The Bucket List to Independence

As a young adult with a spinal cord injury, I’m nervously anxious to make the next move toward independence. For me and others with spinal cord injuries, we hope to be able live on our own without being too dependent on family members. It’s important that our relationships with family members should be more than personal care attendants.

I’ve been looking into attendant care to help with bathing and dressing. The cost of attendant care can be expensive. Many agencies pay by the hour and a few will accept insurance. Some companies only will receive private pay. Grants are available for veterans of the military. However, there aren’t many funding sources that will specifically pay for attendant care for those with spinal cord injuries.

Once I’m in my wheelchair, I’m fairly self-sufficient. I can maneuver around the house and enter and exit the home without any problems. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome was learning how to drive. Now that I’ve accomplished that goal, I’m looking forward to accomplishing another goal on my bucket list toward independence.

Allowing Everyone to See Charleston’s Charm

Living in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina provides the chance to visit the beaches and see the ancient architecture of downtown buildings. Access to the sandy shores and many downtown walkways are difficult to navigate for people with disabilities. 

The city has made improvements along the shopping districts of King St. and The City Market. However, I would like locals and tourists to see other parts of Charleston, including the parks and plantations. Making transportation more accessible will create better opportunities for everyone to see the charm of Charleston!

Over the past few years, I’ve worked with the College of Charleston (which is located in the heart of downtown Charleston) to ensure that the campus is accessible for everyone. Sidewalks have been smoothed over and buildings have accessibility features including automatic door openers. 

Preserving the historic value of the city while maintaining functionality has been challenging. Hopefully, we can find the happy medium to make Charleston enjoyable for everyone.

Ryan Nelson, a freelance reporter for Charleston’s Post and Courier wrote a story about the lack of accessible parks and other attractions for those with disabilities. Read her story: Gaining Access: Holy City proves challenging for those with disabilities.

Meet Maria Saxon

Once each month, I’ll be featuring other people who live with spinal cord injuries. I had the chance to talk with Maria Saxon. She has a T11-12 spinal cord injury. With her resilient spirit, Maria lives a fulfilling life! Check out her video.

Becoming Physically Fit for the Summer

Like anyone else, people who use wheelchairs want to get their bodies in shape for the summer. We spend a majority of each day in our chairs, so it’s important to be as physically active as possible. There are a variety of ways to be active while sitting in your chair. 

I participate in physical therapy weekly to keep my extremities loose and limber. Stretching and range-of-motion exercises allow me to maintain physical independence. The therapy also prevents my muscles and joints from tightening and causing contractions.

I also have a workout routine on an arm bike to build endurance and get my heart rate elevated. This exercise allows me to have more energy throughout the day and gives me the strength I need to complete tasks. I’ve noticed over the last few months that my ability to grip and manipulate items has improved. 

In addition to therapy, participating in adapted sports is another form of exercise. Playing sports enables you to build muscle tone and get a cardiovascular workout. For those who use manual wheelchairs, pushing themselves in their chairs is an added form of exercise.

Exercising is not only good for the body; it can be fun at the same time. Don’t be afraid to break a sweat!

What are some ways you stay physically fit while living with a disability?

Hotel Hospitality: A Home Away From Home

Traveling and seeing new places is a great way to get away from the daily routine. Going on an excursion can still be done, even with a disability. When planning a trip, you should check out the accessibility of every aspect of the journey, including transportation, lodging and sightseeing. For this blog post, I am focusing on hotel lodging.

My aunt, Katrinda McQueen, from left, my mom, Sherron Jackson, and me at the wedding reception.

I was in Decatur, Georgia, which is outside of Atlanta, a few weeks ago for my cousin Trey’s wedding. My mother and I stayed at a Marriott Hotel. The room we stayed in was wheelchair accessible and there was plenty of room to maneuver my chair. Even though the bathroom didn’t have a roll-in shower, the counter and sink were accessible.

The beds were not at the average height of 20-25 inches from the floor. The mattresses were thick which made the bed too high to get into for people who need to transfer from their wheelchairs or anyone who has mobility issues. We notified hotel management and they mentioned the mattresses are new and thicker than the previous mattresses. As a way to overcome this problem, I was able to raise the seat of my chair to be at the same level as the bed.  For people in wheelchairs, you can ask for a hide-away bed if it is difficult to transfer.

Some other accessible features of the room included lever-style handles on all doors. These handles

Lever-style door handle and lowered peep hole make the room more accessible.

are better than round knobs, making it easier for people with limited hand dexterity to open and close doors. Another added feature is the lowered peep hole, which allows people who are sitting down to see who is knocking at the door.

I enjoyed my trip to Decatur and I’m looking forward to the next outing. Even though every lodging facility will not have all the accommodations to meet everyone’s needs, it’s important to have the basic necessities. I recommend calling ahead to ask about the features of a wheelchair accessible room.

What are some of your experiences with hotel room accessibility? Please feel free to comment.

Shots With A Spin

Every year, the Department of Physical Therapy at MUSC supports a local organization to promote disability awareness. The Class of 2013 has chosen to support Achieving Wheelchair Equality (AWE) and created an event called Shots With A Spin. The event will be held June 16 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at McAlister Field House at The Citadel.  

The day’s festivities include a bracket-styled tournament between able-bodied players in wheelchairs. Businesses and other organizations are encouraged to participate and create teams for the basketball contest. During the tournament, the North Charleston Hurricanes will play an exhibition game agaist the Columbia Rolling Thunder, both nationally-ranked wheelchair basketball teams.

Shots With A Spin

In addition to basketball, an information fair will feature modified vehicles for people in wheelchairs. Other resources and programs will be available to help people with disabilities live more fulfilling lives. A kids carnival will provide entertainment throughout the day. 

Bethany Clark, a second year physical therapy student, has been working with a few of her classmates to organize the event. She has enjoyed the opportunity to see how people live their lives beyond their disability. Bethany hopes that Shots With A Spin will educate the community and bring more awareness to disability-related issues.

If you are interested in supporting Shots With A Spin, visit their pages on Facebook and Twitter. I’ve been asked to be the emcee for the games and other activities. I’m looking forward to the event and hope to see you there!

Here is a video about AWE.

Disability Doesn’t Mean Inability

I recently had the opportunity to talk with a group of students at Azalea Drive Church of Christ in North Charleston, S.C. The church has a youth mentoring program for students who are in middle and high schools.

I talked with the group of about 15 students on what it’s like to go to school, go to work and have a social life while living with a disability. I explained that people with disabilities want to be included in the community and participate in activities just as much as anyone else.

I demonstrated the different features of my chair that allow me to be more independent. The seat elevation feature allows me to raise the seat up to eight inches to be at eye level with someone who is standing. I can also reach items that are in kitchen cabinets. Since I’m in my chair all day, the tilt and recline functions allow me to take undue pressure off my back and hips.

Youth group of Azalea Drive Church of Christ

The students enjoyed seeing my tripod set-up for my chair. I showed them how I can attach and detach my camera. I also showed them the video of me driving. After my presentation, I showed them my van and how it works. They were impressed to see that I could operate the the vehicle with the touch screen and joystick. I shared that the process for me to obtain my driver’s licence was lengthy, but it was definitely worth the wait.

The students had great questions. They were interested in learning about my daily routine. I mentioned that I needed assistance with bathing, dressing and transferring into my wheelchair. One person in the group wants to work with students with disabilities. Another student mentioned an interest in media and photography.

It was rewarding to spend time with the students and their advisors. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others so they can understand what it’s like to be independent while living with a disability.