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WCMX @ Adaptive Motocross What's up, guys! My name is Nathan Rocuskie, I am 22 years old and from Central Pennsylvania. I grew up racing Motocross and competed at an amateur level at a pretty intense rate basically my whole life. During my time, I have won multiple state championships, and a couple of tri-state championships, and I got to compete in the biggest amateur national race called Loretta Lynns. Loretta Lynns is an amateur national race that you have to qualify for. First, you must qualify by area qualifier, then by regional. Making it to an event like this is a dream come true for a lot of us racers! When I was 17 years old, I began training myself very hard as I was close to starting my professional career. The plan was to end my amateur years at Loretta Lynns by doing well at that race. During practice one night at my training compound, I came up short on a jump which sent me straight over the handlebars, causing me to shatter my t-12 vertebrae, leaving me paralyzed from the waist down. Many of you may know what comes after that: surgery, months and months of physical therapy/ occupational therapy, pain, struggling, depression, confusion, frustration, and so much more. From there, where do you really start heading towards? What's right and what's wrong as a newly “disabled” person? These are questions I used to ask myself- the only other thing that ever came to my mind was why change now? Why stop now? And I pushed exactly towards that! I remember my therapist telling me how crazy my ideas were and basically laughing at me for telling them that I would be riding a dirt bike in less than a year and that I would be doing backflips and taking my wheelchair to the skate park. They were stoked for sure, but it wasn’t something they actually expected. I dug deep in therapy getting myself as strong and healthy as I could. I ended up not being able to continue physical therapy because I exceeded my goals multiple times in just days. So insurance quit paying for it. At that time it was time to find my happiness again. I remember the first time we strapped me onto a 4-wheeler, it was the rush I had been waiting on for close to a year! From there, it didn't stop one bit! I ended up meeting one of my best friends, Jonathan Starks, who races Adaptive Motocross and does WCMX. This dude drove to my house and surprised me with his adaptive dirt bike and said “Just don't hurt yourself” and the first lap I rode the bike I was already hitting jumps again. He later on ended up building me my own WCMX wheelchair in which I later on came to become the world's first t-12 paraplegic to do a double backflip. From there the sky was the limit! All I wanna say to you guys out there, maybe feeling similar to how I did: don't forget to have fun! Life does get complicated and rushed but take time for yourself and do what your soul really needs! Last but not least, the only disability I see in my eyes is a mindset. Don’t let your mind control you and hold you back! Go try that new hobby you always wanted, go try to invent something, or simply just go do something and enjoy yourself! That's all things to be proud of and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Thanks for reading guys! Here is a WCMX VID I made go check it out to get a better look at the things that make me happy! 😁♿️❤️

Yes YOOCAN From table tennis to horseback riding. When you set your mind to it YOOCAN really do it all. My name is Jacob Webb and I would like to inspire you to explore and have fun!

Biggest strength I have Cerebral Palsy. It's my biggest strength. This is a video of me working out. I do it regularly.

Helping people with speech disabilities communicate on their own. When you can’t be easily understood, you don’t just lose your ability to connect with family and friends. You also lose much of your independence. Voiceitt’s mission is to help restore both. Danny Weissberg founded the company after his grandmother suffered a stroke leaving her speech impaired. Now Danny and the Voiceitt team are revolutionizing speech recognition so everyone has the freedom to communicate on their own — and be understood. Assistive technology that’s easy to use. The Voiceitt App is inclusive and specially designed for people with speech disabilities caused by cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, ALS, Down’s syndrome, brain injuries, and more. What makes Voiceitt unique is that you can access it from your smartphone or tablet, anytime, anywhere. The Voiceitt App uses advanced technology to recognize your unique vocal patterns. It works no matter your language, accent, or dialect. How to use Voiceitt Unlike other speech recognition technologies, we designed Voiceitt to be used independently, even if you have complex needs. You simply “teach” the app to recognize your voice by saying specific phrases. Once the app learns your voice, it does something truly life-changing: it helps you communicate by speaking through your mobile phone or tablet. That means more freedom and control in a variety of everyday settings. Voiceitt also works with home automation devices like Alexa on Amazon Echo devices. So you can take advantage of the same technologies that many people regularly use throughout their homes. Speak to the app and easily turn on lights, change the TV channel or adjust the thermostat. Making a real difference in people’s lives. Michael and Wendy are a husband and wife team living in Western New York. Both are wheelchair-bound and Michael has cerebral palsy. They outfitted their home for maneuverability, but many everyday tasks were still a challenge, especially for Michael. The Voiceitt App has changed their lives in so many ways. Thanks to Voiceitt’s integration with Amazon Alexa, now Michael can now turn the TV on or off by himself, using just his voice. That gives him more freedom and reduces his reliance on caregivers. Watch Michael and Wendy’s story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqk0fiB8kAonbsp; Wendy gets emotional when talking about the impact that Voiceitt is making in their lives. “We waited for this for so long. [Voiceitt] is such a wonderful gift in so many ways,” she says. “You have no idea how many doors you’re going to be opening for so many people.” Get your voice back with Voiceitt. See for yourself. Learn more at voiceitt.comor download the FREE Voiceitt App Help Voiceitt get even better with Project Ensemble. We’re currently developing the next generation of speech recognition technology and are looking for support from the community. If you’re a non-standard speaker, you’re invited to submit voice recordings via the Project Ensemble dashboard. As a thank you, eligible participants, who complete 1,000 recordings will receive a gift card (after the recordings are reviewed and approved). Who’s eligible for Project Ensemble? The program is open to individuals ages 13+ whose speech has been affected by cerebral palsy, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Down syndrome, stroke, brain injury, or other disabilities. About Voiceitt Founded in 2012, and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Voiceitt’s mission is to help people with speech disabilities live more connected, independent lives. Our proprietary assistive technology helps people access mainstream speech recognition tools like Amazon’s Alexa. More importantly, Voiceitt helps people communicate verbally — and be understood. The company has been featured in international media, including Forbes Amazon Science and The New York Times

Amputee guitarist/Model Lisa13 Hello from Japan😉. I'm Lisa13. I play guitar/write music for BAD BABY BOMB (an all-female alternative rock band). I do some modeling as well. I love birds🕊, and I'm 27 years old. I was born without a right hand. I have played guitar since I was 11 years old. I made my prosthetic guitar pick by myself with help from my father. My parents are very supportive of me. I played the Tokyo Paralympic Games closing ceremony on 9/5/21. This experience has been something very precious to me. I'd like to perform on a big stage again. I’ll never give up on my goals! I'm active on instagram(@lisajpoole13), Twitter(@lhjw121315666). Follow me if you're interested! and don't forget to subscribe BAD BABY BOMB YouTube channel♡ I feel happy when my fans feel happy🍀 Please stay healthy and watch out for COVID-19😌🫶 Always be yourself. Create the life you can't wait to wake up to🕊 That's my story. Thanks😊

Nice to meet you. Hello everyone! I'm Tana. I was born with a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 2. Since the onset at the age of 10, the disease has gradually worsened. I now have limb disorders, I am deaf, vocal cord paralysis, and amblyopia. I know it will get worse in the future, but it is also my pleasure to find little happiness in those days. "Now is the youngest and healthiest" I want to keep this in my heart and continue to take on many exciting challenges! The way of music that gave up I used to dream of being a classical musician. I was thinking of going to a professional school and living through music. However, the worsening of the illness has cut off the musical path. At one point I lost the meaning of life and was terribly depressed. With the help of my family, I am now recovering and running a website that writes articles on support for people with disabilities. I would like to continue my activities so that everyone can spend time with a smile even if they have a disability :)

My story My name is Jenn! I'm a school counselor from Texas! I was recently diagnosed with a super rare Autoimmune disease, gastroparesis, pots, and possibly Huntington's disease. When I'm weak, this is when I struggle the most. I feel SO trapped in my body and unable to do anything. I feel useless in bed. How can anyone love me if I'm just in bed all the time? I spent so many years DOING, that not doing is foreign and scary to me. Then I saw this community, and their acts of kindness, and thought, "You really don't have to be strong to be kind....at least physically." No matter where we are, we can be kind. No matter how weak, we can be kind. No matter what the situation, we can be kind. And this gave me power, thus giving me a little more strength.

Brief summary My name is Bryanna Collins (or just Bree like the cheese!) At 16 or 17 I was diagnosed with NMO (neuromyelitis optica) which is an autoimmune disease that has no cure. It was a very scary time in my life because I couldn't figure out why I would just go blind driving my car. I blamed it on anxiety attacks because that's what my doctors told me it was caused by. I remember going on a field trip for some kind of nature science class, and after walking for a bit, my body felt heavy, I was blind again (when I say blind I mean like everything went blurry and light made everything sparkle like traffic lights at night) The teacher at the time had another student carry me to the bus where I sat out the rest of the trip. I lost my prescription glasses that day. Nobody could tell me what was wrong. In my weights and aerobics class, during the running portion, my legs would lock up and I would fall, but the teacher told me to just push through. In my finance class, my heart rate spiked from walking up the stairs and from trying to hurry to class, it spiked at 160 bpm. The teacher and a friend in that class carried me to the nurse's office where my mom picked me up and took me to the hospital. They told me nothing was wrong, I was just having a panic attack. I didn't have any blood clots. The doctors got REALLY offended when my mom asked if it could be cancer. I made an eye appointment to get new glasses because I had lost my old ones. I finally decided to be honest with my eyes cause I was one of those kids, guilty I know. But the results came back 20/20 R 140/20 L. I was virtually blind in my left eye.. there was nothing wrong that they could tell, my eye was completely healthy, just not seeing. So they sent me to a neurologist. I remember another time while waiting for this neuro appointment, I was shadowing at a pet hospital. I had walked from the pet hospital in our town back to the high school. My poor CAD teacher was so concerned for me because I was walking like I was drunk. Hip checking desks, and tripping over everything. I remember him asking if I was okay, I remember saying "I'm just tired." I say that a lot now. Fast forward to my appointment, after talking about my symptoms, they sent me in for an MRI which is the 2nd pic when they found lesions on my spine. After that, they sent me into a spinal tap, which was the worst thing I have done. After that, they diagnosed me with multiple sclerosis. I turned 18 and moved in with my current boyfriend and we both go to OHSU. I'm not walking anymore, and I'm in a chair constantly. That's when they diagnosed me with NMO (neuromyelitis optica) Currently I'm being treated for both because they don't know which I have. I'm now 20 turning 21 on July 11th. I've been constantly in the wheelchair for about 3 years with some days where I take a few steps. I am living paycheck to paycheck because I wasn't born disabled so I don't qualify for disability income. They put me on SSI (supplemental security income) Because of my symptoms I can't get a job. SSI pays me $649 a month. My rent is $650. I hope to one day share my story with the world, with my ambassador programs, with modeling. I'm trying my hardest to earn income through these brands because that's all I’ve got 😅😅 My left hand quit working so it's really hard to type. I don't post much because I constantly feel like garbage. I'm always in pain, and I lack the confidence to take good pictures

L My story: Hi my name is Lauren (@Ashley_And_Lauren) I’m an 18-year-old Irish woman (she/her) living with a rare neuromuscular disease called Friedreich’s Ataxia. I have been living with this awful progressive disability since the 30th of April 2009 (13 years). Since I got diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, I’ve been diagnosed with scoliosis, chronic migraines, cardiomyopathy, eupd\bpd, sleep apnea, and neuropathy. I am currently trying to live my life the best I can with my cat. My dream is to one day see a world that is accessible to all!

1. Computer Science For those who love working with computers, learning code, and figuring out how programs work, computer science can make for the perfect educational opportunity. Studying computer science is also especially well-suited for remote settings since the work is innately computer-based anyway –– making it a convenient degree for those who are disabled or otherwise cannot make it to in-person or on-campus classes. And most importantly, current projections indicate a 13% increase in computer and IT jobsnbsp;from 2020 to 2030, meaning that securing a degree in computer science means more job opportunities and more companies competing for you (which in turn tends to lead to better salaries, benefits, and potentially accommodations for disabled employees). Specific jobs you can get with a degree in computer sciencenbsp;include AI research scientist, cloud engineer, and software developer, among many others. 2. Psychology If you’ve never considered this particular subject in higher education before, you may assume that it is designated primarily for those who wish to enter related mental healthcare fields. The reality, however, is that with an online bachelor’s degree in psychology you’ll gain access to various exciting career options. Jobs in education, business, counseling, and even advocacy are all options for people with a background in psychology. Some of the most common specifics in this field include research analysts, educators, and nowadays, business managers (since companies are looking to bridge the employee/leadership gap by employing those who understand both the “people” side and the “business” side of the company). Also of note is that psychology studies can lead to career options in market research and human resources –– both fields expected to grow significantly during the current decade (18% and 7% respectively, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics). 3. Medical Office Administration The healthcare industry is growing and expanding rapidly, and we’re fast approaching a point at which a long-expected need for more medical services for aging baby boomers will be upon us. For these reasons, it’s expected that between 2020 and 2030, at least 64,000 medical secretary jobsnbsp;will open up, making for 10.6% growth in the profession. For those with an interest in healthcare who would be interested in tapping into this growth, a medical office administration degree is another terrific option. It’s a degree that can be pursued remotely, and which will prepare you for numerous key aspects of medical secretary work –– including billing, patient services, and how to handle medical and insurance-related documents. 4. Education You may have heard that teachers have some of the highest rates of burnout among all workers (as well as consistently low pay). However, there are a few important things to recognize with regard to all this before dismissing the idea of working in education. First of all, teachers are now taking a stand and working toward more retirement benefits in part to offset low pay and attract more people to the profession. Secondly, getting an online degree in education doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll become a classroom teacher (unless that’s what you want to do, of course!). There are plenty of other career paths out there for those in the education field including (but not limited to) tutoring, research, and teaching online classes. 5. Graphic Design For those who tend to prefer creativity and artistic expression to numbers and problem-solving, an online degree in the field of graphic design is another excellent remote solution. And while some indications are that job growth for graphic designers will be relatively slow moving forward, that’s in part due to the fact that it’s already a widespread profession –– with the BLS suggesting that there will be nearly 24,000 job openings per year for graphic designers over the course of the current decade. This can also be a particularly flexible job for those with disabilities who may need to work irregular hours or days. While it’s certainly possible to get a “day job” as a photo editor, apparel designer, web designer, or even art director for a single company, a lot of people with graphic design degrees and portfolios of designs wind up working steadily as freelancers. As more universities and colleges offer online courses, getting a degree in your preferred field is becoming more accessible than ever –– particularly for those whose disabilities may hold them back from conventional educational arrangements. The most challenging part may be choosing the career path or degree you’d like to take –– but the possibilities are endless.

Life changing dogs \I got my first dog in March 2021 at just 8 weeks old. I immediately joined Part of the Pack assistance dogs and began training with them. Ocho is now 16 months old and has just graduated as a fully trained assistance dog. I’m so proud of both me and him for achieving it. I’m a nurse and I use a wheelchair I wasn’t sure how having a dog would help me, or potentially hinder me in my work. But actually, he has helped me with my mobility and confidence and I’ve since gotten multiple promotions. Ocho is a mobility assistance dog but in the PotP community, we have Autism Dogs, Guide dogs, and even a Tourette’s dog. Assistance dogs are unbelievably clever and can do so much to help their humans. Check out my boy on Instagram @WatchOchoGrow and follow links to Part of the Pack if an assistance dog could help you too.

My Hail Mary Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Sclerosis I was once a very healthy and athletic person, a visual artist, and had a career in rental property management. I lived life to the fullest. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2014. It was a swift and hard hit to my life: my art, sports, hobbies, social life, and most of my career ended pretty much overnight. These last 8 years have been a nightmare fighting this rare, aggressive MS (technically RRMS) where no drugs have helped nor stopped the disease degeneration. Any break I had was short-lived and then another attack would hit. My health hit a real breaking point in 2021 as I'd tried everything within my power, and it all failed. As a last resort I decided to trial HSCT (autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant) or what I called, my Hail Mary treatment. My family, friends, community, and people far and wide raised tens of thousands of dollars for me to have this done in Mexico this past February. It was a very risky and brutal treatment, but so far I have had a miraculous recovery even though they tell you to only expect it to halt the disease. I have a long way to go, but here's hoping that further recovery will unfold! So far I have been able to walk 50 steps, unaided. I have had other improvements as well, and for the first time since my diagnosis, I have begun to dream about the future ❤️ Click here for my website and blog