Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I thought I was short before I was in a wheelchair!

(Not as tall as I used to be)


Being in my wheelchair is so challenging at times because I am short and people don’t see me. I thought I was short in high school, being only 5ft 2 inches. I try to be very aware of my surroundings, but since I only sit about 4 feet high, I am always getting bumped into. Have you ever been waiting in a line at a store and the person standing in front of you just backs up? Next thing you know they are tripping over you and falling in your lap. I usually just say – If you wanted a place to sit, all you have to do is ask nicely. Seriously, does it ever just get to you, being so short? I was disappointed this past summer when I went back east to visit my niece and nephews- who are 6, 7, 11 and 12. All of them are now taller than me, even my youngest nephew who is only 6. I do have to say, giving kids rides on my lap is so much fun because it gives them a different perspective of my wheelchair. Next thing you know I became an amusement ride and the kid’s line up to take turns for a ride on Aunt Tammy’s lap.

It is an interesting world when you are so short. I love being stuck in a crowd and all I can see is people’s behinds or the front of them. Also, with the different fashion trends now-a-days, people who wear their pants low I have one thing to say “Pull up your pants!” I don’t need to see your underwear so up close and personal. I remember when I went to a Grateful Dead concert in college, right before Jerry Garcia passed away, I was suffocating because I got stuck in the crowd. My friend was with me and we kept moving our way up to the front .The further we went, the more we got stuck. It got to the point where we could not move in any direction and were completely stuck in a particular spot. It was so crowded and hot that day, I started hyperventilating and was dehydrated. Then I felt like I was going to faint. My friend tried to get a hold of the medic’s, but the crowd just wouldn’t move. Once we finally got the medic’s attention, they couldn’t get to me and I was getting worse. So we had only one solution- lift me up in my wheelchair. I thought no way, but I didn’t care I just needed to get out of that crowd. So, right before the Grateful Dead came out onto the stage, the crowd picked me up while I was still in my wheelchair, and people carefully passed me over the crowd and put me on the concert stage. I guess you can say I crowd surfed in my wheelchair at a Grateful Dead concert! That is not something that happens everyday. After I was placed on the stage, and even though I wasn’t feeling well, I couldn’t help myself, I turned around and looked at the endless sea of people. Then I put my hand up like – YEAH!! I will never forget that moment being on the stage that Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead played on. The story ends with me resting in the medic tent for a while and then I enjoyed the concert in a safe location.

Another thing about being short is that I often feel left out of conversations too. I will be sitting in a group, and while people are talking they are all eye level with each other, except me. Sometimes I miss out on what people are saying or I will try to talk and people won’t hear me. I have tried numerous times to vocalize so people can hear me, but I feel like I am yelling. Also, if I am wheeling in the mall or cruising around somewhere it can be tough to have a conversation with someone that is able-bodied because I am often looking down towards the ground. I often look down while I am wheeling because I am trying to avoid things like cracks in a sidewalk. Or if I am not looking where I am going I could run right into someone. I am jealous of the people that have lifts in their wheelchairs. I love the power wheelchairs that elevate, or the IBOT that goes up on two wheels. I got a chance to try an IBOT out and it was amazing. There are even manual wheelchairs out on the market that act as a standing frame and it is pretty cool. Being at eye-level is something I miss, but being short makes it easy to win a limbo contest!

Tammy Wilber
~Short, yet Sweet~

Tails and Toes- How many do I have to run over in my wheelchair?






For years I have always tried so hard to be very careful about not running over people’s feet in my wheelchair, especially their toes. Heck, if it happens, I will always feel bad. I feel like I need to take out personal injury insurance in case I ever break someone’s toe. At least I use a manual wheelchair and if I run over someone’s toes it is not a heavy power wheelchair- ouch! I am sure either wheelchair hurts no matter what, but I try to be careful. At times there are moments when people step on my feet if I am not in my wheelchair. I often transfer out of my wheelchair at movie theatres and of course on airplanes, and that is when it happen's the most. Sitting in a dark movie theatre, I can’t stand up to let someone by, so they step on my feet. Then I get an apology, and look at my foot to make sure nothing is broken since I can’t feel it. Or when I am on an airplane, I always prefer a seat by the window. Since I get loaded first on the plane, and if my seat assignment is not by the window, I explain to the flight attendant that I HAVE to sit by the window because I cannot get up to let people by. Trust me, it works to tell the flight attendant that because they want to help and I usually will get a window seat. If not, I take the window seat anyway and just tell the passenger that they will have to crawl over me if they want to get up during the flight. Most passengers give up their seats.

On a different note, the title of this includes tails, and this is in reference to my own cat. I have this cat, which ended up with the boring name of just Kitty, and after 10 years she still doesn’t get it. When I am wheeling by her she doesn’t move out of the way. I am surprised after all these years my cat’s tail hasn’t been amputated. I do look out for her, but even when she is laying right in my path, I yell MOVE, and she just looks up at me like no way! I have taken chunks of fur out of her tail numerous times, and she let’s out a screeching meow, but she still hasn’t learned, and probably never will.

So, to all the tails and toes out there, watch out for wheelchairs, and we will do the same!

Tammy Wilber
~To wheeling and watching~

Friday, September 26, 2008

People are always staring at me- Is it my disability or my good looks?

Have you ever noticed that when you are in a wheelchair, people just stop and stare? I always notice people staring at me when I am taking apart my wheelchair and putting it in my car. I also notice it too when I am out in public places. I don’t always notice the looks as much in public because they are looking down at me, and I don’t have eye contact with them, since I sit low in my wheelchair. When people do stare at me, in my head I make a joke that they are just staring because I am so good looking, but I know it is just curiosity. For me it is just a part of my life to put my wheelchair in and out of the car between 6-10 times a day, and when people stare, I do think what are they staring at? I try to be understanding about it because people don’t see someone taking apart a wheelchair and putting it in a car that often. It is probably interesting to watch, and it shows them people in wheelchairs do get out there and live life, just in a different way.

I always try to be nice to people when it comes to educating the public about disability issues, but I am only human and don’t want to be stared at all the time. I feel like I am putting on a show and when someone looks at me too long I feel like saying something to them. For example, “Take a picture, it will last longer!” Or, “Hey, you’ve been staring at me long enough do you want my phone number?”

I think that people with disabilities/wheelchair users can all relate to being stared at to some extent and that it truly can test our individual patience. I try very hard to be polite and just pretend I don’t know I am being stared at. Although, I am hoping one day if it is just my good looks, maybe I will get a date out of it.

To everyone that hates to be stared at here is my advice:
1) Just try to not acknowledge it is happening.
2) Try to be polite and remember patience.
3) If it does bother you- try not to get angry, just stare back at them for a minute.
4) Also, remember that it is mostly just human curiosity.

I can remember when I was first injured, it was hard to get used to people staring at me. I used to have really low self esteem about my body image and how I looked in a wheelchair. Fast forward 15 years later and I am okay when people stare, but it comes from many years of learning to be patient.

Tammy Wilber
~ To not Caring, about Staring ~.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Remembering Christopher Reeve on his 56th Birthday, He will always be our Superman!






It is hard to believe that Christopher Reeve is no longer with us, and of course the loss of his wife Dana as well! Today would have been his 56th birthday. He has done so much for the disability community, and specifically for people with spinal cord injuries. I remember how shocked I was when I first heard about him being injured. I mean he was Superman!

Christopher Reeve is someone that brought a face to people with disabilities and the hope of trying to find a cure. He started the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which does everything from fundraising money for research, to being an advocate for everyone with disabilities. I almost had the chance to meet him years ago at a disability camp that I went to in Newport, Rhode Island called Shake-A-Leg. He was at the camp to speak to all the campers with disabilities and missed his visit. However, I had heard an interesting story from one of the other campers that got to visit him after he spoke at the camp. The camper said that just by spending a few minutes talking with him, he realized that if Christopher Reeve can live with his disability, so can he. The camper was someone that was newly injured, very depressed, and didn’t want to go on with life. Just by being around Christopher Reeve, not only was he inspired by him, but he said Chris’s spirit was contagious. I never found out what happened to that camper, but I hope he is still doing great and that he will never forget his visit with Christopher Reeve.

I used to work for an injury prevention program called Think First, which was a non-profit organization and for about 5 years we received a $5000 grant from the Christopher Reeve foundation. This money was allocated to our “disability public speaker training program.” We would find people in the community with brain and spinal cord injuries and taught them how to tell their story. These speakers would then go on to educate students of all ages in school assemblies to use their minds, to protect their bodies. I first started out as a participant in the speaker training program and within a year I was running it. So, without the help of the Christopher Reeve foundation I would have never gone on to become a public speaker, and a teacher to others.

A very good friend of mine, Elaine Stefanowicz from Tacoma, WA, was Ms. Wheelchair 1996 and went on to become Ms. Wheelchair America in 1997. Through all her travels as Ms. Wheelchair America, she had the honor of meeting Christopher and Dana Reeve at a benefit for their foundation and this is what she had to say about them both.



“It was a thrill to be able to meet Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana. It was truly an experience I will never forget,” said Elaine Stefanowicz, Ms. Wheelchair America 1997.

In the spirit of what would have been Christopher Reeve's 56th birthday, I am going to honor him and his dream of seeing a cure for spinal cord injury by making a personal donation of $56 dollars. I hope that this will inspire some of you to do the same.

Tammy Wilber, Injured with SCI since 1993
~Today’s Care. Tomorrow’s Cure.~
(The motto of the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation)

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

TIRED OF FIGHTING FOR MY RIGHTS FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS!








Does anyone ever get tired of fighting for your rights that we are entitled to, for wheelchair access to public places? I know this is just one of many things that the American with Disabilities Act covers, but we all know that the entire country is not wheelchair accessible.

After 15 years, I still try to be nice when I talk to people about how they can better improve wheelchair access such as a bathroom in a restaurant or even handicap parking, but after a while it get’s tiring. I have never sued anyone over wheelchair access issues. Instead I try to make suggestions and work with them, rather than just bark at them and say FIX IT OR I WILL SUE YOU! I just try to remember to “treat other people as I would want to be treated,” but it doesn’t always work. Today is a perfect example how frustrating it can be to fight for my rights. I live in Washington State and it was time to renew my tabs on my car, so to make it easy I went online paid the fee and chose the option pick them up at a location that was easy for me instead of paying to have them mailed.

So here is what happened when I went to pick the tabs. I pulled into the handicap parking spot located right in front of the licensing agency, got my wheelchair out locked the car and sat there thinking where’s the ramp? I looked for a ramp and didn’t see one anywhere. I looked around the parking lot, but stopped because the parking lot was not paved well, there were big speed bumps and there were lot’s of cars pulling in and out. So I sat there contemplating what to do and looked at the curb in front of me and thought I would test out my wheelchair skills. I use a manual wheelchair so I occasionally will pop down curbs, but I am not very good at going up them. So I found the lowest part of the curb, got my momentum going and popped up the curb. I usually don’t like doing curbs forward because I feel like I could fall out of my wheelchair because of my balance. I made it up the curb safely, but did feel a little like I could have catapulted out of my wheelchair. I sat there thinking all of this just to pick up my license plate tabs, heck I should have just paid the extra shipping to have it mailed to my house.

So, I go inside and very smiley and politely asked the lady behind the desk why there was no ramps, and she said she didn’t know because they don’t own the property. I told her about my dilemma and she couldn’t have cared less. All of a sudden she remembered there were ramps on both ends of the plaza. I asked her for the property manager’s phone number and she was happy to comply and give it to me. I got my tabs, went out the door and went to the opposite end of the plaza to find the ramp, meanwhile my car was right in front of me and the plaza is a long building. I went all the way to the end of the plaza and there was no ramp. Instead of a ramp the sidewalk just met the pavement of the parking lot because it evened out on the slope of the hill. So, I go through the parking lot, avoiding cars, slowly rolling over the large speed bumps, and got back in my car. At this point I was frustrated, but waited a few minutes to gather my thoughts and called the property manager. I was very polite on the phone to the property manager and explained my situation. I told them I like to educate people and make suggestions about accessibility and how they can make accommodations very easily. I first suggested that they put a sign up to say where the “ramps” were located. Putting up a sign was only a suggestion for a temporary fix, but said they should add an ADA wheelchair ramp next to the handicap spots- then I started hearing yelling. The property manger was yelling, “I don’t have time for this, I don’t have the money, and the economy is bad.” and they told me to sue them if I wasn’t happy. I kept my cool, asked them to calm down and why can’t they just put up a sign? Then click! That was the end of the conversation because they hung up on me. So in this case being nice didn’t get me anywhere, and when I say nice I was being extremely polite! I could have screamed back at them, but I didn’t. So, my question is now what? Do I file a complaint with? Do I seek out a lawyer? Do I keep calling them while still remaining nice about it? There are many things that I could do, but for right now all I can say is, I am just too tired to deal with it and won’t be going back there next year.

Don’t get me wrong I know how lucky I am to have these rights because of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I just want to be proactive and help improve access for wheelers. I have heard terrible stories from around the world of what it is like for people with disabilities, and I know I am very fortunate. I just want to improve my own access and that is why I am asking for suggestions and feedback for my situation and would like to know what you have done in these kinds of situations?

Tammy Wilber
~Tired of Fighting for my Rights~

Monday, September 22, 2008

Please Stand for the National Anthem - BUT I CAN'T!











How many times in your life have you gone to a local football game at a high school, attended a professional baseball team game in your local town or in my case growing up, attending Monster Truck shows and heard those famous words- PLEASE STAND FOR OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM?

Growing up I attended Boston Red Sox games and Monster Truck shows that asked me to stand or rise for the National Anthem and just like anyone else I just did. After I became paralyzed in July of 1993, those words had a different meaning for me. (In case anyone is wondering why I attended Monster Truck shows, it is because my parents built the tracks) The next time I went to a local event and they asked me to stand for the National Anthem, it was like – oh my God I can’t! It never really bothered me until I became the flag bearer for a local Roller Derby league in Seattle, WA called the Rat City Roller Girls. I got involved with this group because I used to work with someone that was a coach of the league and a bunch of us went to watch it because I never knew what roller derby was. After attending my first roller derby I thought how cool- women on wheels! I am a woman on wheels- just a different set of wheels. My wheels are on my wheelchair and not my feet.

So after debuting as the flag bearer for the Rat City Roller Girls I remember hearing them say “Please stand for the National Anthem.” Well this was a different situation this time because I didn’t need to stand for the National Anthem it was my responsibility to have the flag which I display from the back of my wheelchair and roll around the derby track while someone is singing it. This got me thinking about what would be a more inclusive way for any announcer at any event to ask people to stand for the National Anthem, without leaving people out that cannot stand up due to some type of disability and I got it! Actually, my mom suggested it and it is really easy and it includes everybody! So instead of “Please Stand for the National Anthem” or “Please Rise for the National Anthem” my suggestion is “For those who can, please stand for the National Anthem!”

I know it may not sound like a big deal to some people, but the first time I heard it, it was really a nice feeling. I felt included! I felt like I was apart of the crowd that was all standing up to salute our American Flag. Since I am the flag bearer at the Rat City Roller Girls events once a month, it means a lot to me to hear them say that.

I have even gone on further to make this suggestion at a church I attend. I don’t go there very often, but this past Christmas Eve Mass, the church was packed more than usual because of the holiday and there were a lot of people in wheelchairs there that night. We spent most of the evening singing and the Pastor repeatedly said, “Now, please stand to sing Joy to the World,” then the next song, the Pastor would ask the church to “Remain standing for another song.” Well, again it made me not feel included in the group. Now I don’t want people reading this to think I take things to seriously or get offended easily, but I just find it a nice gesture to hear the words, “For those who can, please remain standing for our next song.” I took it upon myself to email the Pastor of the church a few days later and thanked them for a nice holiday mass, and made the suggestion of how they could rephrase the way they address the congregation to include everyone. I got an email back from the Pastor thanking me for the suggestion.

I hope some of you can see my point of view, and know that I am not complaining about this. I just see it as another way to educate people. It is just one more thing for people who cannot stand up to be included in a ritual that takes place in America everyday. I hope that some of you especially, with the election coming up, will take it upon yourself to think about it and if you are attending an event, whether it is at your local church or a football game make the suggestion to the announcer to include everyone in the audience by encouraging them to say, “For those who can, please stand for the National Anthem!” Just think because of your suggestion, someone in that audience like myself who is in a wheelchair, will really appreciate it!

**A special note to everyone that participated in the Paralympics- Thank you for representing USA!**

Tammy Wilber

Monday, September 15, 2008

WORKING AFTER A SPINAL CORD INJURY

In 1993, I knew that my future would never be the same when I sustained a spinal cord injury at the age of 17 years old. My best friend and I had already planned our futures - we were going to go to the same college, become roommates and I was going to become a nurse. It wasn’t until I met with a Vocational Counselor during my rehabilitation process that they asked me " What are you going to do with your future after you are discharged from the hospital? " I wasn’t even thinking about that yet because I was still focused on dressing myself. Besides having to deal with the fact that I had a disability at age of 17, my mind was spinning with all of the lifestyle changes. What was I going to do for a career now that I was a person with a disability who used a wheelchair? Could I even work a full-time job?

I did realize the first thing that is very important for anyone with a disability is EDUCATION! I had always planned to go to college but over the next few years of trying to figure out what I wanted to do; I switched colleges and majors and moved around trying to figure it all out. After feeling like I was just becoming a full-time student, I decided to take a year off and actually go to work. I found a place I could volunteer and told them I wanted to be treated as a part-time employee. Because I didn’t want to lose my social security benefits, I worked without pay but I didn’t want to be treated differently because I wasn’t taking home a paycheck. After almost a year of being an “Administrative Assistant” for a non-profit organization that provided recreational services for people with disabilities, I had more confidence in myself and my ability to work.

It has been ten years since joined the workforce and I have faced many challenges. I have faced discrimination, had to give up a great job because the insurance was terrible and have had to explain to people why I left in the middle of a meeting - I had a bowel accident. At one point I even had a supervisor ask me if I could appear “less disabled”. I still haven't figured out what they meant by that comment, I only know that it was hurtful. I do feel blessed with the different people and places I have worked. My employment has always revolved around the medical and disability community so I always have felt my work environment is very disability friendly and people understand personal issues, but it is still difficult at times.


Other people with disabilities that I know often ask me, “How do I work a full time job and handle everything?" I always have the same answer and I reply by saying, "I just do what I have to do, but it didn’t happen overnight. This journey is still going to be a lifelong experience and I will just keep going." I do feel very blessed because I have great friends, a very supportive family, a great job, and I just happen to use a wheelchair.

Tammy Wilber
VARILITE® Marketing Representative and Wheelchair User since 1993

Thursday, September 11, 2008

9/11 A DAY TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES/WHEELCHAIRS THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT OUT AND SOME IDEAS HOW YOU CAN BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES

Well today we are reminded of a horrible tragedy that happened 7 years ago! I can remember hearing the phone ring early in the morning and I thought after the 7th or 8th time of someone constantly calling it had to be an emergency. My mom was calling from the east coast when it happened so by the time she finally got me out of bed about noontime (I still can’t remember why I slept in so late) - she had been calling to tell me not to go to my job which was in downtown Seattle because no one knew if there was going to be any more attacks on different cities. I stayed home that day and watched the same footage over and over again in disbelief that it had happened.

My roommate at the time had gotten a phone call because his cousin worked in the World Trade Center in one of the towers and his parents called to say his cousin was okay. Since his cousin woke up late that day he was on the train going into work when the towers had been hit. As I sit here writing this I think of all the people that lost their lives, but I also am thinking about all the people with disabilities and wheelchair users that never even got a chance to get out of the buildings. I heard all kinds of stories about people being carried down flights and flights of stairs because like me they cannot walk. I have also heard of those that never even got a chance to get out and just sat in their wheelchairs, then the building collapsed. It is actually hard to even finish writing this because it is so emotional to think about. So, on this day I am remembering everyone who lost their lives, but I am also truly thinking about the ones who never even had the chance to get out!

If you are someone who lives or works in a large building and you have a disability there are many resources that can assist you with ideas for emergency preparedness. I know that when my bedroom was on the second floor (I had a stair lift with another wheelchair at the top of the stairs) and if I was ever home alone I would sleep on the couch down stairs because I had an extreme fear of fire, and still do. I contacted my local fire department to let them know my situation and they were great each year about calling my house to see if I still lived there. I guess they had a list or something of people with disabilities for emergencies. I lived in a small town at the time and thought that it was amazing that they would check each year to see if I still lived there. I knew that if there was ever a fire they would come to my rescue.
The other day when I was at the grocery store I ran into some local fire fighters here in Seattle and I asked them if they had some kind of system to keep track of people with disabilities. I was shocked when they said no. I couldn’t believe that with all the technology we have today that they don't keep track of people with disabilities in their community. If there was ever a fire at my apartment complex nothing would notify the fire department that a disabled person lives there. That doesn’t make me feel very safe, so for my own peace of mind I now have many fire extinguishers that are around my apartment and I have created my own fire safety evacuation route.

In case you worry about your safety here are some resources that I found very helpful

http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/WheelchairFireSafety.pdf


Tammy Wilber
VARILITE® Marketing Representative and Wheelchair User Since 1993

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

VARILITE SPONSORS CAMP ACCESS








VARILITE® Supports Recreation for All
A Report from Camp ACCESS 2008
Flowing Lake, Snohomish, Washington, USA

Camp ACCESS has a motto, “Never Confuse Disability with Inability,”
which is a perfect way to describe this camp’s goal of introducing young campers to the latest in adaptive recreational activities and equipment. Camp ACCESS was established in May of 2002 to provide a summer camp experience to kids with physical disabilities. It is the belief of the camp’s founder Ernie Butler, the Executive Director of the Northwest Paralyzed Veterans Association, that if the camp can help improve the skill level and confidence of the campers through recreation, then it can also help improve their confidence with day to day living skills. The 20 campers were kids with varying disabilities that experienced activities such as power wheelchair soccer, adaptive kayaking, tubing, sailing, hand-cycling, fishing, and swimming. Also available were skill building activities such as the wheelchair obstacle course, designed after the obstacle course used at the National Veteran Wheelchair Games.


I have been a camp volunteer for two years, and it was great to come back this year on behalf of VARILITE®. My role was to be a Team Coach, and work with the campers ages 7-12. Camp ACCESS utilizes Certified Recreational Therapists as Team Leaders and the Team Coaches are mostly paralyzed veterans, I was the only female coach. It was an honor to work with the other three Team Coaches, who are not only disabled veterans, but very accomplished athletes. They have participated in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games; some handcyclist’s completed the “Seattle to Portland” bike marathon, and even a Paralympian was among the crew of coaches. There were also many other wonderful volunteers such as the “Camp Buddies”, which were high school students who were partnered up with a camper to provide encouragement and assistance with simple care needs.

In past years VARILITE has been a great supporter of Camp ACCESS by providing camp equipment donations. The Missing Link™ tents and the Outfitter Wing™ tents that were donated this year provided both shelter and respite for the kids from the hot sun and occasional rain. The Platypus® hydration packs given to each camper helped keep them hydrated and were unique because the kids could attach them to their wheelchairs. A new item we donated this year was the Camp Seats™ and they were a big hit with the campers. Many of them used the seats to put on the ground if they transferred out of their wheelchairs so they were comfortable without having to sit on their own wheelchair cushions on the ground. One camper’s mother made a point to seek me out and thank me and Cascade Designs because she appreciated how much she put the Camp Seat™ to use. She said it helped her when she transferred her son out of his wheelchair onto the ground for him to get into the water, and she didn’t have to worry about him sitting on the hard ground or having to get his own wheelchair cushion all wet.

There were also many young female campers, and as the only female coach with a disability I was able to be a good role model and help build enthusiasm and confidence in these young women. I wanted to show all the campers that despite having physical limitations, they can grow up, get a job, be independent, drive a car, enjoy outdoor recreation, and live life to the fullest. One of the campers that I will never forget was a young girl who had been home schooled for the last seven years because kids used to make fun of her disability and sometimes even pushed her out of her wheelchair. A few days after camp she was going back to school for the first time in seven years as a freshman in high school, and she said that attending Camp ACCESS this year was very important because the camp helps her self-confidence and social skills. I know we’ll keep in contact and that relating my experiences made her more confident about entering high school. I hope she is having a great week at her new school and making lots of friends.

Attending Camp ACCESS was such a wonderful experience because in 4 days I saw campers expand their personal limits, try new activities and develop personal skills and friendships. VARILITE’s sponsorship is more than just donating time and equipment; it is about helping change the lives of kids with disabilities one at a time in many different ways.

Tammy Wilber
VARILITE® Marketing Representative


GOLDIE LOCKS AND THE THREE CHAIRS


September 9th
I have never written a blog before, but thought I would give it a try! What could I possibly talk about that you or anyone would want to hear? Well one of the first things that I thought of is how about just talking about me and my experience in getting and trying out different wheelchair over the last 15 years.

I am a 32 year old single girl (I say girl because woman makes me feel old) and I happen to be in a wheelchair! I love the fact that there are sites like Disaboom for people with disabilities to network and find resources for. When I was first injured in a car accident at the age of 17 years old- going into my senior year of high school in 1993 there was no such thing as the internet. When I was first injured it was so much harder finding resources after I got my first wheelchair. I could have really used the internet!

I am sure that many people can relate that their first wheelchair was not always the first choice. I am not going to say what my first wheelchair was because it is a good company I just didn't like my wheelchair after I saw all the different styles that were available to me. So my first wheelchair was just too big!

After a few years I got a wheelchair that I loved and used it for years! Although, after you get a wheelchair you really have to think ahead of time about even the color you pick out. When I got my second wheelchair at first I loved the funky paint splattered look because in the 90's that was all the rave- well not to long after I got the wheelchair I kind of started feeling like the wheelchair was a bit flashy and immature for my age. So with a little spray paint my dad stripped down my wheelchair, taking off everything and spray painted it black. He put on like 5 coats and we just let it dry in the hot Miami sunshine. The chair looked good and I was happy with the results but over the next few years as the paint chipped off it just looked awful! So even though I loved this cute and very lightweight wheelchair it was just too flashy and looked worse with chipping paint, so my second wheelchair was just the wrong color!

A few years later I discovered TiLite wheelchairs and now I have my third TiLite wheelchair because I love the sleek frame, and style. I even added some accessories; such as Natural Fit Handrims, Glance Wheels, a VARILITE eBack and Meridian cushion. I am always searching out new items and accessories for my wheelchair and I wish I could have them all, but for now I am happy with what I have. In my current wheelchair I sit great, have a nice lightweight seating system and it is snug. It was a big change for me when I got this wheelchair because I used to have a 15 inch wide wheelchair, now I have a 13 inch wide wheelchair. Lately, I feel as though people see me and not the wheelchair. People still notice the wheelchair, but because it is nice looking I get compliments on it instead of sad looks. For me I think it is just the fact I am so much more comfortable and I like the way the wheelchair looks so I feel confident when I am in it! It is kind of like the story with Goldie Locks and the three bears- this wheelchair is just right!