Search

Not letting my disability slow me down Please check out this link to my youtube video of my life story. It has had a great response from many people saying it has inspired & motivated them, I hope that it can inspire & motivate others even further. I decided to start running and training, not letting my disability slow me down or limit me. At first, I was very behind, but I started getting fitter and fitter and stronger and stronger. I really started enjoying it. I enjoyed the feeling of being stronger and fitter and faster. Eventually, I started training twice a day and went to my first athletics competition in Blackpool. I ended up becoming an international para-athlete. I actually won 2 gold medals and this opened up a whole new world for me. The world of para-athletics, where everyone was in the same boat as me. Everyone went through hard times and learned how to overcome them. It was great everyone was supporting each other.

Belated birthday present I turned 21 back in January and my mom wanted to know what I wanted as a belated birthday present and I didn't know at the time so I thought about it for a while. Back in March while I was at home, I was on Facebook and saw that Lookout Mountain Hang Gliding up in the Rising Fawn, Georgia/Chattanooga, Tennessee area was doing a special deal which was a 1500ft tandem flight for only $129 that was only available to buy during the month of April, so I told my mom about it because I've gone hang gliding at Lookout Mountain in the past and loved it, but unfortunately we couldn't do anything at the time because out of state traveling was restricted. At the beginning of May, my mom messaged me a link about going motorized hang gliding because it was closer to us, therefore, easier to schedule, plus she found a deal to pay for a flight and said that I would get to fly further than when I go hang gliding, so I said that I would try it. My experience of going motorized and regular hang gliding for the first time Last Sunday, my Mom and I went to Jackson County Airport in Jefferson, Georgia so that I could go motorized hang gliding for the first time. Like hang gliding at Lookout Mountain was a learning experience, uncomfortable, and new for the first time I did it, so was motorized gliding last Sunday. I wasn't used to laying down and being hooked up to the glider when I went regular hang gliding when I was twelve years old. When I went motorized hang gliding last week, I wore a flight suit for the first time since I was seventeen when I went indoor skydiving as an early eighteenth birthday present, I also wore a pilot helmet with a headset. I sat behind the pilot with my legs stretched at an angle with the pilot sitting in front of me between my legs. I have metal plates in my hips which means that my hips and legs weren't happy with being stretched at an angle and I don't think my heels were happy either when the plane was turning before taking off and after landing. Anyway once we were in the air, I tried my best to ignore the pain and just enjoy the flight. I also wasn't used to the motor in the background and I made the right decision to bring gloves, but unfortunately, I forgot to put them on before we took off which caused my hands to be cold in the air, I think caused by either the plane's motor or the wind. I honestly thought that since I was sitting in the back, I wasn't gonna be able to help fly the hang glider that was attached to the plane, but I was able to fly the hang glider a little bit even though my hands were cold. My favorite part of going motorized hang gliding was either when we were flying over the lake and got close to the lake because I honestly thought we were going to actually fly into the lake or flying above and in the clouds. Overall though, I had a good time going motorized hang gliding for the first time last weekend.

My Life If you told me when I was young that when you grow up, you’re going to own your own business, I would’ve laughed in your face and probably ran your toes over. I was very shy and insecure when I was younger, especially in school. I was a loner and nobody really talked to me because I was different, I was in a wheelchair. I hated the way I looked, I was uncomfortable in my own skin and that’s when the love for tattoos came in. I was able to cover my body in art and it made me feel more confident, tattoos really did help me, it was therapy for me and it still is. Comedy also helped me. Who doesn’t like to laugh? Laughter is the number one medicine. My sense of humor was born out of necessity, as a way to overcome that first social barrier created by my wheelchair. You need a sense of humor if you’re around me. I make fun of myself way too much and I’ll probably make fun of you too. It’s all love though. Also, the way I dressed helped build my confidence. From wearing sweats and Adidas track pants like I was a professional runner, I switched to the skater look without the skateboarding part obviously. I got into clothes and that’s when I wanted to start my own clothing brand. I wanted to start my own clothing brand, but I didn’t yet. I didn’t believe in myself. How can somebody like me who depends so much on others own a clothing brand? Yes I can do all the computer stuff, but how was I going to do all the physical stuff? My four-year-old cousin can bench press more weight than me. Luckily, I have the world's best Mom and Dad who would do anything for me and believe in everything I do, so I decided to drop out of college and start my own clothing brand (@wrektsvpply). I am not at a level of success I want to be yet, but I can’t believe where my brand is now, and that’s thanks to everyone who has supported me and my dream. I didn’t let my disability stop me from doing what I wanted to do, so don’t let your disability stop you. For those who are physically disabled, you’re only physically disabled, but you are mentally strong. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, because all you’re doing is digging yourself into a deeper and deeper hole, and I’ve been there, it’s not a good place to be. Trust me, life can throw you lots of shit, but if you can take a step back or a rollback (wheelchair joke) and laugh at your situation, everything becomes a lot easier to deal with. Do what makes you happy! We’re not gonna live forever, so meanwhile, you’re here, make sure you have a smile on that beautiful face of yours.

Did you know... That there are TWO types of handicapped spots? There are! One is your genetic spot and the other is for “Van Accessible”. These Van-accessible spots are made a bit larger for those that need the extra space with wheelchairs and wheelchair vans. Did you know that there are FEWER van accessible spots than the generic spots? There are. And why is that important? Let me digress a bit about when I became acutely aware that this was a problem... Lets get a little clarity in the subject of access Do you remember when there was that joke in the disability community “At least we have good parking”? That is no longer relevant. Great concert seats or any special treatment is also out the window. And by no means am I saying we should get special treatment. What I am saying is that at one time, only five years ago in the recent past, I experienced great parking, great event seats, and yes, people catered to my husband's comfort in most places we went. Now, that’s almost non-existent. With a growing disability community, it’s understandable. In the past we were an anomaly. People remembered us because we were rare. But with Disability social empowerment movements people aren’t ashamed anymore, and that’s awesome! What that also means is less access because the laws are now, I believe, out of date....so like I said, I digress but it was to enlighten you as to why we can NEVER find a parking spot for our accessible van! Now roll with me to the next paragraph on why that is important... He came inches away from death.... There are a few hacks when you can’t find a “van accessible” parking spot with the extra room for a ramp and wheelchair. You can parkway in the boonies of the parking lot and take two spaces. This isn’t a problem because it’s legal, but I have been yelled at, and my car has been keyed for that maneuver simply because it’s not common knowledge that it IS legal. Or you can pull this maneuver, which on this day of great awakening for me, I did: you pull in halfway into a regular car space and kick that ramp out. Husband exits and waits for you to finish parking. On this day I pulled halfway into a regular space that also happened to have an open spot next to my van on the side where the ramp comes out. When you pull this maneuver, your car hangs out a bit in the drive path. This day I had an impatient driver who was coming from the drivers' side of my van (so he could not see my husband exiting, only saw that I was half in the drive lane) he was so impatient that he yelled, scowled, honked and proceeded to rapidly pull around me and into the spot where my husband was. BY INCHES he missed hitting my husband and ran over our ramp. This is when I knew I had to create awareness... FortheloveofParking & Access was born I started talking to lawyers, I wrote the DMV, congress, and nothing. After months of probing for information a reliable and experienced source said “ you have to create a diary of need!” When the pioneers of the ADA began their fight for equality, that’s exactly what they did. They kept a LITERAL diary of each incident they encountered. But that was over 30 years ago and we now have the internet! So what does any ambitious do-gooder do? Start a FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM page! I’m a photographer and content creator so I had to incorporate my skills - I made stickers that I attach to a 4x6 card that read “you’ve been featured on FortheloveofParking, log on to find out why” I affix this to their windshield and proceed to upload a photo of their access incompetence and I write them a love letter about how they affected the disability community that has a little sarcasm to it to keep it real. And this is my diary of need. What is the end game? #dontparklikeapunk I encourage others who I call #♿️Homies, to take pictures of their own and either tag me in their post so I can share on the site, or send it to me and I’ll write a love letter on their behalf. But if your really brave, you can buy a tee-shirt (Proceeds go to the creation of cards and stickers) and I will send you a packet that has our mission, instructions on how to be courteous with your stickers (slap ups), and of course stickers and cards. What’s the end game? Creating such a huge diary of need that we can: 1. Make it so the DMV incorporates handicapped parking rules and info in the written test. 2. Have a separate placard made for those of us who need the “van accessible” space 3. And get the term “van accessible” changed to a broader name. Because some wheelchair users and people with assistive devices drive regular cars! I’ve also started an online , educational, monthly zoom meeting that gives the disability community access to meaningful and relevant content where I have expert guests on subjects that are specific to our world. My hope is to expand on the original ADA’s fight for equality and have it grow with our growing community, giving everyone access to a life with fewer barriers.

My life My name is Ola and I live in Poland. I was 6 years old when I was diagnosed with spinal cord angioma and as its result I use a wheelchair since then. Despite continuous health issues I was raised by my family to be independent and self-sufficient. It has not always been easy but I keep my spirit high. I am ambitious and use every opportunity to live a full life. I graduated from university and have a full-time job in marketing. I can’t imagine my life without sport. I used to play basketball and for a while I have been training CrossFit. I believe you can achieve everything in your life if you really want it. I am happy to share my story I hope it inspires someone 😊 Have a lovely day 💕

The Word Yet The word yet, such a simple word, one syllable three letters but the power it can give your mind is immeasurable. There were so many things I wanted to do in life that seemed simple to many but came across as a hurdle to me. I would get discouraged and scream I can’t do it, I would get down on myself and look for pity. My parents and my sister would help me and encourage my efforts on the easiest of tasks. They would say you can’t do it now but in time you’ll be able to do it. Your muscles aren’t ready yet, but they will be, you’re skills are improving but they’re not at the highest level yet. Yet, Yet, Yet Yet, Yet, I had to learn to embrace that word. That word helped me attack many different obstacles in my life that many people take for granted, Opening a bag of chips, opening a can of soda. Brushing my teeth by myself, shaving by myself, putting on my own shirt, doing the laundry by myself, even driving a car. These were all important things I couldn’t do on the first try, things I wanted to do so bad but struggled with, I hated sitting in a crowded lunchroom and not being able to open my bag of chips, If I was by myself I would just drink out of a water fountain. I would try these things every day, well except the driving and shaving ones until I was older. But that word yet was always there for me. Where will the power of Yet lead you. I wasn’t allowed to use the word can’t, but if I followed it up with the word yet, it all of a sudden sounded better and was allowed. I can’t open my bag of chips. No, I can’t open my bag of chips yet, Yes, so much better. It helped my mindset, it helped my growth. In life, we always come across bumps in the road. Many of these bumps can stop a person dead in the tracks. As a teacher, I always hear I just don’t understand this. I always have to set the tone and add it yet. You don’t understand this yet. As a coach of young middle school kids, I see a lot of talented athletic kids come out and play, but their skills aren’t ready to be big contributors yet. I get mad parents but I always say he’s good enough to be on the team now but to be a big player in the game he’s just not there yet. He’s learning and improving daily. He’ll be there soon with hard work and perseverance but he’s not there yet. I like to tell this to young players and I can tan tell you to try this at home. If you’re working on a goal of any kind or a project for work make a list of things you need to accomplish to reach that goal. Call it your yet list, As you start working and achieve the different yets on your list circle them and write Now over them. As you complete your yet’s your list your goal or project will be accomplished. But believe in the power of yet. It has taken me places I never thought I would go. Where will the power of yet lead you?

My story I was born on January 16th, 1977, with a congenital disability known as Apert’s Syndrome. My name is Dorsey and when I was born, my forehead was pushed outward, my nose and mouth were pushed inward, and my fingers and toes were fused, meaning I had no individual movement of them. Doctors gave my parents no hope for my survival and advised them to put me into an institution. My parents both knew and trusted in God, and they believed that God would do great things in my life. Throughout my life, I had to overcome a lot of obstacles, and trials, being bullied, called names like monster and freak, and undergone multiple operations. Teachers told me I would not make it in college, and with all odds against me, I entered Queens Borough Community College. After four years there, and after attaining an associate degree, I entered the University of Valley Forge. After years of hard work and perseverance, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry. My life saying is, "can’t is not in my vocabulary" because, for most of my life, I never used the word can’t. I believe that with God, all things are possible and that he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength. I started Dorsey Ross Ministries in the summer of 2007, after giving my testimony at Bellerose Assembly of God. Since that time, I traveled all over the country. I enjoy giving an encouraging message of what God has done in my life. I want to use what I went through, to encourage and inspire others. I want others to know that God can use them, no matter what life challenges they are facing. I want those that hear my testimony to walk out the doors of the church to be empowered, inspired, and encouraged, knowing that if God can use Dorsey, He can use anyone.

Table for One PLease! One thing about me is I LOVE my space. I always have. My alone time and solitude are so valuable to me. Even back in college, I somehow managed to room alone, experiencing dorm life devoid of roommates. Yet, in 2015, it became evident that my bubble of privacy and solitude was about to be popped. A while after my diagnosis, I noticed the expected decline of my limbs. My legs weakened and became more unpredictable. My shoulders operated at less than 50%. My hands stumbled around without precision. It was beginning to be difficult to do “normal” tasks: putting on my clothes, doing my makeup, and tidying up my apartment proved laborious. I’d heard tons of stories about something called a PCA, a personal care assistant. Some were good, some weren’t. All made me feel queasy. The thought of it screamed INVASION OF PRIVACY and sparked a feeling of dehumanization and ineptitude. My growing discomfort and lack of ease in tasks, however, pushed me to begin the search. Trust in others I’ve always been independent – wanting to figure out solutions for myself, long before my Muscular Dystrophy diagnosis and adulthood. But here I was in my early twenties, having to find dependency in, what seemed like a babysitter. I started my search using ads and asking around in the building I live in. I’d already moved into an assisted-living community on the fifth floor. Applicants would travel up the elevator, passing hand sanitizing stations to knock on my apartment door. I’d learn about their qualifications and take their references in exchange for a list of my needs and desires in the role. The process was exhausting. Sometimes, the bad ones were easy to weed out. They’d show up late, even to the interview. Other times, I’d learn after they were hired that we weren’t a good match. They’d cancel last minute. Engage in illegal activity (I’ve even once had to call the cops!). They’d repeatedly place things where they didn’t belong. It was more than an annoyance or an inconvenience. It was literally detrimental to my day. My PCAs hold a very important role in my life, each and every day. In the mornings, they invite themselves to my home around 8:30. They get me out of bed, help me with my morning routine of brushing my teeth, washing my face, and showering. I can no longer dry myself when I wash, so I have to trust them to towel me off and lotion my body, before helping me put my clothes on. They fix my meals – usually only something small for breakfast. I’m now with a person in my most intimate moments: in the morning when I’ve got crust in my eyes and bed-breath; when I’ve got to use the bathroom and while I’m cleaning my body; to make sure I eat breakfast. This isn’t the solitude I’ve always known and loved. As I get comfortable in front of my laptop, answering emails and attending to Girls Chronically Rock business. Talk shows often keep me company as I fade into my tasks of the day. My PCA usually leaves around 1 p.m. This is about the only time I seem to get alone outside of the time when I am asleep. Somewhere between 4:30 and 5:30, she’s back again making sure I’ve eaten dinner and transferring me into my pajamas for bed. I am able to use the bathroom one last time before she moves me from my chair to my bed. She grabs whatever snacks or tools I may want to have with me before she leaves. This will be the last time I can move before morning. It’s hard being so reliant on others, especially when it’s the only option. Sometimes, language barriers create obstacles that make the dependency that much more difficult. Imagine having to ask for something to eat or drink and the person is having trouble understanding your basic needs. I can’t do many things on my own – making it vital that I have a PCA that I can trust. It’s an intimate role that involves precision and professionalism, for sure. Even now, I tend to be even more on alert, hoping, and trusting that they’ve been operating safely out and about during the corona pandemic. I’m more afraid of getting infected from any contact they’ve had outside my home or if there’s an oversight in how they’re caring and keeping for themselves. But I know that I have no choice. I rely on them for just about everything I do, so I must push through with trust. And give up my beloved solitude. Sometimes, I just wish I could have a week alone to myself – just to dodge the fear and reliance of others in my space. Yet, that’s not my life, at least not now. I pray that one day, something magical will take place: a cure, a treatment, or a way for me to return to INDEPENDENCE! Muscular dystrophy has taught me many things about myself and the world around me. When it comes to this, it’s taught me the beauty in embracing and trusting others. For some of us, we have no choice.

Dear Fashion Industry... Dear Fashion Industry...⁣ ⁣ Why do you continually neglect people with disability, when we make up almost 1/5 of your market?⁣ ⁣ Why do the majority of you not prioritize making your stores, websites, and content accessible to people with disabilities? ⁣ ⁣ Why do you continue to exclude models with a disability, when there are plenty of us who are working hard to be seen and get opportunities? ⁣ ⁣ Why do the majority of you not look into ways to make your clothing more accessible? ⁣ ⁣ People with disabilities make up between 15-20% of the population in most countries. And yet you essentially pretend we don’t exist. ⁣ ⁣Do you believe we’re not worthy of being represented? Do you feel that it is too awkward or too difficult? Do you not have the knowledge or resources? Or do you simply not care? ⁣ ⁣ I’m interested in getting some sort of feedback from people that work in the industry. This can be submitted to me by email - mylifewithwheels@outlook.com - all feedback will remain confidential.

Thought Life Was Over After I Lost My Legs I lost my legs in the summer of 2011. A few months earlier I had just completed my first half-marathon at a decent time of 1:39. I was on my way to train to come in under 1:30 when the car slid off of the road after heavy rain and struck a power pole. I have no recollection of the accident. All I remember was waking up to my parents in the hospital in a foreign country. The accident was actually a month prior. I was in a coma for a month and once stabilized I was transported to the nearest private hospital that could deal with my rehab. My accident happened on the island of Guam and was less than a mile from the U.S. Naval Hospital so the ambulance took me there. Fortunately, there were two surgeons who had served in Afghanistan and knew how to deal with amputations due to trauma. Lucky me. I was in bad shape, though. Collapsed lungs, traumatic brain injury, fractured hip and clavicle, and all my organs shut down. The doctors told my parents I would not live. Yet slowly, one by one, all organs came back online. Once I was stabilized I was transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Manila. I spent another month at St. Luke's before deciding to rehabilitate at home with my parents. It would take me two years to recover to the pre-accident state. Once well, I decided to move back to the U.S. as there was (and still is no) prosthetic clinic on Guam. I got into sailing last year in January with a non-profit that takes disabled people sailing. I fell in love with it. I was a car guy before the accident. The car I crashed in was a project car that I had bought three months prior to the accident. I was working on slowly fixing it up with the goal of turning it into a drift car. Sailing is similar to driving in that it requires your full attention. There are so many controls that go into driving-gas, brake, steering-from a simple standpoint. Sailing has similar controls-steering and sails. Except in sailing, you add in elements you cannot control such as wind and current. My time on the water requires my full attention and takes my mind off worrying. I'm forced to be present on the water. I'm fortunate that I've had the opportunity to sail as a double amputee. I've seen how precarious it can be for wheelchair-bound people to be transferred to the sailboat. That inspired me to search for a wheelchair accessible sailboat on the west coast. Sadly, I could not find one here. However, I found a wheelchair-accessible catamaran sailboat on the east coast which takes disabled people sailing. Her name is the Impossible Dream based in Miami, Florida, and it is run by the non-profit Shake-A-Leg. It is my goal to bring a similar concept to the west coast and to do that I started a non-profit, California Dream Sailing. I am inviting you to help me spread the word. I want to build a wheelchair-accessible catamaran to share my love of sailing and empower those who need it most.

My story in a nutshell I was labeled a ‘retard’ by a professional... a ‘retard’! Going through the process of blindness was tough, I was misdiagnosed countless times, I was questioned as to whether or not I was faking it, I was crushed mentally by professionals and skeptics throughout my 18-month long journey to diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Stargardts disease at the age of 9, I was the 20th person in Australia to be diagnosed with this disease, and for lack of a better analogy, it was like a switch turning off, my eyes deteriorated rapidly, no cure insight... no treatment, it was just a waiting game. I became consumed by the fear of being blind, it scared me, I didn’t want to be blind or known for that, the bullies, the name-calling, it was all too much, so I hid it. Society made me feel like I was, less than, a bad person, like I was the cause and the blame for my own incurable disease. I feared everything, I felt like I had to hide like I couldn’t be myself... like, I was accepted, I was just looked down on. My teenage years were rough, I felt unworthy, depressed, constantly anxious and just fighting a battle in my own head, I felt like I didn’t deserve to be happy, I didn’t deserve to be liked, to be healthy, to be accepted! I struggled with daily migraines from the constant strain my eyes were under, rather than getting the help I needed to see, I lived on pain killers daily to cope, I then also turned to food, food was the only thing that brought me happiness, I ate and then I ate some more. By the time I was 18 I was a mess, I was broken, I had lost over 90% of my vision, I was BLIND, I couldn’t see much at all, a bright-colored blur faces that were once recognizable backs unrecognizable. I had eaten my way up to a massive 145kg, I was on medications to slow my heart rate down and also blood pressure medicine, I was on the verge of diabetes and at high risk for sudden death, people weren’t aware of my battles, I felt shut off like I had to hide my disability because the world looked down on us for having an impediment, no one knew I was blind, besides my family and a couple of friends, no one knew why I got to the size I was, they just thought I was the fat weird kid! A time that was meant to be some of the best years of your life, wasn’t the case for me, I was spiraling out of control, rock bottom didn’t exist because I just kept digging and digging, the world was so loud, I needed an intervention. Seeking help was powerful, in a very positive way, ever so slowly, I felt calmer, more accepting, like it was ok to be who I am. Slowly I began to love myself and for the first time, it felt ok, to feel good, to maybe let go and see the light. All the fear, all that hate I had put on myself, started to lift, like the world that was constantly on my shoulders was afloat for the first time, and it felt AMAZING! Discovering myself, and becoming mindful changed me, I started to fearless, felt less anxious and started to no longer care, what people thought of me, I realized that I am worthy, I am deserving of happiness, and that was powerful like I could go outside and feel the sun on my skin for the first time, it was nice, empowering even! I learned that my disability was my strength, my purpose! Losing my sight was what I truly needed to finally see, I no longer let my situation hold me back, and I no longer let the feeling of being looked down soon control me! I had decided to dedicate my life to the promotion of ‘Ability, not Disability spreading my message, my story, and battles, in the hope that not one more person has to feel the way I did. Being disabled is tough, and scary, and we can be made to feel alone. BUT we can change that, we can use our voice to break down those stereotypes surrounding disability! We deserve to be happy, we deserve to be heard, we are important, we are champions in our right! Since my awakening 3 years ago I have become an advocate for the blind and disabled, empowering those around me to live a life of abundance, to not just survive, but thrive, I run a clothing brand MDV which raises awareness for the blind and disabled, I connect with people all around the world of all abilities, I have been fortunate enough to speak at events, I’ve traveled 18 counties so far and counting, I am happy and healthy, I have lost over 55kgs, and most importantly I have a purpose, and that is to help others, above all else, I help others. This is a snippet of my story, in a nutshell, I hope you can take some inspiration from my struggles and feel motivated to live the way you want to live. Please, please remember that you are special, your remarkable, you truly are! Legends, I’ll always be here to support you, if your feeling lost, reach out! Let’s have a chat and spread some love & light, and together we can keep breaking down the stigmas surrounding blindness & disability! Yoocan do anything, you truly can! Thank you, Matt - MDV xx

#nowiuseawheelchair Since having my accident almost 2 years ago I have enjoyed meeting so many people in the SCI community. In the hospital, I wrote notes every day about the experiences I was going through to help me comprehend what I was going through as well as answer the numerous questions I was getting from friends and family. It made more sense to use these notes to make a blog for everyone to read rather than going back to the various WhatsApp messages, emails, and texts. I found the process of writing really therapeutic and when I left the hospital I swapped writing a blog to post on Instagram as it felt like photos and videos should be used along with text to document the ongoing challenges and observations of life in a wheelchair. After a while, I started sharing short one-sentence observations once a week that I found funny or strange. To others that also used a wheelchair, I hoped it would be something they would identify with, and for those that didn't, it might educate and explain a little about the day to day experiences for a wheelchair user. From white trainers staying white because feet don't touch the ground to being called an inspiration for just getting a coffee, the posts are completely different each week and the response I had had has been overwhelming. We are a varied bunch but there are so many similarities from the things people say to us to the dreams we have. The #nowiuseawheelchair posts have been uploaded every Wednesday for the last 5 months apart from Christmas Day and 2 weeks during quarantine where all our minds were on other things. At times like this when many of us are having to isolate from the world, it's great to feel part of a community and I welcome everyone to view, comment, and add your observations from life in a wheelchair. What have you noticed?