Жизнь без барьеров

об этом тверские инвалиды пока только мечтают

Каждому человеку важно быть свободным и самостоятельно передвигаться по городу, даже если он прикован к инвалидной коляске. Однако тверские улицы для инвалидов — пока ещё настоящая полоса препятствий. Всё против них: подъезды, бордюры, дороги и даже пандусы!

С конца прошлого года на Верхневолжье обратили внимание на федеральном уровне: мы стали одним из трёх регионов, где стартовала государственная программа «Доступная среда». В областной столице действует также программа «Тверь — город равных возможностей». Они должны изменить жизнь инвалидов к лучшему, если чиновники выполнят всё обещанное, причём на совесть, а не для галочки.

Как на деле реализуются госпроекты и чего не хватает людям, попавшим в беду? Сегодня об этом рассказывает Галина БУРАКОВА, председатель Тверской областной общественной организации инвалидов-колясочников «Кристалл».

Контролируем сами

— Галина Ивановна, по программам для инвалидов, слава богу, осуществляются конкретные действия. Скажите, вас допускают к контролю над тем, что делается?

— Да, власти стали прислушиваться к нам охотнее, тем более что с января этого года мы переименовали наш клуб в общественную организацию. «Доступная среда». До этого «Кристалл» был чем-то вроде клуба, где собирались люди, объединенные общей бедой. Сегодня же мы — настоящая команда, которая борется за права людей с ограниченными возможностями. Мы лично контролируем реализацию программы «Доступная среда», выезжаем на объекты, смотрим, что и как сделано. Бывает, приходится и спорить, настаивать на том, чтобы некоторые работы переделали заново.

— Где вы уже побывали и как оцениваете происходящие изменения?

— Быстрее всех доступной средой становится Тверская областная клиническая больница. Мы выезжали в её поликлинику, когда работы там только начались. Колясочник теперь может прийти к врачу даже без сопровождающего. Поднимаешься на крыльцо по пандусу, нажимаешь кнопку вызова, тебя встречает сотрудник регистратуры и провожает на нужный этаж. Наконец-таки мы доросли до этого! Для инвалидов на колясках оборудуют и туалетные комнаты, и многое ещё предстоит сделать. В регистратуре для нас обещали организовать отдельное окошко, чтобы нам не приходилось стоять в очередях, появится и парковка для автомобилей инвалидов. Для слабовидящих коридоры больницы оборудуют тактильными полосками, а глухонемым помогут электронные бегущие строки.

Заметно преобразилась и библиотека им. Горького. На входе появились отличный пандус и кнопка вызова, тебя также встречают и провожают куда угодно. Чтобы инвалид мог подняться на второй этаж, здесь приобрели специальный подъёмник. Посторонняя помощь нам при этом, правда, всё равно требуется, так как установить пандус не позволяет архитектура здания, но однозначно стало лучше, чем было. Вскоре обещали приобрести и специальные столы для колясочников. Сотрудники библиотеки рассылают нам по электронной почте новости и афишу предстоящих мероприятий, а если нужно, даже привозят литературу на дом. К переменам здесь действительно подошли с душой.

— Однако вы упомянули, что не всегда всё так гладко…

— К сожалению, да. Совершенно неготовой к нашему визиту оказалась детская областная больница на ул. Рыбацкой. Одни туалеты здесь чего только стоят! Чтобы добраться до унитаза, нужно преодолеть несколько ступеней, да и кабинки здесь узкие до невозможности. Человеку с протезом или с гипсом, честное слово, легче перетерпеть. Но руководство прислушалось к нашим рекомендациям, нам обещали все исправить.

Были мы и в спортивно-оздоровительном комплексе ул. Орджоникидзе, где занимаются инвалиды. То, что у людей с ограниченными возможностями есть хоть какая-то возможность для спорта, это, безусловно, хорошо. Но помещение там абсолютно непригодное. Находится Центр в здании бывшего детского садика. Там коридоры — вдвоём не разойтись, полы от старости проваливаются, на входе в каждый кабинет — пороги, а для нас это непреодолимое препятствие.

Выручают прохожие

— Доступность медицинских, культурных и спортивных учреждений — это половина успеха. До них же ещё нужно как-то добраться! Может ли инвалид сегодня свободно передвигаться по улицам?

— Общественный транспорт становится доступнее для людей с ограниченными возможностями. В Твери появились низкопольные автобусы и троллейбусы, в которые колясочники могут без труда забраться. Что касается дорог и тротуаров, нареканий здесь по-прежнему много. И самое обидное, когда наши власти начинают что-либо переделывать, они снова наступают на одни и те же грабли. Вспомните, как в прошлом году меняли бордюры и плитку на площади Ленина. Приехав принимать работы, мы были в ужасе. К администрации города человеку на коляске подъехать по-прежнему невозможно. Я со своими эндопротезами не могу забраться на крыльцо Тверской городской Думы без посторонней помощи, каждый раз приходится приставать к прохожим с просьбой меня поднять.

— Чего ещё не хватает нашему городу, чтобы инвалидам жить стало легче?

— Самая наболевшая проблема — это отсутствие ремонтной мастерской для колясок. Нам пообещали, что найдутся люди, которые займутся этим вопросом. Ведь когда ломается наш единственный транспорт, начинается настоящий кошмар! Катастрофически мало у нас и машин с подъёмниками — всего две на Тверь. В одну «газельку» помещаются только две коляски, третью мы запихиваем, рискуя правами шофера. Сейчас городу выделили несколько миллионов рублей на приобретение ещё двух микроавтобусов с подъёмниками, где будет более четырех мест для колясочников. Будем надеяться, что скоро они появятся.

Ещё городу необходим Центр флюорографии и рентгена, доступный для инвалидов. Потому что сейчас флюорография для человека в коляске — настоящая пытка. На первый этаж 1-й горбольницы колясочнику не въехать, пандуса нет, а для того чтобы сделать снимок, нужно составить «пирамидку» из табуреток и забраться туда верхом. Такие чудеса эквилибристики не каждому под силу.

«Мы как все»

— Если с человеком случилась беда, он стал инвалидом, куда ему прежде всего обращаться за помощью?

— Самое горькое, что особо и некуда. В Твери до сих пор нет реабилитационного Центра для инвалидов — медицинского учреждения, куда любой наш «вновь прибывший» мог бы обратиться за помощью. Ведь когда ты оказываешься в такой ситуации — мир рушится, и ты не знаешь, куда бежать и на что можно рассчитывать.

В Клину, например, такой Центр работает уже 10 лет. Реабилитацию там проходят и взрослые, и дети, восстанавливаются здесь и перенесшие инсульт. Людей, можно сказать, учат жить заново, адаптироваться к своим ограниченным возможностям. Пациенты здесь и готовят, и лепят из глины, и шьют кукол, и занимаются садоводством, и играют в настольный теннис, бильярд — чего здесь только нет! А у нас, к сожалению, то денег для такого Центра нет, то здания подходящего.

Да и вообще у нас плохо обстоят дела с информированностью. Неужели нельзя хотя бы в больницах разместить стенды, чтобы можно было узнать, где взять напрокат коляску или костыли, да и другую полезную информацию? Только вот стенды эти нужно размещать так, чтобы человек на коляске мог прочитать их, а не как у нас принято — под потолком и микроскопическим шрифтом.

— Галина Ивановна, приближается Международный день защиты прав инвалидов. Как вы его проведёте?

— Мы собираемся выйти на улицу с акцией под девизом: «Мы все равные, мы как все». Правда, с местом проведения мероприятия пока ещё не определились. Здесь будет настоящий праздник, концерт, всевозможные конкурсы и трансляция фильмов областного фестиваля «Кино без барьеров». К нам просятся многие инвалиды из других городов области, но привезти всех желающих в Тверь непросто. Хотелось бы, чтобы каждый организовал такую акцию в своём городе. Ведь люди с ограниченными возможностями живут повсюду, просто большинство из них не покидает стен собственного дома. А так быть не должно, ведь мы — такие же люди и, несмотря ни на что, хотим жить полной жизнью.

Евгения Сидельникова, АиФ

Подъемники и лифты для инвалидов-колясочников

Подъемники и лифты для инвалидов-колясочников

Лифты и подъемники способны облегчить жизнь в современном городе для инвалидов и сделать для них городскую среду более доступной. Люди с ограниченными возможностями передвижения испытывают массу неудобств при перемещении по современному городу из-за практически полного отсутствия специальных приспособлений, которые могут помочь передвигаться с комфортом, преодолевать различные препятствия, которые для здорового человека покажутся просто смешными – бордюры, лестницы, пороги, многоэтажки. В таких случаях неоценимую помощь приносят специальные подъемники для инвалидов, служащие для обеспечения удобства передвижения инвалидов по лестницам в кресле. Современный рынок предлагает разнообразные модели подъемников для инвалидов, которые могут удовлетворить любые требования, и одновременно осуществлять перевозку сразу несколько людей с ограниченными возможностями.

Есть два основных вида лестничных подъемников – вертикальный и наклонный. Подъемные платформы наклонного типа предназначаются для перемещения людей с ограниченными физическими возможностями или пожилых людей, передвигающихся в коляске без помощи сопровождающих на уровень посадочной площадки лифта с уровня входа в здание. Подъемная платформа обычно монтируется на металлоконструкции, которая крепится к стене, примыкающей к лестничным пролетам здания. Подъемник для инвалидов наклонный перемещается по наклонной прямой, которая расположена вдоль лестничного пролета. Он оборудуется пультом управления, электрическим приводом, а если подъемник не используется, платформа прижимается к стене, так как конструкция подъемника такого типа предусматривает его автоматическое раскладывание или складывание на посадочной площадке с целью освобождения лестничных пролетов. Подъемник наклонный для инвалидов имеет грузоподъемность в среднем около 225 кг, максимальную скорость движения около 0,15 м/с, две остановки, высоту подъема около 1,5 м, то есть его технические характеристики оптимальны для осуществления передвижения инвалида в коляске по лестницам.

Вертикальные лестничные подъемники очень похожи на грузовые лифты, то есть в его функции входит способность поднимать кресло-коляску инвалида. Подъемники такого типа или поставляются с собственными шахтами, или устанавливаются в уже имеющиеся стандартные. Вертикальные подъемники имеют гидравлический привод, или привод в виде винта с подъемным кольцом, который обеспечивает максимально плавный ход. Скорость подъема вертикальных подъемников невелика, чтобы не создавать никаких затруднений у людей, которые ими пользуются.

Подъемники для инвалидов вертикального перемещения используются для перемещения инвалидов там, где лифты из-за малости высот (до 4 м) не экономичны. Они легки в сборке и установке, не требуют специальных строительных работ и просты в эксплуатации. Максимально разрешенная высота подъема у подъемников составляет не более 4 м., а если необходима большая высота, то используется лифт для инвалидов.


Обыкновенный лифт можно сделать также доступным для инвалидов колясочников. Для этого кнопки пульта управления располагают горизонтально на уровне высоты инвалидной коляски а ширина дверного проема лифта для инвалидов делается не менее 900 мм. Принцип действия такого лифта следующий. При нажатии на кнопку вызова на посадочном этаже кабина приходит на уровень точной остановки. Двери открываются автоматически. Пассажир на инвалидной коляске заезжает в кабину и нажимая кнопку приказа нужного ему этажа, расположенную в посту управления. Двери автоматически закрываются, и лифт приходит в движение, разгоняясь до номинальной скорости. При подходе кабины лифта к датчику необходимого этажа, лифт замедляется и останавливается на уровне точной остановки, открывая двери. Пассажир на инвалидной коляске выезжает из кабины, двери закрываются, и кабина стоит на этаже до тех пор, пока вновь не поступит вызов с любого этажа.

Зачастую при проектировании новых зданий не принимают во внимание проблемы связанные с людьми с ограниченными физическими способностями. То есть по плану, если это высотное здание, лифт есть, но вот подойдет ли он для человека в инвалидном кресле, который поселится в этом доме? Зачастую, этого могут и не предусмотреть. А что делать тем, кто живет в домах в два-три этажа, и где лифт вообще не предусмотрен? В таких случаях человек с ограниченными физическими способностями становится «заложником» своей квартиры.

Подъемник для квартиры

Потолочные подъемные системы для домашнего использования с возможностью создания для маломобильных людей и людей с нарушениями опорно-двигательных функций безбарьерной жилой среды внутри собственной квартиры, которая является для многих единственной средой обитания в связи с ограниченными возможностями передвижения.
     Работа подъемной потолочной системы не зависит от расстановки мебели в квартире, она не занимает места в помещениях по сравнению с передвижными подъёмниками. При необходимости потолочная система может охватывать всю площадь помещения, либо передвигаться по квартире по четко проложенному маршруту, огибая препятствия. Монтируется однократно при установке, легко демонтируется при необходимости, подъемник подходит для ванн, прост и удобен при эксплуатации. Потолочная подъемная система может быть адаптирована к любым квартирам. Специально разработанная для индивидуального использования в условиях жилья система дает возможность переместить инвалида из комнаты в коридор и ванную, при этом инвалид находится (фиксирован) в специальной сетке, защищенный от падения и не остается без присмотра.

Мобильные подъемники

Передвижные мобильные подъемники разработаны для повседневного использования. Они очень удобны и позволяют перемещать пациента даже в ванных комнатах и других помещениях с ограниченной площадью. Мобильные подъемники подходят для осуществления всех стандартных действий инвалидами, таких как перемещение с кровати на коляску, в туалет, ванну, подъем с пола. Представлены модели как для стационаров, удобные для проведения операций, модели с возможностью тренировки ходьбы и процесса перехода из положения «сидя» в положение «стоя», так и модели для домашнего пользования, которые сконструированы с учетом возможности частой сборки и разборки подъемного устройства, его транспортировки и хранения. Мобильные подъемники для ванн удобны в монтаже и могут быть компактно упакованы для переноски и хранения.

Stacy Kohut (Interview)

Stacy Kohut is a Paralympic and World Champion Gold Medal winner. He has competed and won medals at the Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway and Nagano, Japan. He is also part owner/operator of R-ONE, a four wheel downhill mountain bike called a Fourcross, that is used in the integrated (meaning disabled and able bodied people compete together) sport of Fourcrossing.  Dr Gene Emmer from 'Wheelchair' recently interviewed Stacy in order to better understand the opportunities and challenges of a champion athlete who happens to be in a wheelchair.

W: Tell us more about your athletic accomplishments. We know you have earned a lot of medals. How did you get started?

SK: First of all, let me say how honored I am to have you interview me, this site is a vast collection of info and knowledge, and itТs very cool to be asked to be a part of it.

My athletic achievements have always been apart of my life. Starting in the 1980Тs with the sport of BMX racing and Off Road MX racing, continuing throughout my teenage years in the non-competitive sport of skateboarding, then into my life as a sit down athlete. I broke my back in 1992, so when you sit back and take a look at the bigger picture, my achievements in sit sports just blend right in with the rest of my life.

W: So what do you see are the differences in the sports you do now compared to the sports you did before you were injured?

SK: You know, there is not much difference in the sports I do sitting down.

Racing BMX was a very competitive thing when I was a kid, I wanted to absolutely destroy everyone of my competitors when I got to the starting line. This attitude and methodology was used in my sitskiing career, as I was not there to make friends or to socialize. I was there to try to destroy the race track and my competitors. I also have carried this over to the sport of Fourcross, and let me tell you, on race day, between 9am and 5 pm, I am focused on the task at hand.

On the other end of the scale, when you skateboard vertical ramps at a fairly high level, the overall vibe of the skate session is much more encouraging, much more Сexpressing yourselfТ rather than being super competitive and wanting to beat everyone. It was a great background to have when I went into sit sports, the 2 extremely different attitudes toward sport sure helped balance my overall view of high level sport.

W: What was the path that you took to become a Paralympic Champion?

SK: The path I took after 1992 was one of purpose and direction. There were many small goals I also challenged myself with while along the path to the ultimate goal, which was winning on an international level, and then learning how to repeat the achievement throughout the ski racing season. Although my able bodied integrated race training was always very intense, sometimes more intense than the races I would be attending, I always found a way to stay grounded by going freeskiing in powder, in the bumps, the halfpipe or the terrain park.

In these non racing environments I was able to express myself, encourage others, and generally remember why I skied in the first place, for FUN!

W: What advice do you have for a young athlete that wants to do something like you did?

SK: I advise every athlete, disabled and able bodies the same thing: Be yourself. DonТt let the job of being a ski racer or athlete become a clichй or a stereotype. Have fun, learn to laugh when you can, because if you want to be the very best in the world and stand atop the podium at the Winter Paralympic or Olympic Games, you need to be extremely intense in many aspects of your life. Be yourself and learn when to let yourself relax.

In the sport of skiing, the other bit of advice would be to ski the MOST days you can in a single season. It was not uncommon for me to have 140 ski days in 10 month period between 1994-2002. Being a World and Paralympic Champion is a job. Watch a video clip of Stacy sit skiing)

As far a being an athlete in a wheelchair, try to be as independent as possible. Use daily life and routines to Сget toughТ. Haul your own gear, set yourself up in the morning and during transition periods during the day. Be the first on the track, course, or lift. Try to beat all the able bodied racers throughout the day with the little things. Be the first in line for everything. Try to integrate into local able bodied training sessions as much as possible.

And back to the general toughness issue, I learnt very early on from some of the pioneers of high performance wheelchair sport, that being tough physically, mentally, and spiritually was a great asset in sport and life.

W: What kind of media attention have you received?

SK: All of it! I can truly say I have had some media exposure in just about every type of media there is. Believe it or not, print interview and radio interviews are 2 of my favorite types of media, great ways to say something a little more in-depth. I have been a pioneer in a particular genre of wheelchair sport within the media, itТs been a adventure thatТs for sure!! Being able to work with the mainstream media to expose what I and my peers do, to high numbers of people (worldwide), is one of my proudest achievements.

I have many tales both positive and negative about breaking thru into the mainstream media. DonТt forget I was a color commentator sent to cover the Winter Paralympics in Torino 2006. I have been on both sides of the camera.

W: Stacy, what would happen if you competed against professional able-bodied skier? Who do you think would get to the bottom first?

SK: When it gets right down to it, in most sports, the able-bodied competitor will always be faster or higher or stronger than his or her СdisabledТ competitor. This is most true when comparing say, Herman Meier to Klaus Salzmann,Е but what about comparing performance over an entire career? What is the win/loss record? How many medals did the athletes win at the Olympics or Paralympics? You can then see how the СdisabledТ athletes can compete with their able bodied counterpartsЕ

There are many other ways to СbeatТ an able bodied counterpart.

W: What about other sports such as wheelchair curling? Do you think that wheelchair athletes can compete against able bodied athletes in some sports? Which ones?

SK: The most obvious to me is motorsport. There have been many times that a СdisabledТ motorsport athlete has performed on par, if not better than those that are able bodied. I truly wish motorsport was more open to having someone like me attend an open tryout for a racing team. Having competed for so long, at dangerous and fast sports, with success, has to have some value to a race team.

W: Why arenТt motorsports open to disabled athletes?

SK: I still believe there is a stigma attached with disabilities and motorsports. To some extent this is across the board in all high risk sports. High risk sports are very dangerous, I mean how much do you promote an athlete who is in a situation that is always labeled as a СtragedyТ when someone crashes or gets hurt in that sport?

Somewhere, in the back of some of the minds of public relations and media reps, do they think by promoting, say a racecar driver who uses a wheelchair, they are advertising a possible injury to all their able bodied customers?

W: Are there any good integrated (where disabled and able bodied athletes compete together) sports. Why not?

SK: Really when it comes down to it, there are a lot of sports that are already integrated at the fullest level. The athlete with the disability is the one that is responsible for how much, or how little he or she integrates. There is always an able bodied club to train with, always a race or event that has absolutely no problems with an adaptive athlete entering the race. Heck, here in North America it is encouraged. LetТs see, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, Karting, skateboarding, man o man, the list goes on. In reality, thatТs how all the Сextreme adaptiveТ sports were started. What it took was someone to just Сget in thereТ, and enter an event or do a race.

See there, now thatТs integrated. So simple. HereТs how the rest of the story goes thoughЕЕЕ

After one individual has entered a few events, the word gets out, and more people who may use adaptive equipment for the said sport, will now decide to attend and enter the event themselves. Great.

Now somebody comes up with an idea to start a class, or a race within a race at a certain event. This race within a race will be participated in by adaptive athletes. Maybe there will be awards given out? As an adaptive athlete what feels better, a first place in the newly formed Сadaptive classТ or that 38th place out of 80 racers in the class that you have been racing for a few years now? You were fully integrated in your age and abilityТ class. Remember? It was a fully integrated class that you were in, wasnТt it?

It can get very complicated.

The MOST important thing for me is that the EVENTS are integrated. You can divide up classes all you want, but letТs make sure that the race itself is fully integrated within an able bodied event. This is the optimum situation for media coverage, sponsor relations, building a fan base, and promoting a product the entire sport community uses, not just an СadaptiveТ product. When Stacy Kohut wears, uses, and promotes Oakley goggles, Oakley doesnТt care if I promote to other people in wheelchairs, thatТs a given, what a company like Oakley wants to see is me promoting their product to all cyclists and lifestyle users. They want to see me integrated, they want to see me at the big events, they want me to be a part of the bigger picture.

I just donТt know if separating from the able bodied events once the adaptive class has grown is doing anything for athletes like me who need to attract sponsors and outside industry support to increase the amount of events I attend. The more events and races, the more I expose my sponsors association with myself and my sport to the masses. This is what keeps my sponsors interested in supporting me, my media, and my event promotion.

I would love to talk more about this with you Gene.

W: What did you think about the X-Games including disabled athletes in the winter competitions this year?

SK: Well, not very much I hate to sayЕ.

The word on the street was only one practice run allowed for the contestants. Half the field did not qualify, or ski during qualifications. There were 16 athletes on the entry sheet, only 6 qualified. It does not sound like the sit skiing class was thought of too much in the overall scheme of things. The only thing I pulled off the X -Games site was an Сinspirational/bad boyТ story on Kevin Bramble and a single results page. No talking about the sport, the dangers, the challenges, or the skill level involvedЕ.Just the usual, we have all seen/heard before. I donТt believe it was promoted properly. I really donТt know sometimesЕЕ..

2007 was the year that this race became official in the eyes of the X- Games, the last 3 years have been Сdemonstration eventsТ. We will see where the X- Games go from here with the sit skiing class.

W: Tell us about your wheelchair skateboarding. How and when did you begin?

SK: I vaguely remember messing around with a wheelchair at one of the many skate ramps/parks in my earlier years. We would roll into the vert ramp with an office chair; we would roll around in the chrome geriatric wheelchair. Of course we did these stunts as able bodied skateboarders, just goofing around.

It really didnТt take long before I was rolling around small halfpipes and skateparks after I became paralyzed. Within a year of breaking my back I was dropping into skateramps and skateparks, from the top of the structures, and really going for it. I also did A LOT of streetskating my first 5 years in a wheelchair too. Streetskating is like going surfing, you are rolling down the street, looking for СhitsТ, looking for places to do a slide here, or a skid there. Always trying to gain momentum from some part of the environment. ItТs tons of fun. Good times.

W:Do you think that wheelchair skateboarding will become a Paralympic event?

SK:Truthfully I would never want to see the skateboarding in a wheelchair thing become a Paralympic sport. Anyway, for myself, its one of those sports that just needs to develop into its own thing, which ever way it may be. The Paralympics certainly are not the Сbe all, end allТ for adaptive sports.

I believe there are many opportunities outside the Paralympic environment. Look at the huge bite the X-Games has taken out of the 50 and under viewership of the OlympicsЕ.., there is much room to grow adaptive sports.

W:Are you still active in skateboarding? Have you competed anywhere?

SK:Of course I am still active, but I have never attended a competitive event, yet. Then of course the question comes up, SHOULD a judged sport make an appearance in the Paralympics? Is there a judged event in the Paralympics already? Who knows? I do know this, that the evolution of the sport of Сwheelchair skateboardingТ will follow the same path as the evolution of skateboarding. This path might be on a microscopic level, but so far the path is identical. It starts with kids that reject traditional or Сstick and ballТ sports, and it grows from there. And as of right now, those kids that rejected stick and ball sports are not in the Olympics, so I canТt see them being in the Paralympics. Remember these kids not only rejected the sports, but the culture that went along with it.

Besides, Paralympics or Olympics, I donТt believe that judged events should be included. LetТs leave the judges for the figure skaters.

W: Stacy, I saw that you are sponsored by Adidas, and appear in some cool Adidas ads. Tell us more about that? How did you get those opportunities?

SK: The coolest thing about the commercials for me was, I was performing in a sport that I originated. Riding a wheelchair in a skateboard environment had never been done before, at least not seriously.

Anyways, it was cool that even after winning Paralympic and World Championship Gold Medals, and ripping it up in my Fourcross, it was the Сwheelchair skateboardingТ that finally attracted a major company to inquire about me doing some promotional work with them. It was fitting.

I never was and am still not sponsored by Adidas, I just did that commercial for them, and that was it. I was paid a proper amount, it was a 2 year contract of unlimited usage of video footage and photos from the sessions. Fair deal.

W: So you did not reach out to them first? They just called you one day? How did they know about your skateboarding?

SK: The wonders of the internet!!

I always have been a huge self-promoter, and as soon as what I was doing on the skateboard ramps was worth being photographed, it was. Same thing with my sit skiing career, as soon as what I was doing was good enough, bam, I was getting photos and interviews and TV coverage. The contacts I made and the small media buzz I created was fully self-generated. Word got out. My Gold Medal win in 1994 combined with double World Championship wins in 1996 created international and national media exposure, and when the internet got more popular in the mid 1990Тs, the media and info about my career and sports was quickly moved to the web. Adidas was looking for something and someone like me, and well, thru the internet, they found me. It was 2004, it had been almost a full 12 years since I began riding my wheelchair in the skateparks, and the mainstream media was just catching up. I was more than ready.

I did the commercial under one stipulation; the word СinspirationТ was not to be used.

I figured these guys understood where I was coming from, and they also shared my views on who I was and what I was doing, so we did it. The commercials turned out great and the photos used in the ad campaign were utilized all over the globe. People would send me photos through email of where they had seen my ad placed. The ad went over huge in Asia, the adaptive community really appreciated the shock value of the photos etc. Pictures really do say a 1000 words, especially when words in some societies are not necessarily encouraged. Being СdisabledТ in Asia has been a thing of shame for so long, its really cool to see them want to catch up to what we got going on over here in North America. If the ad campaign helped one kid, somewhere on this planet СbreakoutТ and be what he or she can be, then I feel good about the impact. (Watch the 'Impossible is Nothing', Adidas commercial). 

W: I understand that one of your goals is to become a spokesperson for a major company. How is that going? What are the challenges that you see?

SK: The last challenge is to get mainstream media and the big companies to finally get over the СinspirationТ hurdle. Athletes like myself need to be promoted for what we are, sports entertainment. We are out there doing our thing, and the very first human reaction a spectator has is of Сbeing entertainedТ, he or she is viewing sports entertainment. The inspiration thing may come later, but itТs all about sports entertainment.

DonТt believe me? Go watch a Paralympic basketball or sledgehockey gold medal match. Its great entertainment, the kind that needs to be on T.V., itТs the worldТs most perfect reality show.

Most people are too busy being entertained by my sports to be inspired. Like I said, the inspiration comes hours/days later.

W: Are you represented by an agent? Have you tried to get any representation?

SK: I would love to have an agent; it is just hard to find someone who believes in me as much as I do. ItТs hard for an agent to fully wrap their thoughts around what can be done with an athlete such as me, when there is no real T.V. coverage. Everything, all media endeavors, must be self-generated. An agent usually looks at the return for their effort and says УWe love what you do, itТs marketable, but we are going to pass. У

W: What kind of advice do you have for other wheelchair athletes who want to get sponsored by a company?

SK: Win. Talk about the win, the sport, the journey. Promote.

It takes a lot of perseverance, and more than anything, you must be at the top of your sports game. Your performance must stand out.

W: What do you think is the future for wheelchair athletes? What needs to be done so that wheelchair athletes get taken more seriously by the media and by potential sponsor?

SK: Plain and simple its television. The sports must be covered with visuals, with interviews, and with sponsors in the EXACT same way as able bodied sport. And you know what? ItТs just not happening now.

W: Any ideas about how to make that happen?

SK: ItТs a huge step in trust for the established media, but they have to listen to us, the ex athletes, on how to portray adaptive sports. ThatТs a huge step that requires massive amounts of social movement across a wide range of demographics and industries. ItТs A Huge Step.

W: What can you tell us about Fourcross racing? How long has it been around?

SK: Fourcross racing is coolest sport I have ever done. Period. ThatТs says a lot. The sport was invented in the late 80Тs to early 90Тs. The pioneer builder was able bodied. The pioneer racer was very aggressive with his riding and proactive in promoting himself and the sport. These two people, John Castellano (builder) and John Davis (racer) pretty much laid out the blueprint for what was possible for those with the right long term vision. Castellano was and is able bodied, but for me, all it took was one look at the size of the smile he had on his face when he was riding the four-wheeler, to realize that this sport was for everyone. Able bodied and disabled alike. Castellano could ride too, he knew how to move around in the bike, he knew how to brake, and he looked good sitting in the four-wheeler, and like I said, it never appeared to be an adaptive sport, it just seemed like a sitdown sport, much like A.T.V.s. Not everyone is going to want to ride in an off road setting with 2 wheels, look at the size of the aforementioned A.T.V. industry, itТs huge. The same thing will happen with all these mountain bike parks that are growing all over the planet.

We at R-ONE would never say no to full integration and able bodied full involvement. Anyone can ride the Fourcross.

The sport is fully integrated into mainstream, big promotion, mountain bike racing events, and itТs just perfect!! Its not adaptive, its not handi sport, its not Paralympic, its not Special Olympic, its just mountain bike racing in a mainstream, fully integrated environment. Life is not segregated, why should sport?

The mountain bike community has been very supportive of this sport and the leaders of the sport. They want to see it grow, but they are cool enough to let us, the ones that have the most passion, grow the sport and the industry. The mountain bike world does not want to wrestle control of the sport away from us, they donТt see any need to call it adaptive, they see no need to segregate us and make us attend smaller, less exposed events. We the riders can dictate the direction, they listen to us, they respond to our suggestions, they encourage our numbers to grow, they know we are a part of the bigger picture in the mountain bike scene.

Fourcross is a gravity sport, it is based around the sport of downhill mountain biking. Of course the culture of downhill mountain biking is also a big part of the Fourcross sport, and this culture is reflected in a lot of what we as racers and builders do.

Fourcross will follow the path of downhill mountain biking, it is the most logical way. No need to segregate, no need to step away from the downhill world. The downhill mountain biking world is healthy, is evolving, and growing, Fourcross is a part of that.

Should downhill mountain biking be in the Olympics? There are many answers to that question, but as of now, downhill mountain bike racing is not in the Olympics, and no one seems to care. Same thing with the Paralympics, Fourcross has no intentions of becoming part of the Paralympic family, it just doesnТt fit.

ThatТs okay, there are so many other opportunities to grow the sport of Fourcross, and all of them are fully integrated, just like life. (Watch a video of Stacy demonstrating Fourcross. )

I would love to give a few shout outs and thank you to all those who make it possible for me to be meЕЕЕ..

Big thanks toЕTroy Lee Designs, Oakley, Fox Racing Shox, Sun Rims, Maxxis Tires, Hayes Brakes, R-ONE (www.r-onefourcross.com), Phil Wood, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, family, friends, fans, my mechanics, all the photographers out there, and all the interested media!!!!!

Enjoy Your Vacation With Wheelchair Holidays

If you are in a wheelchair it can be stressful when going on holiday with all the worry about whether you will be able to access everything you want to see. This has all been thought out by people who provide you with wheelchair holidays.

The first thing that many wheelchair users are not aware of is that they are able to take their equipment on an airplane without having to worry about the weight restrictions. Equipment needed for disability is not counted, so you are still able to take just as many clothes and shoes as everyone else.

You will also find that as long as the airport knows of your needs before your flight they will make sure that you are seated before the other passengers to make sure you do not have to worry about being knocked by others.

The same will happen when you reach your destination so that you can be the first of the plane as well as anyone you may be traveling with.

You can travel all over the world, see the Eiffel tower in Paris or see the pyramids of Egypt, anywhere you wish is within your reach, and you will find that there is accommodation that will meet your needs.

The rooms set aside for people who use a wheelchair are big enough for you to get around, as well as if you request you will be able to get a shower with a seat that you are able to wash in without the need to stand.

Accommodation is available for people who are able to get from the wheelchair without aid, and for those who will need assistance.

When it comes to sightseeing accessibility for those who depend on a wheelchair means that it is much easier to get to the places you need to as well as transportation that is big enough to fit in any equipment you may need.

You can get accommodation in a hotel or have your own holiday home which will be at ground level with no stairs so that you are able to independently get around while you are there. It will mean that you are fully catered for so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your holiday safe in the knowledge that everything has been dealt with beforehand.

You do not have to be apart from others if you wish to go with family and friends. You can find an apartment or other kind of holiday home that will suit everyone in your group. If there are a lot of people in your group you could make sure that you are given the downstairs room and that there are toilet facilities that allow you access with your chair. Make sure that there are two toilets in the accommodation so that you can spend as long as you wish, with an en-suite bathroom.

You can also go on the excursions that some of the package holidays provide, as the holiday is planned out especially with you in mind, meaning that there will be all the facilities you need for your day trip.

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.