Disability Connection

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Hero Teammates

“Eric Hernandez dreamed of playing football and scoring a touchdown.

Gateway (Aurora, Colo.) head coach Ashour Peera wanted to help Hernandez fulfill his dream, but he would have to work for it.

“I wanted to help bring his dream to fruition, but I told him he couldn’t play if he didn’t practice with us,” Peera told MaxPreps.”

– via MaxPreps.com

 

Candace Cable Ski

Hero Olympians Continue to Give Back

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

Adaptive Sports with Candace Cable – Handcycling


Meeting Description:
Join us for our Live Better series presented by the Reeve Foundation Paralysis Community:

Adaptive Sports with Candace Cable

TODAY: Handcycling

Join us as Candace Cable talks with Muffy Davis.

Muffy Davis is a 7 time Paralympic Medalist, World Champion, US Ski and SnowBoard Hall of Fame Inductee, ESPY nominee, World Adventurer and mother.  Paralyzed from a ski racing accident when she was just 16, Muffy has not let her disability slow her down or keep her from reaching her dreams.

A graduate of Stanford University, Muffy travels the globe speaking to and teaching people about their potential and how to reach their dreams.  She is a sought after motivational speaker and adventurer, having spoken to companies such as Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Time Warner Cable as well as the World Health Organization, the United Nations and many more.

In 2012, Muffy dominated the London Paralympic Road Cycling events, winning 3 Gold medals, the most of any racer, male or female! It was truly an amazing experience she loves sharing with others.  She is an ambassador for the International Paralympic Committee and US Paralympics.  And just last April was honored with US Paralympics’ 2013 Amazing Mentor Award.

But, of all her adventures, Muffy declares becoming a mother and chasing her 4 year old daughter Elle, is by far the most rewarding and most challenging!

Join us as we discuss staying healthy in our bodies, minds and spirits with adaptive sports activities. Come on this adventure exploring adaptive sports, you won’t be disappointed.

 

If you miss the live event, no worries!

View all our programs on demand here.

Details
Date: Wed, Oct 16, 2013
Time: 04:00 PM EDT
Duration: 1 hour
Host(s): Candace Cable
 Presenter Information
Candace Cable
Candace Cable Portrait
Candace Cable
Candace believes that there were 4 elements that came together in 1975 that gave her, community, purpose, wellness and joy after her spinal cord injury at the age of 21 when she was ready to go of life. They were family, counseling, disabled students service’s office at Long Beach State University and adaptive sports.

Joining with her adapting community to pioneer the sport and equipment of wheelchair racing gave her the title of SuperCrip, a title bestowed on athletes with disabilities in the 70’s and 80’s. She went on to compete in 9 Paralympic Games in 3 sports winning 12 medals as well as compete in the Summer Olympic Games wheelchair racing exhibition on the track in 1984, 1988 and 1992 winning 2 medals.

Candace is an active member in the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation community writing a blog, creating Reeve Health minute videos and as a Reeve Peer Mentor.


 
Karrie Brown Model with Down Syndrome

Hero Model Follows Dreams

Dreams are beautiful things. You can do most anything that you believe that you can do.

Here is yet another shining star among examples of  bright youngsters with disabilities believing and achieving.

Karrie Brown ABC Yahoo Model for Wet Seal
Good Morning America – Modeling Dream Comes True for Karrie Brown, Girl With Down Syndrome (ABC News)

This is a beautiful story that you will want to share with your friends and family.

Karrie Brown, with the help of her totally awesome Momma, is now on her way to becoming a model.

Full story Via ABC News and Yahoo

“Every day Sue would post a picture of Karrie in her favorite Wet Seal outfits — pieces that Karrie said make her “fit in while standing out” — hoping that they would attract the company’s eye.”

“She immediately caught our attention,” Wet Seal’s Yasmin Ezaby told ABC News. “We then asked our fans to get Karrie’s Facebook page to 10k likes and we would give her the trip of a lifetime. She exceeded this goal in two days.”

In fact, as of Saturday, the page is now up to nearly double that number of “likes.”

Wet Seal honored its pledge and flew Karrie and Sue on an all-expenses paid trip from their home in Collinsville, Ill., to Los Angeles, throwing in a trip to Disneyland along the way.

Although Wet Seal runs an annual model search competition, it was the first time the company had done a special challenge focused on one individual.”

Hero Director Shares His Story

“When I Walk” is COMING TO THEATERS OCTOBER 25!

“In 2006, 25-year-old Jason DaSilva was on vacation at the beach with family when, suddenly, he fell down. He couldn’t get back up. His legs had stopped working; his disease could no longer be ignored.  Just a few months earlier doctors had told him that he had multiple sclerosis, which could lead to loss of vision and muscle control, as well as a myriad of other complications. Jason tried exercise to help cope, but the problem only worsened. After his dispiriting fall on the beach, he turned to his

Mom, who reminded him that, despite his disease, he was still a fortunate kid who had the opportunity to pursue the things he loved most: art and filmmaking. Jason picked up the camera, turned it on his declining body, and set out on a worldwide journey in search of healing, self-discovery, and love.

An emotional documentary filled with unexpected moments of humor and joy, WHEN I WALK is a life-affirming film driven by a young man’s determination to survive—and to make sense of a devastating disease through the art of cinema.”

Read more at WhenIWalk.com

Visit Jason’s YouTube page to watch more video clips.

A Hero in Memory — Jon Eric O’Connor

Jon O'Connor and sister Kelly
Jon O’Connor and sister Kelly
http://www.spinalcordinjury-paralysis.org

A hero is gone but never forgotten. Jon O’Conner lived an honorable life and will be missed by many. For those that knew him, he was

“always the most gentle voice in the room — that didn’t mean he backed down or took a back seat –but it had the consequence of him being heard. He cared — he told the truth — he made everyone laugh and feel comfortable.”

Jon was injured in an accidental fall 12 years ago. After his accident he became a “beacon of hope” for all those facing challenges. When asked about his motto he would enthusiastically reply: “It’s Go Forward!”

We invite you to read more about Jon in a letter composed by Peter Wilderotter, President and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Jon “devoted himself … to improving the lives of everyone living with paralysis” and will always be a hero.

A Blind Lifter

39-year old blind DC-resident Pat Leahy is pursuing his bodybuilding dreams.

39-year old blind DC-resident Pat Leahy

About Pat Leahy

via BlindLifter.com

It takes strength, courage, and dedication to compete in bodybuilding. It takes an extraordinary person to compete blind. Nothing can stop award-winning 39-year old blind DC-resident Pat Leahy from pursuing his bodybuilding dreams.

“Blind Lifter” is an upcoming documentary about Pat that will inspire its audience to go for their dreams. The documentary will be released later this fall.

On May 4, 2013, Pat competed in the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilder’s Atlantic Super Show competition held in Richmond, VA, knowing full well that previous injuries could flare mid-performance and permanently affect his future athletic endeavors.

Pat is not competing against other blind bodybuilders. Pat is competing in a field of sighted competitors. Blind Lifter Logo

Pat’s sight loss has presented him with trials, but it does not define him. Professionally, his career encompasses service under Members of Congress, a Cabinet Secretary, and currently the U.S. federal government. Academically, Pat graduated with honors from Millersville University in 1997, with majors in both Political Science and History. He is also a future MBA student. During his free time, Pat enjoys helping our nation’s wounded warriors, swimming, reading, and being an avid baseball fan. Additionally, he has a guide dog named Galahad, who is a five-year old yellow Labrador.

Read More about his Pat and his new documentary entitled “Blind Lifter”

 

A Person Can Have a Disability without Being a Disabled Person

 

My Point of View; Truth

Lisa Egan Portrait
Image Credit: ewheeling

“What’s the difference between “having a disability” and “being disabled”? It all comes down to two sociological theories: the medical/individual model of disability and the social model of disability,”says  at XOJane.com .

Lisa’s latest article discusses the medical vs. social views of disability.

“I am disabled. More specifically, I am disabled by a society that places social, attitudinal and architectural barriers in my way,” asserts Lisa. “This world we live in disables me by treating me like a second-class citizen because I have a few impairments  — most obviously a mobility impairment.

“There are many who would argue that they do have a disability. They point out that even if all barriers put in place by society were removed,they’d still have things they can’t do.”

 

Read Full Article