Tag Archive for wheelchair

Life’s Messed Up Crap We Don’t Understand

A few weeks ago was the Family Café annual conference. I had a booth and presentation.

Life has its messed up crap sometimes and I sure had an adventure at the conference. Let me tell you about it and why I bring it up.

Starting Friday June 10, I had a presentation to do with someone. I was manning my booth before the presentation. About two hours before I decided to go, to the bathroom.

Before I go there, let me explain a few things. I rented a scooter and I got in that for bathroom. Usually I have my manual wheelchair where I can easily pull up my pants.

Well since I was in scooter it made it hard. I had to stand up to pull up pants but they kept on slipping down, so eventually I slipped and fell on ground. I can normally get back up easy but my feet kept slipping on the floor so I couldn’t get up.

I called out for help 20 or 30 times and I had no phone. I just sat there because I knew my dad would eventually come looking for me. He got someone to help me up and we got to the presentation with 20 minutes left, so I briefly did a talk. Presentation still went well.

Later that day we decided to go to a restaurant in hotel with friends. We were going wrong way and turned around. I guess I accidently hit a speed thing to turn up and I took a sharp turn and tipped the scooter. They got me and scooter back up and we did dinner.

We went to bed that night. I woke up at 1:30 in morning and had the worst shooting pain in my side. We called EMTs and they brought me to the hospital. After a few hours, the doctor tells me I had a kidney stone.

What a crazy adventure right? I tell you this because life has messed up crap happen that we don’t know why they happen. We can’t let that screwed up stuff knock us down and keep us from going towards that amazing future.

Trent Shelton once said, “Don’t let the person who didn’t love you, keep you from the one who wants to!” Well I say, “Don’t let messed up past, keep you from the amazing future you want and deserve!”

Life has messed up crap happen, don’t let it win. You are strong enough, squeak your wheels until that amazing life comes!

Did Someone Say Commitment?

Do you know what commitment is?  Commitment is when you start something and put your blood, sweat, and tears into it. You don’t quit because you are so determined to conquer something, that nothing can stop you!

There are so many people (people with disabilities and those without) that start something but don’t commit to it. Some examples are a relationship, a job, career, project, goal, etc. A question I have is why do you even start something if you are not going to commit to it? (Please leave your answer in the comments)

Things are harder with a disability but that only means you put in more effort and commitment. I have problems with completely comprehending almost everything I read but I graduated from college. The few years I was at college may not have been easy but I choose to put in extra effort and commitment! We had to read so many text books but I did not quit because it was hard. You know that if I quitted every time things got hard, nothing would get done.

Your disability, your being different and troubles, is no reason that you can’t do something and commit to it. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and many other successful people would be nowhere, if they quit in tough times and did not commit everything they had!

Take this new found word, commitment, and apply it to your life. Your life will begin to turn around!

Squeak those wheels until you are blue in the face!

From the Trenches to the Big Stage

This world has many amazing motivational speakers, like Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Steven Hawkins and hitting the big stage is the next amazing speaker Thomas Moon.

Thomas is a self-advocate and author/motivational speaker (Check out the book and motivational cd at http://blog.squeakywheelchair.com/?page_id=516) Thomas Moon is available to speak at your next conference, event, business event, nonprofit, church, etc.

A little about Thomas

“I am an upbeat guy and a very likable person.

I am a product of the foster care system.  I was adopted at the age of 11. Before that, I grew up in foster care in Pennsylvania and Florida. I have cerebral palsy, which weakens muscle coordination. I use a wheelchair most of the time, but can walk with supports.

Growing up in foster care is difficult.  Being disabled, being different and growing up in foster care is very difficult.

However, I am a survivor.” Thomas Moon

View Thomas’s marketing poster below (Available posters to hang in your business, community, etc.)

A list of Thomas Moon’s awards and accomplishments

AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Voted Best Leader Under 55 By Ocala Magazine
  • Graduate of Partners in Policy Making 2010
  • 2011 recipient of the Idelio Valdes Leadership and Advocacy Award
  • President Ocala Business Leaders 2012
  • 2013 Appointed to the Florida Development Disability Council by Governor Scott
  • Founding Member of the Marion County Disability Alliance
  • Business Owner/Entrepreneur

And more

Again Thomas Moon is available to speak at your next conference, event, business event, nonprofit, church, etc. Please contact tj@moonscapes.org, www.disabilityspeaker.org or by phone at 352-502-5994, if you have any questions or to schedule Thomas to speak.

Remember to check out the marketing poster below and to not be afraid to squeak your wheels to get things done.

 

TJ_Info_Poster_2b

Parking to Unload

Have you ever been somewhere and there was a UPS truck or something, parked across two or more disabled spots to unload?

I was at the movies the other day and this exact thing went down. A truck with a trailer was taking up all but two disabled spots. One spot was taken and the other was open. There were other disabled spots across the way that were open but the point is that those unloading trucks, etc. should be parked in an unloading zone or somewhere else.  Definitely not in a disabled spot.

When/if you ran into this, would you report it or would you just get frustrated and move on? What I did was get frustrated and moved on. I did not want to start anything, even though I should have.

The next time, I will complain to the place I am at and call the police to come fine and fix the situation. Heck, if that does not do anything, I will just block the space hogger in so he can’t leave. This needs to change now!

People will do crazy things like this and it is your duty to make sure it does not continue. Did Rosa Parks move to the back of the bus when asked or did she stand her ground and got sick of the way the black community was being treated?

Even the public bus (Suntran) in Ocala was about to get it because even though there is a ramp on each bus, it is so steep that a wheelchair can’t make it up. When I ask the bus driver to give me a push up the ramp, they say they are not allowed. They usually help, but the day they absolutely refuse, I will put my wheelchair on the ramp and not move or park in front of the bus so it can’t leave. I can kind of understand their point for not helping but if you know how the bus is, the bus system needs to change how the lift is or something.

Time to make changes in this world and don’t stop squeaking your wheels until it is done!

The Crisis of the Bearded Man with Cerebral Palsy

Ask yourself beard or no beard.

Once upon a time the bearded man woke up and realized that he suddenly had to use a wheelchair. The bearded man shouted out in worriedness, “How do I shave my beard now?”

The bearded man found a wheelchair rolling his way so he hopped in the cruiser and spun those wheels on to the bathroom. When he got to the bathroom he picked up the only shaver he had, a straight razor, and with his shaky hands went to shave his beard. Out of the bearded man’s mouth came a scream not even the Lady who was hard of hearing could stand.

Blood squirting out of the bearded man’s chin, he wiped off the blood, bandaged himself up and continued to figure out how he was going to shave his beard  without killing himself.

The bearded man thought about himself. “My hands seem to work pretty good, so if I only had something not that sharp to shave.” He kept on thinking and realized that they make an electric shaver where he can smoothly shave himself. He bought an electric shaver, got home and shaved himself. No more beard, crisis adverted.

People assume that people with disabilities can’t do things themselves, like shave. Not every person needs a care person to help them.

I was wondering how a person with no arms wipe there butt.  Like the bearded man, they find a way even if it may take a little longer.

Everyone has their own way of doing things so even though a person has a disability, it doesn’t mean they are helpless, it just means they may have to do things differently to get them done.

Squeak your wheels and get it done!

Crabbing From a Wheelchair

I know eating crab is the best part but have you ever tried crabbing from a wheelchair.  Have you ever wondered how someone in a wheelchair goes crabbing?

I went deep sea fishing and crabbing about three years ago up in Maryland. I will tell you about the deep sea fishing before I tell about crabbing.

real fish pic (Small) Picture 115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got to the fishing charter boat, we saw that we had to climb down a latter into the boat which would have been a challenge for me.  Instead, two or three guys just lifted me up in my wheelchair and set me in the boat. I caught the biggest fish on the boat that day.

Crabbing time, we went down to a peer to go crabbing. I used a string, crab basket and some chicken necks to catch the crabs.

There were two ways I did the crabbing, one while sitting in chair and the other by propping myself up against the railing. Some people have to stay in the wheelchair because their legs are not strong enough. (You should work out your legs so they get stronger)

While sitting n the chair I tied the string to the crab basket and tied the chicken neck inside the basket. I then took and threw the basket in the water while holding on to the string. I let the basket sink to the bottom.

I let it sit a few minutes and then pulled up on the string until the basket was above the water. I pulled all the way up if there were crabs in the basket but if not I lowered back down.

Now doing the crabbing while standing up against the railing is pretty much the same except I was standing up.

Hopefully this gets you wanting to give deep sea fishing and crabbing a try. I thought it was a blast!

Get out there and do new things.  Remember squeaking your wheels will get you far!

Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comics, Gaming and Those with Disabilities

Dragon Con in Atlanta bills itself as the largest multi-media popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film in the universe.

It is held in a number of hotels in downtown Atlanta and the crowds can be massive.  Over 50,000 people attended this year, possibly 60,000.  They can be intimidating for people who have no special needs or disabilities, but for those with disabilities it can be a massive task to overcome.

Two things make Dragon Con easier for those with disabilities to handle.  First, the people who attend the Con are mostly geeks.  Yes we are geeks and proud of it.  Many of them have been picked on or made to feel different.  As a result, the Con crowd accepts everyone and judges no one.  No matter what, you are made to feel welcome.

Second, the Dragon Con disability services are great.  The staff and volunteers do their best to accommodate everyone.  It does not matter what your special need or disability is, there is an attempt to meet your needs.  As with any event this size, there will be problems.  As with any event this size, there are never enough sign language interpreters to go around.  As with any event this size, wheelchairs and walkers often get lost in the crowds and have difficulty getting through.  Elevators can also be challenging because of the number of people.

Despite the crowds and the size of the event, everyone I talked to had a great time and had little or no difficulties with getting the accessibility they needed.

I attended with my service dog Maggie and a friend also joined me with her service dog.  We were given seats up front in most cases to protect the dogs from being stepped on or tripped over.  It also allowed us to enter before the mass of bodies pushed through the doors.

Most of the attendees were respectful to the dogs and although many asked if they could pet them, only a few reached out without permission.

Overall the Con was a favorable experience – we had fun and Maggie handled the very large crowds very well.  I am not sure if a crowd of 50,000 to 60,000 non-geeks would have been as much fun or as easy to handle.

My experience has been that geeks (and I am one, albeit and older geek) tend to be accepting and easy to get along with.

Meanwhile, keep squeaking those wheels and have fun.

Recap of TimeGate 2014

One day I am traveling through time and space with my big blue box, when I suddenly arrived at this hotel in Georgia where there was a convention going on called TimeGate.

Arriving at the hotel early, my dad and I checked in and brought everything to the room. Coming downstairs to register for TimeGate, it wasn’t time so we sat in the convention area and talked to a few Whovians, Stargate fans and more.

My stomach was shouting at me so we contacted my sister about dinner and we met them at a great pizza place after we registered for convention.

Arriving back at the convention, it was time for different sessions to start. I went to a couple and then hung out by the TARDIS, talking to others and taking pictures. The time was getting around 9 p.m. and I surprisingly decided to go up to the room to get sleep for the upcoming and exciting next day of fun.

“Just a few more minutes’ mummy.” I woke up ready to take on the day, battling Daleks, Cybermen and more. Ate a couple cheese sandwiches for breakfast and then headed down stairs to see all the costumes and go to a few more sessions.

I had this strange lady named Jamie texting me all morning saying her and her family will be there at 11 and did we all want to do lunch, so I decided to go along with it. Just so you know Jamie and her family are great friends of ours that we met at lasts years TimeGate.

I hung out in the convention area talking to people and along come a crowd of Whovians with Jamie as the culprit. We all exchanged hugs and handshakes. We decided to; do lunch at the hotel where they had hamburgers and hotdogs. We all chatted at lunch to catch up on what is going on with each other.

After lunch, we left my dad to be upgraded by the Cybermen and looked around the dealers room as well as take pictures. I got a badge thing from the dealer room that said, “Legal permit to park TARDIS.”

I joked that it was going to be my new disabled parking sticker.

Jamie and her family had to leave so we said goodbye.

I continued to hang out until it was time for my dad and me to do dinner. After dinner I went to hang out some more until it was time for the Ken Spivey Band to perform. I rocked out and after I had to wait in line for the cabaret. The Cabaret is where the special guests performed different acts.

Right after the cabaret was the masquerade costume contest which was great. My dad went up to sleep and said to come up when I wanted.

I went up’ stairs put my leather jack up stairs so I could go to the dance and boogie down.

I went back down stairs and got a soda while I waited for the dance to start. The dance started so I slid in smoothly like I was Usher or someone.

The jams were bouncing so I took off the legs for my wheelchair and got out on the dance floor and busted a move!

Sleep time was about 1 a.m.

The next day we packed up, then went to breakfast with my sister, her husband and my awesome niece. After breakfast we drove all the way home.

We survived the Daleks and had a blast.

One thing I liked about this year is there were reserved seating for people with disabilities and that I saw many more people in wheelchairs than ever before. Normally I am the only one in a wheelchair.

When are you going to start living and push your barriers aside? “I would be nowhere, if I did not decide to bust down those barriers!” Thomas Moon

You can get the unimaginable but you have to choose to dig out of the mound holding you back and never go back.

Check out my photos and never stop squeaking your wheels.

How others view people with disabilities and treat them like they are not really human.

Have you noticed how people without disabilities, treat people with disabilities like they are so special and people who help them are incredible human beings?

I was, with a friend/someone who helps me with certain actives like shopping and cleaning at  home that I can’t reach, at Sam’s Club the other day.  We were standing in line and a lady in line next to us comes up and says how it is so nice how you are helping that special person (Referring to me).

I had to fight myself to keep my cool or the beast in me would have come out! My support services person on the other hand couldn’t help but pipe up and respond to the lady, “Lady, one day we will all need help.” My support services person told me she had to hold herself back because she would have let the lady have it.

People say things like, “What is wrong with him, is he retarded or disabled or something?” There is no need for it, if you don’t know then don’t ask.  Besides it is none of their business.

There is a British video called Talk on YouTube and it turns the world around.  Persons with disabilities are the norm and those without disabilities are considered different.  Check it out, it’s funny and serious.

Time to change everyone and quit putting others down because they are different!

Squeak, squeak

 

Florida BLOGCON 2013

This is my second year attending the bloggers conference held in Orlando Florida. The conference has been going on for three years now. My first year was last year and I attended with my dad and brother and this year I attended with my brother.

I have to say that last year was awesome but this year was even better! The conference was held at Full Sail University which was a really great venue. Bess, Katy and the team did a great job putting the conference together.

The day started with me getting ready and waiting for my brother to pick me up so we can head to Orlando. When we got to the conference and signed in, we decided to look around and see what was going on. We were just going along when I suddenly hear someone call my name. I turned around and it was Katy, she wanted to say hello and that it was great that I came back this year. The keynote speaker (Pat Williams, VP of Orlando Magic and a motivational speaker) was about to begin so we headed over to grab our seats.

Bess, founder of conference, got on stage to welcome everyone and say a few things. One thing she mentioned was that this was the third year of the conference. She asked everyone who attended last year to stand up. Well, being in the wheelchair I did not stand up but I raised my hand, to my surprise Bess said that she knew I was there. She was the first person to ever do that and I was so glad she did.

The keynote speaker began and blew the crowd away. After that the different sessions started and went to 4:30. I attended many great sessions and had a great lunch provided by Bahamas Breeze. After lunch we had time before the sessions began again. We had choices to check out Google glasses, take a guided tour of Full Sail or to do yoga. The decision was to go on the tour.

The tour was awesome! We had some roadblocks because the tour guide took us though some doors that had stairs only. The tour guide nicely came back and led us through another entrance, while the rest of the group waited inside for us. Great experience and the university is wheelchair accessible for the most part.

After the tour, we went to other sessions until 4:30. We then headed off to a timeshare in Orlando that was family was at. My nieces 1 year birthday was that same day and we all wanted to celebrate before I had to go home sweet home.

One of the big messages we got from the conference is that even though we all have struggles and obstacles, we need to suck it up and keep moving forward conquering our goals and dreams.

I am so excited and can’t wait until next year’s conference but in the meantime we all need to remember to squeak our wheels until ours hearts content!