AbleBodies

March MADNESS Update!

Were you unable to keep up with the Sweet 16 action this past weekend? You sure did miss some great college basketball action. Here is a region by region recap:

West:

Arizona (1)/San Diego State (4)-
In a back and forth game, Arizona used their tough and gritty defense to come out on top. Nick Johnson put an awful first half behind him, scoring 10 crucial points during a key stretch. The final score of 70-64 was indicative of the intense action.

Wisconsin (2)/Baylor (6)-
The Baylor Bears tried utilizing their zone defenses and athleticism to counter the strength and range of the Wisconsin Badgers. Unfortunately for them, Frank Kaminsky and company proved to be too much. The Badgers came out on top, winning by 17 points. 

Arizona (1)/Wisconsin (2)-
This game lived up to the hype any matchup between the top two seeds should. 40 minutes wasn’t enough, as this game needed overtime to decide a winner. Frank Kaminsky came up huge for the Badgers, hitting the eventual game winning jump shot. Yay for the Big 10!

South:

Florida (1)/UCLA (4)-
What happens when an efficient defense plays an efficient offense? The Gators proved they can slow down the offense of the highly effective Bruins, while the Bruins didn’t have enough to outsmart their opponent’s defense. The Gators have been to the Elite 8 for 3 straight years.

Dayton (11)/Stanford (10)-
Who does the glass slipper fit? The Flyers received quality minutes from everyone on their team, and proved too much for the Cardinal. Living up to their name, the Flyers were seemingly everywhere on the court, with endless energy throughout the game. The win sent the whole city of Dayton into a frenzy.

Florida (1)/Dayton (11)-
Dayton gave the Gators all they could handle for a half. Whatever coach Billy Donovan said to his players at halftime was magic, as Florida showed their mixture of talent and chemistry was too much for the Cinderella Flyers. Gators win by 10.

East:

Virginia (1)/MSU (4)-
The Cavalier defense, giving up 55 points per game, hadn’t played a healthy group of Spartans before. Although they gave it their best efforts, it wasn’t enough for the always tough Spartans. This was back and forth all game. Sparty wins, 61-59.

Iowa State (3)/Connecticut (7)-
The Huskies have DeAndre Daniels. The Cyclones don’t. This proved to be the difference in this game. It isn’t unfamiliar to see a player get on fire during a game, or games, and not cool off. Uonn wins, 81-76.

MSU (4)/Connecticut (7)-
This was definitely not the best college basketball game ever. Both teams endured multiple scoring droughts, physical play, and back and forth action. The Spartans were unable to overcome the Shabazz Napier, as her carried the Huskies to the Final Four. The final score was 60-54 in what was a de facto home game for UConn.

Midwest:

Louisville (4)/Kentucky (8)-
You want a rivalry? Here is a classic one for you: both from the Bluegrass State, these two teams absolutely hate each other. This was classic youth versus experience, with the youth of the Wildcats finally meshing together. This is what we call an instant classic.

Michigan (2)/Tennessee (11)-
The Wolverines jumped out quickly, but the Volunteers cut their deficit almost as quickly. The game came down to a questionable call, in favor of Michigan, in the final seconds. They win by 2, 73-71. Go Big 10?

Michigan (2)/Kentucky (8)-
I have to admit after watching MSU lose, I was rooting for Kentucky here. The freshmen of the Wildcats keep coming together when it matters most. Julius Randle and the Harrison proved too much for Stauskas and Company.  The Wolverines had the final shot, but fell up short, 75-72.

North Texas will be rocking with Badgers, Gators, Huskies, and Wildcats!

- Brandon - 

Do wheelchair users like to take walks?

 

Resting my legs after a long day of sitting.

I’ve been asked if I prefer the words roll instead of walk, or do I want to physically walk, but not the way it was asked yesterday.  Do wheelchair users like to take walks?  My first instinct was to be a smart ass about it.  But the seriousness on the man’s face told me I shouldn’t.  It was an honest question, and I’m always advocating for people to ask questions if they are curious instead of making assumptions.

I can’t answer for all people who use wheelchairs, but this user says yes.  Yes, I like a good “walk” – not in the sense of moving one foot in front of the other, but taking a few moments out of my day to hit the pavement and bask in the freedom after being cooped up in an office all day.

roll, walk, slide, glide, stroll ...

A picture I took while on a stroll last year at Casco Nature Preserve.

What is a “walk” really?  Use whatever word you want to call it.  I enjoy looking around.  I like feeling the sun on my face.  I like the independence of moving freely.  I love taking a walk on a nice October day.  I love taking a walk on a sunny day.  I enjoy taking a walk with a friend.         

Having a physical disability, and using a wheelchair most of the time, people assume that I can’t walk and have a desire to walk.  I get that much of society walks – one foot in front of the other – but how can I desire that way of walking when I have never known a world without using a wheelchair and crutches? 

I do walk - but in my own way.  The crutches and wheelchair are my way of walking.  Don’t we walk to move from one place to the next?  Does it matter how we get there?  What throws a wrench in my situation is when I’m using my wheelchair and come across stairs to get into a public place.  If I have my crutches along, I can use those to walk up and down stairs, but if I don’t then I am limited. 

Before I knew others with disabilities, the disability rights movement and about disability pride, I felt it was spina bifida’s fault that I couldn’t get into a building.  If my spine developed properly I could walk like I was supposed to.  I learned though and stopped blaming the circumstances I was born.  

It's not my fault I can't walk the "normal" way, but to be honest I don't think about the actual act of walking.  I'm a busy woman!  I have a life to live and if I have to sit in a chair with wheels, or use crutches then there's nothing wrong with that.  

So maybe we need to loosen up about the word walk, and the context in which we use it.  Or maybe you should ask me for a walk and we can discuss it …  

- Lucia - 

March MADNESS Update!

Nobody has a perfect bracket. If you think you do, you are either lying to yourself, or you didn’t fill one out to begin with. Without seeing your bracket, how do I know you didn’t pick the opening weekend of games correctly? Simply put, you didn’t predict the madness correctly. Don’t worry, that is a big part of what makes the tournament so enjoyable. Here is a brief breakdown, region by region:

MIDWEST:

Here is where we find the Wichita State Shockers with the number one seed, undeserving in many eyes. In a matchup against high talented and overly hyped Kentucky, the Shockers were defeated in a classic March Madness game. Tennessee beat UMass in one of the First Four games, and advanced to the Sweet 16 by defeating the Mercer Bears.  Speaking of Mercer, they pulled off a huge upset by beating the 3rd seeded Duke Blue Devils. Although I strongly dislike Duke, I had them advancing to the Elite 8. This is only by virtue of them playing my least favorite team, the one from Ann Arbor, who also took care of business in their first two games.  I have the defending national champions, the Louisville Cardinals, making it to the Final Four from this region.

WEST:

The Arizona Wildcats received the number one seed in this region, and are my pick to make the Final Four and looked very good in their first two games.  Up until the Baylor Bears defeated the Creighton Blue Jays to advance to the Sweet 16, the higher seeded (lower numbered) teams won all the games. The lone exception was the 12th seeded North Dakota State Bison, who won their first game, but lost to the 4th seeded San Diego State Aztecs. Nothing too exciting happened over the weekend here, but there was plenty of emotion on display.

SOUTH:

The Florida Gators got the number one overall seed, and are my pick to reach the Final Four from this region.  They made quick work of their first two opponents. In what is seen as an upset, the Dayton Flyers defeated the Ohio State University Buckeyes, which is perfectly fine with me. However, Dayton pulled an even bigger upset, defeating the Syracuse Orange, in order to advance to the Sweet 16. There were two big upsets in this region during the opening weekend. First was the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, who defeated the VCU Rams in their first game, but lost to the UCLA Bruins in their second game. The Lumberjacks were riding a 28 game winning streak entering the tournament.  The second upset came when the Stanford Cardinal defeated the Kansas Jayhawks to advance to the Sweet 16. Perhaps the glass slipper will fit the Cardinal or the Flyers perfectly?

EAST:

Virginia has the number 1 seed in this region, but will not get past the Sweet 16, if my predictions hold true. Why? Well, the Michigan State Spartans will defeat them; both teams faced a bit of a struggle in their second game, but came out on top.  In another 12/5 upset, I correctly predicted Harvard to defeat the Cincinnati Bearcats. I did have Villanova losing in the Round of 32, but it was to St. Joseph’s, and not Connecticut. Sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles. This is all about Sparty, though. I have them defeating Louisville to cut down the nets as National Champions.

Overall, my bracket is looking pretty bad, as 7 of my Sweet 16 and 3 of my Elite 8 teams are eliminated already.   How does your bracket look? Who is your pick to win it all? Enjoy the break from the games, but remember the Sweet 16 begins on Thursday!

- Brandon - 

Independence - Part 4

That first day back at school was a nightmare of anxiety and fear. Here I was re-entering high school a virtual stranger. What was going on in my friends’ minds? Would I be accepted? The unknown lay ahead. It scared me to no end.

Nidia Rodriguez was an English teacher at San Diego High School during the 1980s. She was one of the teachers who assisted Roel during his time at the high school.

My first memory of that returning day included going to the cafeteria with a couple of girls, Carmen and Kathy.  On the way back to the school, I passed right where a group of my male classmates were hanging out. I recall walking past them, head down. When I went past I looked back at them. I couldn’t tell who was who and if they were even looking at me. It was awkward. I never want to go through anything like that again.

The remainder of my sophomore year was a blur of good and bad times. While there were some students and a few teachers who helped me through those tough times, I was mostly a novelty to the school. Here was a visually impaired student. One of a kind. Sometimes it became cruel and I was called such names as “el Blind Man” or some other students would say, “How many fingers can you see?” The joke was they were flipping me off. I tried to laugh it off and try to join in on the laughter. In the end I feel more emotional damage was done to me by not sticking up for myself.

Even a few teachers joined in on the fun. While in a science class I was chatting with a student and she said I was faking my vision loss. She was joking. But then the teacher heard and chimed in from the front of the class, “That’s what some people are saying.” I looked at him and said, “Yeah, I purposefully hit desks so people can laugh at me.” That was one of the most insensitive comments anyone’s made. And it was a teacher.

The school was ill-equipped to handle a visually impaired student. These were the days before the Americans with Disabilities Act. Nothing was in place for me. I ended up having my Visual Tech machine placed in the In-School Suspension room near the office. I guess there was nowhere else to accommodate me. So I spent endless hours in that room with these “delinquents,” talking to them and occasionally getting help from them. Sometimes that little room, which was about ten-feet-by-ten-feet, was hot. The air conditioning window unit would fail and I paid the price along with all the students in that room. It was extremely uncomfortable.

Rudy Curiel helped Roel out with tests when Roel returned back to school. They are still friends today.

But there were those students and faculty that truly helped me out and made life tolerable for me. Some students, like Rudy C., would help me take tests in that small room. Other students, like Lamar S., made life fun in the classroom and made me feel accepted and even protected me from the bullying element. Some teachers accommodated me as much as they could and encouraged me. Jim Clark offered to take me in as a student in his yearbook class, even though I had no experience in yearbook. Janie. Lopez, Grace Lopez and Nidia Rodriguez were among other teachers who made life easier and supported me while in high school. These students and teachers are a big part of how I survived high school as a visually impaired student.

I survived that first unsure year back in high school and continued through the remaining two years of schooling. Learning still was difficult and adjustments were made. I ended up taking “easier” classes than I wanted to, but there was no way around that. Some bullying still persisted and some students saw fit to insist on making fun of my vision. But I overcame and in May 1989 I graduated in the middle third of my class of 92 students.

Lamar Salinas-Niemcyzcki was a student at San Diego High School and befriended Roel on his return to high school. Lamar made adjustment back to high school easier. Lamar and Roel are still friends today.

The teenage years are some of the most difficult of a person’s life. Chemicals are surging, hormones are raging, pimples are popping up everywhere, we want to be accepted and we want to be independent. Then add on a sudden vision loss and those years are compounded a hundred fold. Feelings of isolation, anxiety, fear and sadness all rose to the surface. I wanted so badly to be accepted yet my vision loss seemed to set me back even further. As a teenager with a newly acquired disability all I could do was go with the flow and hope for the best and take my lumps along the way. And that’s what I did.  

- Roel - 

(Part 4 of 4)     

Independence - Part 3

The loss of the majority of my vision in the summer of 1986 left me reeling, numb and wondering what the hell had just happened to me. No one can expect such a change in life and be OK with it.

There were many reasons why I shouldn’t have been accepting of my vision loss. I gained certain freedoms as a fifteen-year-old that included driving on my own. That was gone.

Carmen Garcia was Roel's classmate. Carmen and another student, Kathy, helped Roel out on that first day back to school during his sophomore year. They invited him to lunch at the cafeteria. An act of kindness that has not been forgotten.

Also, something I had yet to realize was how this vision loss would affect my schooling. I was supposed to enter my sophomore  year sitting in the top ten in my class and I had expectations as the next three years of high school went by. I was a smart student  and enjoyed work and school. I was up for the challenge.

I was in for a rude awakening when it came to my schooling and re-introduction to high school as a visually impaired teenager. I had no idea of the extent of the true challenge ahead of me, concerning academics, students/teachers and the quality of the facility to accommodate my vision issues..

As the 1986-1987 school year rolled around, I was not attending school. I couldn’t start because I was unable to sit in a classroom and learn like the rest of the students. No longer could I see the chalkboard or the teacher or take notes or a test in class.

Before the school year started, my mom went to talk to school administrators at San Diego Independent School District in San Diego, Texas. Officials wanted a quick, but thoughtless, solution to trying to integrate me back into school. Initially they wanted to place me in woodshop and auto mechanics classes. Put a Band-Aid on the issue. An obvious problem with this is that I had just recently lost my vision and I doubted I wanted to lose a finger or two in the process of cutting wood. Ridiculous suggestion. Then the individual who spoke with my mom saw my class standing and figured I wasn’t some barely-passing-his-classes student. So wood shop and auto mechanics were out the window. I was an A-B honor roll student. So I was given the “normal” classes of English, world history, science and theatre arts, among others. But I didn’t set foot in the classroom.

Instead, I started my sophomore year being homebound and taught by a teacher who came out to the ranch twice a week. We’d sit at the dining room table and work for a few hours. She talked and I listened. It was difficult adjusting to learning by hearing rather than by sight.  

Jim Clark taught freshman English and theater arts at San Diego High School in the 1980s. He also was the sponsor for high school yearbook. Clark offered an invitation to Roel to join the yearbook staff upon his return to high school, despite Roel having no experience in yearbook.

And that’s how my new life as a visually impaired student started. I was taught at home and life began to cave in upon itself. I rarely left the ranch for months. The season changed and the South Texas autumn began, which means the air is a little fresher but it’s still hot. I became isolated and spent much time in my room listening to music. I’d sleep late and stay up late. My life became a depressive state of mind. I wanted nothing to do with anyone or anything as the realization of my situation hit me. I COULDN’T SEE ANYMORE! At that time, I thought my life was over.

At home I put on no pretenses. No hiding of my vision loss. But I tried to maintain my previous normal routine at home. But it was no use. My life had changed. I started watching countless hours of TV, especially at night. I would sit up close to the TV, a foot away. I gave up on reading since it was impossible to read. Items at home had to remain in some order or I would be unable to find them. It was a depressing situation. All my family members had to alter the way they lived at home. Suddenly my family was living with a person with a disability. Although no one said it. I think no one wanted to admit—including myself—that something bad and probably permanent had occurred to me.

But life rolled on and it took the shape of a person with a disability. Internally, I believe I fought this. I wanted nothing to do with being a person with a disability. That status would make me an outcast, a different person in a place where being different was frowned upon. My world had shrunk, my possibilities and opportunities had disappeared. How was I going to cope? 

As I said, life took a turn in the direction of a person with a disability. 

Eventually I got connected with the Texas Commission for the Blind (TCB) and the organization started helping me out, despite still not having a diagnosis or being labelled blind or legally blind (that status would not occur for another three to four years). Through the help of TCB I got introduced to the Talking Book Program, which introduced me to audiobooks. Again, I had to learn to “read” in a different way. But at least books were now available to me. I also received a Visual Tech machine that magnified a book’s content  through a series of mirrors onto a monitor. This machine magnified a book’s words into large print. The book was placed on a sliding tray with the magnifying mirrors below the monitor. It was dizzying to read at times and hard to adjust to. It was a frustrating time in my life.

The goal of this new equipment was to ease me back into school again. With reluctance that happened before Christmas break. I was so scared. Here I was returning to school a whole other person, a different person than I’d left freshman year. I had no clue how I’d be treated or even how I’d get around the small high  school campus.  

- Roel -

(Part 3 of 4)

Independence - Part 2

In July my trips to Benavides continued. I kept going to the pool and cruising was a mainstay in my visits to the small town. But what I noticed was difficulty in getting around when I drove. Things got blurry. My distance vision got worse. I started taking dirt roads to get as close as possible to Benavides or to my ranch, avoiding much of the paved rural roads. My vision issues became bad enough that I noticed and made alterations in my driving patterns.   

Then in late July while driving my cousin Eddie back to Benavides something happened that finally led to me telling my parents about my vision issues. Eddie and I were nearing the town and came to a severe curve in the road. I was driving along when I noticed something ahead but I could not distinguish what it was. I remained in my lane. Then as I neared I saw it was a construction worker flagging me down. Machinery was in my lane. I got VERY close to this man before I switched lanes and went around the heavy machinery. I got through the road construction by the skin of my teeth. Eddie later told me the construction worker was flagging me down with furious motions as I neared him. Thinking back, I dread what could have happened. I could have killed that construction worker, Eddie or myself.

Seeing no alternative and with reluctance I approached my mom and told her about the problems I was experiencing. She got angry at first for not saying anything. Then she got upset because I never wore the glasses I owned. I knew this would happen. But there was nothing else I could do; my vision was worsening at a drastic rate. I still have no clue how I hid it from my family during this time. I must have compensated somehow. I was the only one who knew how bad it was getting. Yet, as far as I was concerned, it was a simple matter that a new pair of glasses would solve.

An appointment with a optometrist in Alice was made. I still recall sitting in the chair and the man asking me what letters I could see. I shook my head every time. Even when the giant E was lit up I could not see it. It was a blur. This caused great concern for everyone and a string of doctors’ appointments followed that August.

As the days went on, my vision worsened. Soon, I would be thrown another curve ball. That blurry portion of my vision, which was located in the center of my field of vision, became colorful. I don’t remember which color came first but both red and green filled this blurred area. First one color showed up and disappeared. Then the second color appeared and then the other mixed with it. They blended together and formed this huge colored-in cloud that took up most of my vision, except for the extreme sideways and upper and lower peripheral vision. By the end of August I was essentially blind, unable to carry on a conversation with another person and looking at them directly.

It was a time of upheaval in my family’s life. My parents were beside themselves with grief over this sudden vision loss. At the time doctors had no explanation for it and my parents received blank looks when they asked what was wrong. No one had answers, which made it more difficult. There was much crying from my aunts, wishing my vision would return. My dad told me once that he’d gladly give up one of his eyes  to me if I would be able to see again. That was one of the most touching, selfless sentiments anyone’s ever expressed to me.

So while all this was going on, what about me? What was my reaction? As that summer came to an end, I had no reaction and I would have none until a few months later when I was supposed to be in school, starting my sophomore year.

That August as my life turned upside down, I was numb. This vision loss occurred so swiftly and without warning that it took me a few months to catch up with what was happening. And even then I don’t think I truly accepted it. I was fifteen, after all. This vision loss should not be happening to me. This was the type of thing I read about but surely not expected to endure.

So there I was at the end of summer and a total shift in my life occurred. It was as if I started over as someone else, someone who’d lost a major part of his life and was starting a new journey as someone else.

Part of this new journey I was beginning involved something unexpected: loss of independence. That thing I craved and yearned for and wanted was gone. No longer was I able to get behind the wheel of a car and speed away, with the music blasting and the wind in my hair. It was an experience I got to taste for a short while and I enjoyed its sweetness. But it was gone far too soon and since then I’ve been left with this desire and want to get behind the wheel and drive off down a country road with Iron Maiden playing on a CD. I will have to settle for dreaming of this scenario.      

- Roel - 

(Part 2 of 4)  

Independence - Part 1

Independence is something every teenager craves and yearns for. Part of this freedom involves a natural separation from parents, attraction to a significant other, driving on the open road and just plain wanting to be cool.

In all of these respects, I was no different than any normal teenager. I was attracted to any pretty girl who looked my way. I tried to assert myself and pull away from my parents, thinking I was cool enough to blaze my own path. And, most importantly, I was driving. Driving was the epitome of being cool: girls saw me driving (without parents) and the open road was my independence. The South Texas country roads stretched on and on for miles.

At fifteen I was an “experienced” driver of a few years. Since I lived in a ranch, I learned how to drive early on and I often drove with my mother and father as a passenger. But as I headed into the end of my freshman year of high school in San Diego, Texas, I started to spread my wings. My parents allowed me to drive alone. At first I drove alone a few times but soon I got the opportunity to drive out on the open road often. The road between my ranch and the nearby community of San Jose and the small town of Benavides I knew like the back of my hand.

So when the summer of 1986 came I still could see myself looking ahead at the expanse of the summer months and feeling the freedom fill my soul. I knew it was going to be a summer to remember and the start of a new-found freedom that included driving…and who knows what else.

I look back now and ponder how I would have reacted if I was told that by the end of that summer I’d never drive again and that feeling of the wind blowing through the open windows and radio blasting would cease after gaining this freedom, I would have laughed at that person. But that’s exactly what happened.

The summer started with a party at a classmate’s house out in the country. It was my chance to arrive in style driving my dad’s F-150 and showing up alone to the party. No parent figure to escort me. I asked my parents if I could attend the party and drive there and back by myself. My parents agreed. In true teenager fashion, I arrived with music blasting  and soon encountered some of my classmates. I fed off the rush of the party and hanging out with the guys and hoped that in the process I was impressing some girl.

By night’s end I impressed no girl but I got a taste of sweet independence and I couldn’t wait for more. After all, the rest of June and all of July and August awaited me.

June pushed on and I continued my driving, heading mostly to Benavides three to four times a week to either cruise around the small community or go to the public pool. Despite not attending high school in Benavides I made lots of new friends and often I’d pick up a few of them and we’d drive around the dusty streets, laughing and jamming out to whatever tune was on the radio. The cruising never got boring and I tracked endless miles up and down those streets. At other times I parked the truck under the shade of a tree at the swimming pool and turned up the radio. People there started to notice me and I felt a sense of importance.

Let me explain that this attention in Benavides was new to me. In my own high school in San Diego I was a nerdy kid often overlooked by most of the student body except when I was picked on by upperclassmen. So this attention gave a well-needed boost to my weak self-esteem. And I’ll be honest, I liked it.

Then came the defining moment of the summer in early July when I bought an Iron Maiden cassette. The band was newly discovered my me and I was obsessed by them and their music. I bought the album Powerslave and started to listen to it immediately and with the fervor of a child with a new toy. Then about a week after buying the album I noticed I had difficulty seeing and reading the tiny print on the album sleeve. For those of you not old enough to remember cassette tapes, they contained the song lyrics on the album sleeve. The only problem was the print was tiny. Still, I had no issue reading the lyrics. But soon I did have problems. I was unable to read the tiny print.   

Undaunted, I thought little of it at the time, assuming I needed a prescription for glasses (I had a pair of glasses that helped for minor far-sighted issues, but I never wore them.) I asked my brother to read the songs’ lyrics and I wrote them down on paper. Problem solved. It turned out to be a Band-Aid for what was happening. A week or so later I was unable to read  the handwritten lyrics I’d jotted down. At this point, most people would start freaking out and run to tell his or her parents. Not me. I held off. For another few weeks.

Why did I hold off? I don’t know. Maybe it was to continue holding onto this freedom I was experiencing and telling my parents would result  in the vanishing of this freedom. So I kept to the road.

- Roel - 

(Part 1 of 4)

March MADNESS!

It’s March and that can only mean one thing: March Madness! Yes, it’s the name given to the annual NCAA Basketball Tournament because nobody knows exactly what will happen. Selection Sunday, where all of the 68 teams are seeded and chosen, is this Sunday. The First Four games are on Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament culminates with the Final Four in Arlington, Texas, on April 5th and 7th.  Many offices around the country have office pools for their employees. Friends can become bitter enemies because of the teams they select. During March, people who are otherwise uninterested in college basketball seem to be the smartest people on Earth because they pick the correct Cinderella team(s). It isn’t that they choose a certain team, but how. Often times, those who don’t pay attention to college basketball choose winners based on nicknames and colors. While using this “strategy”, factors which seem somewhat relevant are completely ignored: seeding, team chemistry, statistics, superstar players, momentum, just to name a few. Rather than focus on the probabilities and other numbers, I will keep this fun and friendly.

Speaking of nicknames, here’s a small sampling of teams who have been previously in the NCAA Tournament: Aztecs, Bulldogs, Cardinals, Dragons, Eagles, Friars, Gators, Hoyas, (Fighting) Illini, Jayhawks, Knights, Longhorns, Musketeers, Nittany Lions, Owls, Panthers, Quakers, Runnin’ Rebels, Spartans, Tar Heels, Utes, Vikings, Wildcats, (E)xplorers, Yellow Jackets, and Zips. How is one supposed to pick if a wildcat is better than a panther? How about a spartan or a viking? These otherwise hypothetical matchups, and many more, are made a reality by March Madness. Have some fun coming up with some matchups which intrigue your imagination. Although this method doesn’t seem too logical, it can be pretty fun using. What if two teams with the same nickname are matched against each other? How will someone who doesn’t know anything about the teams decide who wins? One way is to look at their color(s).

Every color has more than one shade, and sports teams are no different. It isn’t as simple as choosing blue, red, orange, or any other color; picking a color means you have picked a side of a rivalry. This is a concept any sports fan can understand and appreciate, but especially college basketball fans. Is it “Duke Blue” or “Carolina Blue”? Or is it one of the many other shades of blue closely associated with another team? Is it “Cardinal Red” or “Scarlet Red”? Is it another shade of red, for your favorite team? “Syracuse Orange” or “Burnt Orange?”  To the otherwise uninterested person filling out a bracket, there is no difference between the shades. Go to North Carolina and ask a fan of college basketball if there is a difference between Carolina Blue and Duke Blue; the answers you’ll get will range from fiery passion to bitter hatred.

Every year, someone I know has a better bracket than I do. Actually, many people do. I am fine with this except the amount of time I put into filling out my bracket(s) is more than others. Call me weird, but the time and effort put into something should correlate to the end results, even if only a little. No, I don’t stress about something as out of control as March Madness, but I do believe I know more than my fair share of college basketball; especially during March, this can be a downfall. The feeling I get when one of my buddies who hasn’t watched more than a handful of games all season, yet has a better bracket than me, can be summed up in one word: frustration. Congratulations, you picked your winners based on who has a better nickname or what color you like more! Most likely, it is rubbed in my face for some time. I know it doesn’t just happen to me, and it can all be attributed to the madness. There is no point to sulk in defeat, so I choose to just enjoy each game, even if my team has been defeated.

- Brandon - 

The Alamo, Antietam Battlefield, Abbey Road, La Tour Eiffel!

I would say, 2013 was a busy year. It delivered exciting new experiences and lasting memories I will cherish for years to come. But, my travel memories are colored by the prism of my mobility. As many of you already know, I utilize a power wheelchair in all of my daily activities. My chair allows me to be as independently mobile as possible. I work, shop, meet friends, and enjoy eating out with relative ease. Though, that relative ease part flies out the window when planning extended travel. It takes organization, meticulous planning, and a great support system.

San Antonio, Texas

The first trip of the year went well. I looked at it as a practice run for future trips the rest of the year. Taking that approach made the glitches easier to manage. It was a fairly short trip - just 4 days. The occasion was the wedding of a dear childhood friend and I was excited to be able to celebrate this special time with he and his new wife. It had been a long time since I had flown and this experience was a valuable one because the next flight was going to be much longer - I would be flying abroad.

Wheelchair users never seem to have the same experience twice flying and horror stories are legion. I was nervous. The best option was to keep it simple: a non-stop direct flight to TX  from Midway Airport.  Security did not take as long as I’d expected as a wheelchair user. You and your traveling party get your own security line. Both traveling domestically and to the places we traveled abroad, wheelchair users are directed to side areas where one is patted down (discretely, of course!) and chemically tested. This is due to being unable to go through the x-ray machines. Once through security, we made our way to the gate and could board first with one individual in our party. I could bring my wheelchair right up to the door of the plane. At this step, I had to transfer to a very tiny (and I mean tiny) wheelchair that is able to fit between the aisle of the plane. From there, another transfer took place to the seat. Staff were on hand to assist but in my case, it’s much faster for me to have an aide or family member with me to assist. From here, the wheelchair is taken directly down to be stowed under. I usually take off any pieces of the chair (i.e.. cushions, peddles, arm rests) in the event something becomes loose during the transport process - which is not uncommon. This is why I don’t take my power chair when flying. It’s not easy ordering new equipment on wheelchairs and can often take many months once one does. So, in my case I just prefer to use my manual chair. This  means, however, I’m not as mobile or independent and need someone to push. This is a drawback to flying for me. I miss my independence.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

The second trip came about because of my brother. He was a through hiker on the 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail last summer. Harpers Ferry is the headquarters of the AT and is considered the midpoint of the trail. It is near Gettysburg and several Civil War battlefields. This trip was a first for me, accessibility-wise. It was my first long road-trip with a new accessible mini-van. These types of vehicles are not cheap and aren’t always in one’s budget. So, the fact that I have one, reminds me of how blessed I am to be able to experience the freedom a vehicle like this can provide. I was able to bring my power wheelchair that afforded me the option to be independently mobile.  It’s the key to a very stress free trip and I’m realizing more each trip it also makes for happier memories. We were able to explore the beautiful little village and historical landmarks in the area like Antietam National Battlefield and Gettysburg National Military Park - it just happened to be the 150th anniversary year and a ton of events were going. 

Trips like these are special and much easier in the United States. Having the Americans with Disabilities Act, public locations are assumed to be accessible now and more often than not, they are accessible. Lodging areas tend to be where I run into trouble the most. Accessible rooms are taken quickly and if hotels are booked, they are not always reserved for accessible reasons. It’s always wise to book a room well in advance and a few days prior, calling the location to verify the room date and time of arrival. Always keep note of whom you speak with on the phone…booking a room through a 3rd party website vs. the hotel itself is relevant because communication of needs tend to get lost quickly. I’ve always had better luck calling a hotel directly or booking directly through the hotel website and not a third party.

London, England

The third trip was a two year planning process and once we booked with a travel agent - a crucial part of making this trip work.  It was a very special trip because it was a family trip in celebration of my parents 40th wedding anniversary and a chance for me to see the hospital where I was born. Flying was just as easy as the trip to San Antonio but a much longer flight. We chose a direct flight again and left from Detroit International Airport. We flew in the evening this time, so we could sleep for much of the 8 hours it took. I knew this trip was going to be a tiring one for all of us but I truly had no idea how hard it was going to be on me. We were driving 3 hours to Detroit and then needed to wait a few more hours after getting through security. Then we had another 8 hours of flying. Thankfully, our amazing travel agent made it easier. First, she booked us seats in bulk-head knowing I would not be able to walk the aisles in the plane. This gave me more room to stretch, which is especially important for leg cramps and potential blood clots of those with limited mobility. I only slept little on the plane, but, at least, I was comfortable.

Once we cleared customs, we headed straight for the hotel to unload our luggage. Again - planning. A mini van met us and drove us directly to the hotel. We had a great room! The agent was able to call ahead and plan for an accessible room. The bathroom alone was worth staying at our hotel. Definitions of accessibility seem to be different in each country, so she chose to go through an American owned hotel because this hotel was one of few that could guarantee wheelchair friendly spaces. A charming local hotel is highly over rated when compared to taking a shower with ease! Space abroad is limited, so plan your destinations in advance if you need a roll-in or zero threshold shower and roll-under sinks. They are not common. I did notice though public and accessible restrooms were equipped with little sinks directly next to the toilets which is a very handy feature if you are not able to reach traditional sinks.   

Transportation is great in London. Not all of the subway platforms are accessible but all of the taxi cabs and busses are. Cab drivers are exceptionally helpful. We were able to get around the city with a lot of ease and efficiency, which I was so relieved to experience. We travelled much of the city this way. If you don’t have a ton of time, I recommend getting a day pass for a tour bus ride. We were able to get on an off the double-decker bus all over the city and experience the sites on our own time-table. Walking the city is also a very easy experience as well. I pictured a lot of cobblestones but I didn’t experience this much. Sidewalks were smooth and very level for wheels to roll on.

Paris, France

We travelled from London to Paris by train and took the Chunnel. It was a relatively fast trip by train, to be honest. Trains are definitely a large part of travel in Europe and I was excited to experience it. It was especially exciting because the only train car able to take a wheelchair was the first-class car. So, the ride was amazing. We had a small meal of wine and cheese with an amazing chocolate desert. After talking with the rest of the family in coach, they received no such meal. I think I’ll take first class over coach anytime! Our hotel was wonderful and just as accommodating however, this is where streamlined accessibility ended. Public transit is not as accommodating as it is in London.It was not easy finding accessible cabs and calling a cab service was not helpful. Thankfully, many of the areas we wanted to visit, like the Eiffel Tower, were close to our hotel and we were able to walk. On the flip side of that coin, I quickly discovered that curb-cuts are not flush with the road. This meant, having to make ‘wheelies’ often was necessary. I’m not sure if I was exhausted from traveling so much already or if I was frustrated but I had had it and I did not seem to enjoy myself as much as I had in London. Not to mention, it was much harder on everyone else as well. I was also frustrated with the language barrier. Mostly because I was unable to read and speak French well enough to understand signage for locations of elevators and ramps. Or, the signage just didn’t exist. This became very apparent when visiting the Musee D’Orsay, an art museum, which is located in a beautiful old train station. It has many levels and finding ways to reach these levels was like a maze. Much of the sites throughout the city felt this way. The French are wonderful in allowing those with limited mobility to enter sites without waiting in lines, which was very helpful, but beyond this accommodation, I was not impressed. I think to be fair though, I had such an easy and wonderful experience in London, I think I was expecting Paris to be as well. The two cities have so much to offer and are very different.

The flight back to the States  was the longest trip ever. By the time we made it home and I had actually been able to climb into my bed, we had been up for 36 hours. I was exhausted.  It took me two weeks to feel like myself again. But, I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

It was an eventful summer, to say the least.  San Antonio, Texas and the Alamo, Gettysburg and the Appalachians, Picadilly Circus and Big Ben, Notre Dame and the Louvre.  I got to see it all with organization, meticulous planning, and a great support system.

 - Elizabeth -