http://thisabled.politicanj.com/blogs People. Power. Progress Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://thisabled.politicanj.com/blogs/2011/02/sit-awhile-in-my-shoes/comment-page-1/#comment-67 SingingWheelchairDude Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:56:37 +0000 http://www.thisabled.com/blogs/?p=484#comment-67 Rich, you are so right -- people simply cannot easily understand what it is like, and I think because they simply do not experience the world as we do. I have muscular dystrophy and use a big power wheelchair all the time. When I roll up to a building -- a diner, for instance -- I never look at the stairs -- I hardly even see them now. I am focusing my attention on finding the ramp from the street to the curb, or gauging this steepness of the ramp to get in the door, or the width of the door itself. Generally, lacking close, personal experience with wheelchair-users, not one of these things is in the mind of an average able-bodied person. And even such experience doesn't work all the time -- my friends in the choir I sing in are very sensitive to my issues, but I am the one who has to tell them what my issues are. Even they -- persons of good will who like me -- do not even see these things. The way I look at it, most people can't be blamed for their lack of consciousness and understanding -- they are constitutionally unable to see the world in our way. Whether or not they wish to be taught -- that then is the problem. Rich, you are so right — people simply cannot easily understand what it is like, and I think because they simply do not experience the world as we do. I have muscular dystrophy and use a big power wheelchair all the time. When I roll up to a building — a diner, for instance — I never look at the stairs — I hardly even see them now. I am focusing my attention on finding the ramp from the street to the curb, or gauging this steepness of the ramp to get in the door, or the width of the door itself. Generally, lacking close, personal experience with wheelchair-users, not one of these things is in the mind of an average able-bodied person. And even such experience doesn’t work all the time — my friends in the choir I sing in are very sensitive to my issues, but I am the one who has to tell them what my issues are. Even they — persons of good will who like me — do not even see these things. The way I look at it, most people can’t be blamed for their lack of consciousness and understanding — they are constitutionally unable to see the world in our way. Whether or not they wish to be taught — that then is the problem.

]]> http://thisabled.politicanj.com/blogs/2010/09/struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-61 admin Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:57:21 +0000 http://www.thisabled.com/blogs/?p=434#comment-61 Rich I am sorry to hear you have been going through a rough time. I really sucks when we get sick, I think as Quads we feel it 10 times worse. I hope I can also understand a little bit of your depression, it is one of those things that can come with loosing our ability to control our environment. If you need anything please let me know. Rich I am sorry to hear you have been going through a rough time. I really sucks when we get sick, I think as Quads we feel it 10 times worse. I hope I can also understand a little bit of your depression, it is one of those things that can come with loosing our ability to control our environment. If you need anything please let me know.

]]> http://thisabled.politicanj.com/blogs/2010/04/how-to-make-an-easy-outdoor-ramp-in-no-time/comment-page-1/#comment-38 admin Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:12:55 +0000 http://www.thisabled.com/blogs/?p=334#comment-38 Hey Renee, the best one I have seen is Topaz at http://www.topazsystems.com/ it comes with software, Janus says hola. Hey Renee,
the best one I have seen is Topaz at http://www.topazsystems.com/ it comes with software, Janus says hola.

]]> http://thisabled.politicanj.com/blogs/2010/05/the-equation/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Andrea Cimmino Sun, 16 May 2010 12:26:49 +0000 http://www.thisabled.com/blogs/?p=348#comment-29 Rich, I must say that made me think! I love it! TAB, so true and I do stand corrected! :) I actually had a reader email me and tell me a story of his wife being injured and 10 years later he was also. WOW!! It really makes you put your life into perspective!! Thanks for sharing this Andrea Rich,
I must say that made me think! I love it! TAB, so true and I do stand corrected!
I actually had a reader email me and tell me a story of his wife being injured and 10 years later he was also. WOW!! It really makes you put your life into perspective!!
Thanks for sharing this
Andrea

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