled in February 2023 to honor him
and Finn for disability awareness. He was also recognized by the Chattooga County Historical Society in
2023. Additionally, Cordle and Smith collaborated to create artwork addressing AI biases in depicting
disabled workers, aiming to foster more accurate representations.
He has a record of 109 months of perfect attendance and 15 years without being late at Walmart, where he
continues to work full-time at the Trion, Georgia store. Cordle aspires to work at Walmart’s corporate
headquarters as a disability trainer and advocate, emphasizing inclusion and challenging societal
expectations about disabilities.
For further details, you can visit his LinkedIn profile, or contact him via spannsworld.com/contact.