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אודותיי שמי אלדר, אני בן 27. נולדתי עם עיניים יפות, פנים עדינות, אף חמוד ושיתוק מוחין. חלק מהמוח שלי משותק ולכן כל חיי אני מדבר עם העיניים, עם אצבע אחת ועם הרבה לב. נולדתי באוזבקיסטן ואני יכול לסכם את 12 השנים הראשונות שלי במילים "להישאר בבית". כל היום ישבתי בבית, לא הלכתי לבית הספר, כי לא היה מקום מיוחד או מרוכז עבור אנשים עם מוגבלות בקרבת מקום. ישבתי מול ארבעה קירות ותקרה אחת במשך 12 שנים וצפיתי מבעד לחלון איך ילדים בגילי הולכים ביחד לבית הספר. אני לא צריך להסביר איך זה גרם לי להרגיש. הרבה פעמים הייתי מדמיין שיעור ואותי יושב בכיתה, עונה תשובות על לוח או מדבר עם מורה. About me My name is Eldar, I'm a 27 years old. I was born with beautiful eyes, a gentle face, a cute nose and Cerebral Palsy. Part of my brain is paralyzed therefore all my life I am speaking with my eyes, one finger and a lot of heart. I've was born in Uzbekistan and I can summarize my first 12 years with the phrase "staying at home". All day long I sat at home, not going to school, as there were no special or inclusive place for people with disabilities nearby. I sat in front of four walls and one ceiling for 12 years watching through the window how children of my age were going to school together. I don’t need to explain how this made me feel. Many times I would imagine a lesson and myself sitting in a classroom answering answers on a chalkboard or talking with a teacher. ON דמיוני וחלומותיי הפכו למציאות כשהגעתי למדינת ישראל עם הוריי. זאת הייתה הפעם הראשונה שהלכתי לבית הספר. בית הספר הראשון שלי נקרא ON. כמה אירוני שהשם מתאר בדיוק איך הרגשתי - שמישהו פשוט לחץ על כפתור ההפעלה שלי ונתן לי הזדמנות בעולם הזה. אני זוכר שהייתי נרגש כל כך בערב שלפני תחילת הלימודים, שארגנתי את התיק שלי מאות פעמים שוב ושוב. העניין המצחיק הוא שלמחרת, שנת הלימודים לא נפתחה בגין שביתה במערכת החינוך! אתם מאמינים? בבית הספר יחד עם היותי מאוד מוגבל פיזית, גיליתי כי רק על ידי למידה ושיפור מיומנויות התקשורת אשנה את מהלך חיי. "On" My imagination and dreams became a reality when I immigrated to the state of Israel with my parents. This was the first time I went to school. My first school was named "ON". Funny enough the name is exactly how I felt- that someone just pressed my power on and gave me a chance to make it in this world. I remember that I was so excited in the evening before studies begun, that I organized my school bag hundreds of times over and over. The funny thing is that the following day, the school year didn’t start as the education system went on Strike! Can you believe It? In school as I was very physically disabled, I discovered that only by learning & improving my brain and communication skills I will change the course of my life. ממוגבל למסוגל נלחמתי כדי לעבור לבית הספר המשולב שנקרא "מרום" כדי לקבל תעודה כמו כולם. בהתחלה זה לא היה קל להסתובב מאחר שיתר התלמידים היו בריאים פיזית ואני לא נראיתי בראד פיט... אבל שמחתי לגלות שקיבלו אותי בשמחה כחבר בכיתה רגילה. כן, לפעמים העתיקו ממני תשובות בבחינות. זכיתי לשוויון מוחלט אפילו בשעות ניקיון, כשהגיע תורי לזרוק את האשפה. גם כשאמרתי להם שהם מנצלים אנשים עם מוגבלות - זה לא עבד והייתי צריך לעשות זאת. טוב, הוגן זה הוגן. סיימתי כל הלימודים והבחינות עם לוח התקשורת שלי בציון ממוצע 103. אחרי התיכון רציתי ללמוד באוניברסיטה. קבעתי פגישה עם דיקן האוניברסיטה שהסתכלה עליי בחוסר אמון, משום שחשבה שלא אעמוד באתגר. אמרתי לה שאני מחכה שתאשר את הבקשה שלי ואם לא, אשאר בחדר שלה לישון עד שזה יקרה מכיוון שהציונים שלי מספיקים. ובכן, זה עבד. לפני שנתיים סיימתי את התואר הראשון שלי. Disabled to enabled From disabled to enabled. I fought my way changing to an inclusive school called MAROM in order to receive a graduate certification like everyone else and position myself as equal. In the beginning it was not easy to hang out as the students physically were regular and I'm not good looking like Brad Pitt…but I was happy to discover that they were happy to see me as a regular class mate and learn with me.. yes sometimes cheating by looking into my exam answers. I was so equal that even when there were cleaning hours, they made me take my turn to throw the garbage. Even when I told them that they are exploiting Handicapped people here- Didn’t work I had to do it. Well fair is fair. I made all of my studies and exams with my communication board finishing with a 103 average grade. After High school, I wanted to learn in the university. I I scheduled a meeting with dean of the university wholooked at me with a disbelief, as she thought I was not up to the challenge. I told her that I am waiting for her confirmation to approve my application, and if not I'm going to stay in her room to sleep until she does so as my grades are sufficient enough. Well it worked. Two years ago I finished my BA. חיפוש עבודה החלק הקשה היה למצוא מקום לעבוד בו. שלחתי את קורות החיים אבל בגלל המגבלה שלי, לא קיבלתי שום תשובות חיוביות. חבר שלי המליץ ​​לי לחלוק את הסיפור שלי עם סרט קצר באינטרנט, וביקש מחברים לחלוק אותו. זה היה להיט! התעוררתי למחרת כמו כוכב קולנוע. התראיינתי בטלוויזיה, קיבלתי הצעות עבודה רבות ואפילו הייתי בעיתון. לאחרונה שיניתי מקומות עבודה למשרה חלקית ואני משפר אתרי אינטרנט המבוססים על קטעי וידאו. בחודש מאי שעבר התחלתי לגור לבד עם המטפל שלי. ההורים שלי לקחו את זה מאוד קשה אבל היה לי חשוב לעשות את הצעד שלקראת להיות עצמאי. אני אוהב אותם מאוד על כל מה שהעניקו לי, אבל יש זמן שבו צריך להיות אמיץ ולעשות את הבחירות שלי, ללמוד מהטעויות ולמצוא את מקומי בעולם הזה. זו הוכחה כהחלטה הנכונה. Finding work The tough side was finding a place to work for as I was sending my CV but due to my limitation, didn’t get any positive answers. A friend of mine recommended me to share my story with a short film on the web, and asked friends to share it. It was a smash hit! I woke up the following day like a movie star. I was interviewed on national TV, got many job offerings and even was in the newspaper. Lately I have changed jobs into a part time one and I am enhancing websites based on videos. Last May I started living alone with my caregiver. My parents took it very hard but it was important for me to make the move towards being independent. I love them greatly for all they have done for me, but there is a time you need to be brave make my choices, learn from my own mistakes and find my place in this world. It proved to be the right decision. אלוף בוצ'יה התחלתי להתאמן בספורט מותאם במועדון בשם ספיבק (Spivak) שתומך גם בספורטאים הפראלימפיים. בתור רוסי שרוצה תמיד להיות מספר אחת בכל מה שאני עושה, באמת התנסיתי בהכל - טניס שולחן בו הפסדתי לכולם, ג'ודו בו נזרקתי כמו רחפן על ידי הבנות... אפילו שחייה! אבל אז גיליתי את הבוצ'יה! בעונה הראשונה הפסדתי 14 משחקים ברציפות וניצחתי אחד שהיה למעשה טכני כי המתחרה שלי לא הופיע. אבל התחביב החדש הזה לימד אותי הרבה על החיים ועל עצמי, איך להתמודד עם קשיים, להיות עקבי, מדויק ולא לוותר. אחרי 27 שנים ובשנה השנייה שלי בבוצ'יה, זכיתי בטורניר הראשון שלי והפכתי לאלוף! Boccia champ I have started practicing adaptive sports in a club called Spivak which also supports Paralympic and special Olympic athletes. As a Russian wanting to always be number one in everything I am doing, I actually tried everything, Table Tennis which I lost to everyone, Judo which I was thrown like a drone by the girls… even swimming! But then I discovered Boccia! In the first season I lost 14 games in a row, one win that was actually a technical one as my competitor didn’t show up. But this new hobby made me learn a lot about life and myself, how to deal with difficulties, be consistent, precise and never give up. After 27 years and in my second year in Bocci, ,I won my first tournament and became a champion!

I am a cheeky, funny and clever little girl who is determined to do anything and everything My name is Willow. I am 20 months old living with Cerebral Palsy. I arrived into this world far to early at 29 weeks and my parents were told when I was only a week old that I had some damage to my brain that would lead to a never ending list of complications later in life. Well look at me now..... I may have cerebral palsy affecting my right arm and both legs but I am a cheeky, funny and clever little girl who is determined to do anything and everything. You can follow me @willows_cpjourney and watch me work hard with my creative therapy and physio play ideas that I do with my family at home. The odds are against me to walk independently but I have already come so far and I will keep fighting to get there.

He did not loose his love for those around him My son Jayden is 15 years old, and was stricken with meningitis 11 years ago. He survived against all odds, but not without loosing what most would consider a lot. He lost his speech, hearing, suffered severe brain trauma and has seizures every day. But he did not loose his love for those around him, and his amazing sense of humor. Laughter truly is the greatest medicine and we laugh everyday. And yes Mr. Bean is our favorite!

My 'Modeling' Journey I’m Iris. I was born with Cerebral Palsy-Diplegia and I use a wheelchair. My ‘modeling’ journey started with an email from a lady who was doing a photoshoot for AlaskaAir. She was looking for someone to ‘model’ that was in a wheelchair and she had stumbled on my instagram account and they liked what I was about . They wanted me to be part of the photoshoot. After much hesitation I said yes, they even paid me some too. I liked how Maggie and AlaskaAir represented the disabled community in a positive light. (The advertising pictures for AlaskaAir are still in the approving process. However I took selfies that day.) After that experience I looked up disabled modeling and came upon Unique People Advertising where they hired disabled people to ‘model’, etc. I hope to get more unique ’modeling’ opportunities like this in the future. I like representing the disabled community and having some lovely pics taken. I also sell Cerebral Palsy awareness bracelets on Etsy. Proceeds go to the charity; The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Yorkshire and the Provail Organization in Seattle, Washington. I have 85 bracelets left to sell. If you are interested in buying one, please feel free to contact me at resilientgal@gmail.com! For business enquiries, please contact resilientgal@gmail.com.

Practice using prosthetic arm playing Jenga! Knox has a myoelectric prosthetic arm. He has very good control over it, but needs to practice using it in order to gain finer control. Jenga is the pefect game for this! :)

DIRT ERASES DIFFERENCE - IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN ADVERTISING Knox has an obvious limb difference, and he was very excited to be chosen to participate in the filming of a television commercial in December 2015. This involved 2 full days working in Sydney, Australia, with Rapid Films. The advertisment was for Breeze Singapore and it celebrates all types of diversity. It is a fantastic example of how difference should not be an issue. I am passionate about anyone with a limb difference, or any other type of diversity being represented in the media. Difference should be celebrated! Inclusion in advertising is very important as I believe it will lead to much more acceptance in the community as a whole, and increased positive body image for those who do have disabilities. Many brands have started to use models with a disability, for example Tommy Hilfiger, and Kmart and Target in Australia, so there are definitely being taken in the right direction.

My first step to independence My name is Marina. I'm 28 and I have SMA from childhood (spinal muscular atrophy). Disability doesn't hinder me from being happy and living life to the fullest. Before we moved to Russia, I lived in Moldova - a small country which was completely unaccessible for wheelchair users. I couldn't continue my education after high-school, and I couldn't even get an electric wheelchair. When I was about 20, I was very lucky to buy an old one from Germany. That was my first step to independence. My parents always told me that I will have everything I want, I just need to try again and again. I had many exhibitions in Moldova as an oil artist. Now I live in the beautiful city of Saint-Petersburg. I'm married to the best man! We travel a lot. I study Digital Design in the University. I make websites, mobile application design and graphic illustrations. I enjoy my life greatly. There were times when it was really hard to go forward, but I always knew that I needed to wait and try, again and again...

Knox is an inspiration to everyone who knows him Knox is 10 years old and had his right arm amputated when he was 3 years old after a traumatic accident with a lawn mower. Knox does not let his disability hold him back and is very active. He loves to play a variety of sports including rugby, soccer and cricket, and recently obtained his official classification for swimming. Knox is very confident and not self-conscious at all, he accepts that his limb difference is just a small part of who he is. He has such a positive attitude and is willing to give anything a go. Knox is an inspiration to everyone who knows him, and he is not treated differently to any of his friends, as nobody views him as having a disability.

Anything is possible! Make serving others a priority and a portion of your life. Myself and 3 other guys were a Life Group/Accountability group. All of us in or around our fifties. We had been meeting for 5 or 6 years. The other three men had some experience riding motorcycles and suggested that we take a slow ride west for an overnight stay. I took a motorcycle safety course and obtained my motorcycle license in preparation for our trip. We rented motorcycles for the morning of December 8, 2012. Ninety minutes into the ride I was unable to negotiate a curve at 65 mph and was ejected from the bike. Within the hour I was on a life flight helicopter on the way to the hospital. I had experienced a spinal chord injury at the C-5/C-6 vertebrate and was paralyzed from the middle of my chest down. God carried me through This was the moment that I experienced a crisis of faith. How much did I believe there was a God and how much did I believe in God? My faith and experience grew as I went through 14 weeks of inpatient rehab. There was a lot of motion and ability that I did not have YET. God carried me through some very tough adjustments as you can imagine. Amazing experiences and blessings I was certified with Christopher Reeves Foundation to mentor SCI patients and began speaking with newly injured people, supporting their new normal. Amazing experience and blessing. I was able to participate in shooting a commercial and becoming a part of the hospitals marketing campaign. Amazing experience and blessing to share my appreciation for the staff at Baylor Rehab in Dallas, TX. My wife and I were supported by a non profit organization - Neuro Assistance Foundation - geared toward helping SCI and SC disease patients to get home and establish their new normal. My wife and I became board members and I chair an Annual Golf Tournament that supports the foundation. While all this was going on I was trained and certified to drive in my chair. The independence was so freeing. The three men and I that are in the accountability group endeavored to write material for a book manuscript call Guysdoinglife. We have had 25 guys go through this devotional that causes men to reflect on the priorities in their lives. It encourages men to allow other men into their lives and to establish other men as accountability partners for life. I have also been connected to a half-way ranch in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and was recently voted as President of their Community Advisory Council. The Ranch as up to 50 young men that are in need of mentoring to focus on life skills and decisions. We are not defined by our disability I list all of this to suggest that we are not defined by our disability. There are groups out there in everyone's community that need support and we can contribute. When we turn the tables and serve others we are blessed. I encourage others to serve others in some shape or form. Make serving a part of your new normal.

Turning my situation around Hi, I'm Dennis A. Francesconi. As the result of a water-skiing accident in 1980, [age 17] I was permanently paralyzed. Since then, through hard work, determination, and the support of my wife Kristi, I've been able to turn a terrible situation into a independent and successful life as an artist. I taught myself to write and draw with my mouth, then developed those skills into creating paintings. I attended college and obtained an Associate in Arts Degree with full honors. I was accepted In early 1993, I heard about the prestigious Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, Worldwide [AMFPA] and quickly submitted samples of my work for review. By late 1993, I was accepted as a Student Member. Just 5 1/2 short years later, I had climbed the ranks to the much sought after Full Member position, which gave me the opportunity to remove myself from 19 years of public support. At www.sconi.com, I've published an abundance of information about my work, the AMFPA, and our USA Publishers, the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Inc., MFPA. My work has been published in many places In the USA, I've participated at various group exhibits in cities such as; Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. International exhibits include; Vancouver BC, Vienna Austria, Sweden, Geneva Switzerland, the Peoples Republic of China, Great Britain, Sydney Australia, and Lisbon Portugal. My work has been published on various MFPA greeting cards, calendars, and gift wrap. And has also graced the covers of several books, on wine labels, and the 2008 California State Christmas Card selected by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver. I'm always willing to help others. Quite simply, I believe that, 'only after you’ve helped others in similar situations, do you truly begin to understand why all of this has happened in the first place.'

Music has a magical therapeutic effect; it clears your mind, and helps you overcome obstacles Hi my name is Efrat. I'm 41 years old and I was born with Cerebral Palsy. When I was young, I felt different and so I didn't socialize enough. It was hard to find good friends and I felt alone. I was looking for something that would make me feel good, that will always be there for me and most importantly love me just the way I am. For every one of us that is out there, there is a special thing that works for them. A trigger that builds your drive, energizes you, and knows your heart better than everyone else – for me it was my RADIO. Yes, that small music box- in bad times it has encouraged me, in long days it has helped me keep going, and in heartbreaking times it was my best friend, which I would hug to feel togetherness. Never mind if I was lying in a cast, struggling with studies or tests, or other interesting experiences relating to my limitation, my radio was always there for me, waiting patiently to make me feel better. Music has a magical therapeutic effect; it clears your mind, and helps you overcome obstacles. It makes you feel good and helps you see the positive things within you.

La isla del encanto Although much of the news from Puerto Rico earlier this year focused on the island’s expected troubles with Zika virus and deteriorating financial and economic conditions, my recent vacation confirmed why the island is known as “la isla del encanto” (the island of enchantment). For starters, Puerto Rico is a large island that offers a wide variety of activities. As a territory of the United States, it adheres to standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The island’s proximity to the east coast of the United States means I can get there via a non-stop flight from Washington, D.C., and I don’t need my passport. The U.S. dollar is the standard currency. English is widely spoken. There is plenty of the familiar, yet much that seems exotic. My trip On a six-day trip with my family in mid-July we split our time between two parts of the island. Since the north coast is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, where the water is rough and there are limited options for scuba diving or snorkeling, the highlight of our time in San Juan was visiting two famous forts - Castillo San Felipe del Morro (“El Morro”) and Castillo San Cristobal. Access for all Both forts were built by Spanish troops in the 16th Century, and today they are part of the San Juan National Historic Site, which means they are maintained by the National Park Service. As such, there are wheelchair accessible restrooms and an accessible trolley that shuttles visitors for free between the forts and a number of other stops in old San Juan. Access to the different floors in the forts is achieved by either climbing stairs or traversing long, steep ramps, so I spent the majority of my time on the main floor at both El Morro and Castillo San Cristobal. The spectacular views of the water and surrounding city were worth the price of admission ($5 for those age 16 or older; free for those with a disability and an NPS pass), and I was awed by the design and historical significance of these forts. Its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is further indication of the uniqueness of the San Juan National Historic Site. Rincon While San Juan is a major city with nearly 400,000 residents, Rincon is a small town best known for its winter waves that draw surfers from near and far. The primary reason for our trip to Rincon was to go scuba diving, and as luck would have it, the weather cooperated and we were able to make the fourteen mile journey through the Mona Passage to dive the protected waters that surround the uninhabited island of Desecheo (Desecheo is designated a National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Led by staff from Taino Divers, my nephew Roger and I descended to about 50’ where we saw gigantic barrel sponges that looked like ancient pottery, healthy and colorful coral, several Pufferfish, a Lionfish, and one very enormous crab. There were plenty of the usual Caribbean suspects (Parrotfish, Angelfish, Blue Tangs, Butterflyfish) on this dive, too, and the sensation that I had entered my own private aquarium brought an immediate sense of peace and tranquility when I rolled forward off the dive platform. Dives and beaches After four memorable dives and three wonderful nights in Rincon, where I fell asleep to the sound of Coqui frogs and waves crashing on the beach outside my room, we packed our bags for the drive back to San Juan. The best decision we made on this entire trip was to stop at Crashboat Beach, in Aguadilla, where for two hours I watched from a concrete pier while my brother and his son snorkeled in exceptionally clear water that varied in shades of blue. Crashboat Beach knows no UNESCO designation. It receives no protection or assistance from agencies of the federal government. It is a simple, beautiful beach where locals congregate on perfect white sand, palm trees sway in the tropical breeze, pelicans gracefully patrol the sky, and the splendors of the ocean can be enjoyed with nothing more than a mask and a snorkel. The enchanting island Whether your ideal vacation includes visiting world-renowned landmarks, exploring the beauty of the natural world, or immersing yourself in a vibrant culture, Puerto Rico has plenty to offer. It is undoubtedly a most enchanting island.