Paralympics Champion

Gold Medal Winner at the 2010 Aspen World Cup

In the week before the 2010 Paralympics many of the top disabled skiiers competed at the Aspen World Cup. Australian Marty Mayberry won Gold at Aspen. We contacted Marty through the Australian Paralympics organization and Marty kindly agreed to an interview. Due to the fact that he was focusing on the upcoming Paralympics, we agreed to keep this interview brief. But we are hoping that when Marty has more time, he will agree to a "Part II" and tell us more about his himself and his experience at Aspen and the Paralympics.

Gene Emmer: First, congratulations on winning a gold medal at the Aspen World Cup last week. Would you say that this is your best performance in this level event?

Marty Mayberry: Thank you, It was a great week in Aspen at the World cup Finals and myself and the team had some great results. I would say that this is my best performance as the level of the competitors was stronger than ever.

Gene: Marty, this is your second Paralympic competition. How does this time compare to 2006 in Torino? Do you feel less nervous? Better prepared?

Marty: I feel much more relaxed coming into the 2010 Paralympic games. I think having experienced it before really helps and I know what to expect. I feel like I am skiing better than I was in the lead up to the 2006 Paralympic Games and I am much more confident as a result.

Gene: What should fans be looking for at the 2010 Winter Paralympic event in Whistler? Who do you think will be the toughest competitors?

Marty: I think that the events in Whistler will all be great to watch. The alpine events are taking place on a great course, and the level of competition is the highest it has ever been. Expect to see a very tight race and the athletes really putting it on the line. In my class, some of my biggest competition are my team mates, Toby Kane and Cameron Rahles. They are in top form and I hope to be seeing them on the podium.

Gene: What advice would you give to someone who is just recently injured and wants to be where you are in 2014? How does one get started becoming a Paralympian?

Marty: I know when I was in rehabilitation I found it really tough. The things that kept me going were the fact that there are so many great opportunities for people with disabilities, especially in sport. The Australian Paralympic Committee runs talent identification camps which aim to help talented athletes find their way into competitive sport. The many clubs catering for disabled athletes are a great starting point.

Gene: You are only 24 and you seem to be at the top of your game now. Where do you go from here? What happens after the Paralympics? Is there a possibility of competing in the Olympics?

Marty: I am skiing well, and hope to be successful at these games. I think from here I will have to see where sport will take me. I have more life commitments in the next few years, so I will have to see how I can balance sport and these. I hope to stay involved with Paralympic sport at some level, as it has been very kind to me.

Wheelchair Cruises

Disability Cruises


Many wheelchair users assume that luxury travel, such as cruises and travel to exotic destinations are too complicated and difficult. Not true says Andrew Garnett, CEO of Special Needs Group. I asked Andrew for some more information about the reality and challenges of taking a cruise for people who use mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Gene: Is it easy for a wheelchair or mobility scooter user to take a cruise these days? What are wheelchair cruises like these days?

Andrew: Compared to almost any other vacation or leisure choice, taking a cruise is exceptionally easy---now more than ever, with the cruise lines working to include more accessibility features on each new build or refurbishment. As ships get bigger, doorways can be wider; there are usually more and bigger elevators and more wheelchair accessible tables in the dining venues. There are even more wheelchair level game tables and slot machines in the Casino. The cruise industry focuses substantial effort on providing for the growing special needs travel market.

For families with a special needs child, cruising provides a safe environment. Children are placed in activities according to ability level and parents can enjoy time off.

I would say, there has never been a better time for a wheelchair user to take a cruise----and it is going to continue getter easier and better each year.

Gene: Are most cruise ships wheelchair accessible and wheelchair user friendly (toilets, showers, etc)?

Andrew: Almost all cruise lines do an excellent job of making sure their ships are accessible and wheelchair friendly. The rule of thumb is, the newer the ship, the more accessible it is. There are variations, but you can assume that at least one percent of the staterooms onboard a ship are purpose-designed for accessibility with roll-in showers, grab bars, accessible sinks and other accessibility features. On some ships, the number of accessible staterooms is as high as four percent, and these staterooms are in all cabin categories including the most deluxe suites. In addition, todayТs ships have wide doorways, ramps and automatic doors. Theatres, Casinos, dining rooms and other entertainment areas accommodate not only wheelchair and scooter users, but a range of special needs. As a general rule the newer and bigger the vessel, the more accessible features onboard, including more and bigger elevators, portable lifts for swimming pools and Jacuzzis, Braille markers on doors and stairways and other features that make it easier to enjoy more of the shipboard amenities.

We suggest that prior to booking, travelers or their travel agents call the cruise lines in advance to inquire about specific features on the ships they are considering.

Gene: What about boarding and disembarking with a wheelchair? How does that work? Are there lifts? Ramps?

Andrew: All cruise lines have accessible wheelchair ramps for boarding and disembarking the vessel in port. These ramps are used by all passengers. To avoid long lines, contact the cruise staff in advance to request early or expedited boarding. During the cruise, if the ship is not able to dock portside and has to anchor out, at a small island for example, then there are lifts to help wheelchair users in and out of the tenders used to take passengers ashore. In those instances, getting to the port may not be accessible. Also severe tidal shifts can be problematic.  

Gene: Are people with disabilities, such as wheelchair users well accepted on all cruises?

Andrew: There are so many people with disabilities traveling today, that itТs no longer unusual or unexpected. The cruise lines welcome travelers with all types of special needs, from wheelchair users to those requiring oxygen or dialysis. Other passengers hardly pay notice and you are likely to encounter quite a few people with special needs similar to yours on almost any voyage.     

Gene: What are the major challenges someone with a disability, such as a spinal cord injury, etc will face on a cruise?  

Andrew: Challenges can include getting in and out of bed without help and getting in and out of pools or Jacuzzis. Special Needs Group has patient lifts and other equipment, including hospital beds, to make these activities easier. Most of the newer vessels have pool lifts. Transferring from the ship to a tender to go ashore can be challenging, but cruise staff are experienced in handling this. Travelers should check with the cruise line Access Department about what their ships specifically provide or donТt provide.

Gene: Would it be easy for a person with a disability to travel alone on a cruise? Do many do it?

Andrew: Depending on the severity of a personТs disability, we strongly suggest that a person with special needs travel with a companion, and most cruise lines strongly recommend this as well. Should someone choose to cruise alone and receive the cruise lineТs approval for this, we advise taking a thorough inventory of all the equipment that might be needed during every moment of the cruise, even if that equipment is not used at home. For example, a slow walker traveling alone should order a wheelchair or scooter. The right equipment and advance preparation can help make the trip easier. Do people with special needs cruise alone? Yes, but it is rare. Most people, whether or not they have a special need, prefer to travel with a companion. ItТs more fun.

Gene: What is the most important advice would you give to a person with a disability who is considering their first cruise?

Andrew: Work with travel professionals who have experience booking special needs travel. A specialized agent can help you anticipate and prepare for challenges. DonТt assume anything, especially about ports of call, and be realistic in your expectations.

Look for and request itineraries that show the ship docking pier side rather than anchoring out. Anchoring out requires the use of tenders to take passengers ashore. You might want to avoid that on a first cruise. Ask the right questions about accessibility ashore, not all countries have the same standards as the U.S. Will museums and restaurants have ramps and accessible bathrooms? Are the walkways wheelchair friendly? Will my service animal be allowed ashore? Are there places for me to rest? DonТt be shy about asking or answering questions relating to your need. You will find many answers on the accessibility pages of the cruise lineТs website, and you can always call the cruise lineТs accessibility department for specific requests.

Book early for the best choice of accessible staterooms and location, and arrive at the port of embarkation a day early to relax and avoid any last minute glitches. Finally, ask the cruise line for priority boarding, to avoid waiting in line at the pier.

First Wheelchair Backflip

Aaron Fotheringham is the first know person ever to do a wheelchair backflip. We (ND) caught up with Wheelchair Skateboarder Aaron Fotheringham and got to know him better. Below is the first ever interview with Aaron Fortheringham.

 

ND: Hi Aaron. Let's start by getting to know more about you.  How old are you and where are you from?

 

Aaron: I am 14 years young and I am from Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

ND: How long have you been in a wheelchair?

 

Aaron: I got my first wheelchair when I was 3.  But until I was 8 I mostly used crutches.  Sometime in my 8^th year I needed a second hip surgery that didn't really work. Then after a third surgery I started using the chair full time

 

ND: You are obviously very good at what you do. How long have you been skateboarding? How old were you when you started?

 

Aaron: I've been 'Hard Core Sitting' for 6 years, so I was 8 years old when I started.

 

ND: What is Hard Core Sitting?

 

Aaron: That is a term I created for extreme wheelchair sports. It includes wheelchair skateboarding.

 

ND: Does wheelchair skateboarding require a lot of practice?

 

Aaron: Yes! I have to keep practicing or I will loose some skills.  But I love doing it so much I don't think of it as practice, I think of it as a fun way to live my life. 

 

ND: How did you get started? What was the beginning?

 

Aaron:  I used to go to the park and watch my brother do BMX tricks.  One day he said I should try dropping in.  I was scared but tried, and from then on I was hooked.

 

ND: How did you learn to do it? Do you have a teacher, a coach or a manager?

 

Aaron: No, I just thought of new tricks. I also get suggestions from bikers and skaters.  To me it is more like biking than skating, and I get most of my ideas from what the bikers can do.  But I do some board-like stuff too.  It's actually kind of fun to do a little of both, and I can hang with the boarders or the bikers.

 

ND: How do you get motivated to go out and do this everyday? What drives you?

 

Aaron: I love doing it, I don't really need to be motivated. But I do use my Music. I put on my favorite song and that just gets me pumped.

 

ND: What advice would you give to others who want to try skateboarding? What are the most important things you learned?

 

Aaron: WEAR A HELMET. 

                                 

ND: Do you need any special equipment? What makes the equipment special?

 

Aaron: Yes, I highly recommend a chair with suspension. Like the Boing from Colours. (ND: To see the Colours Boing, click the image of the wheelchair).

I also recommend a grinding bar to protect your shocks while grinding.  I also wear gloves, elbow pads, and a helmet, of course.

 

ND: Why is suspension important? And what is a grinding bar?

 

Aaron: The suspension takes most of the shock out of the landing. It really softens the ride. It also helps with my launches and hops. But without the suspension, the impact would be just too painful. So, the suspension protects me and the grinding bar protects the suspension from the extreme abuse that I give it.

 

ND: Ok, now tell us about that backflip, Aaron, that is amazing! How many times did you jump into cushions before taking the cushions away?

 

Aaron: Oh wow! That's a hard one, probably around 50 or 60 times, because I didn't want to land on my head.

 

ND: Was the first jump without cushions successful?

 

Aaron: Almost, but my momentum threw me on my back.  It took about 15 more times before I landed it squarely.  But it doesn't matter because I still can't walk.  Just kidding I'm doing fine.

 

ND: It must have been a great feeling the first time it worked! Tell us what you felt.

 

Aaron: I felt like I accomplished what I had wanted to when I started riding.

 

ND: How many times have you backflipped? Have they all been successful? Did you ever land on your head?

 

Aaron: I flipped about 20 to 25 times successfully. I didn't really ever LAND on my head but a couple times I pulled off the lip too early and knocked myself out.

 

ND: Are you really the first person that has ever successfully completed a backflip in a wheelchair?

 

Aaron: I have reason to believe I am, because others have tried a flip but haven't gotten the full rotation even in the foam pit. Let alone on the Rezi.  No one has come forward to say they have done it too.

 

ND: What is a rezi?

 

Aaron: Once a skateboarder masters the full rotation into cushions, the next step is a rezi which is a plastic sheet over the cushions. It is hard, but not as hard as concrete.  The next step after the rezi is to do the jump onto a normal concrete ramp.

 

ND: I have seen a long video posted on the ColoursWheelchair.com homepage where you are taking some very nasty falls. Have you hurt yourself skateboarding?

 

Aaron: I did break my elbow once, but just bumps and bruises other than that.  I wear a full face helmet because I have seen other kids get hurt bad.  I saw a kid loose all his front teeth, I saw another kid crack his skull and nearly lose an eye in a fall. 

 

ND: What are your dreams or plans for the future? Is there something you would like to accomplish as a skateboarder that you have not done yet?

 

Aaron: Yes, a backflip-180 also known as a Flair

(Note: to see a video of a boy doing a Flair on a scooter Click Here )

 

ND: Who is your hero?

 

Aaron: You mean heroes. My heroes are Mike and John Box. They are Super Heroes.  They have been enthusiastic and supportive for years.

 

Aaron, thanks a lot for the time. I wish you a lot of success with your skateboarding. I am sure we are going to be hearing a lot more about you in the future.