Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame is Back!

A Worthwhile Event, Two Years in the Making

Stay tuned for an official registration page with full details coming SOON! Please save the date of 6/24/22 at the Sound Board at Motor City Casino for a breakfast event. For more details in the interim, please email: jkochis@michiganpva.org

Over the past few years, the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame has been on hiatus. Now, through the combined efforts of MPVA and the RIM foundation, the Hall of Fame event will be relaunched in a new way! These two organizations have brought together their missions to promote a better quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries and disabilities, and in that effort will begin to host the first of many annual recognition events during the summer of 2022.

These events will exclusively honor Michigan novice and experienced athletes with disabilities! As our society continues to experience challenging times, it is increasingly important that we commit to recognizing and engaging these athletes. Please consider supporting that endeavor. Proceeds for the Hall of Fame will go on to support the RIM Foundation and MPVA’s athletic programs which are listed and shown throughout the video!

Please email jkochis@michiganpva.org to inquire about sponsoring Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame events or visit http://www.michiganpva.org to give an individual donation in support of these events.

Partial transcript (does not include honoree interviews):

"The Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Foundation are two organizations that work to promote a better quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries and disabilities. An exceptional program that empowered that initiative was The Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame.

Originally, established by Tony Filippis Sr., the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame was the first organization of its kind and has recognized over 100 exceptional individuals since 1999.

Over the past few years, the Hall of Fame has been on hiatus. Now, through the combined efforts of the MPVA and the RIM Foundation, the Hall of Fame event will be relaunched in a new and unique way to exclusively honor our Michigan athletes with disabilities. The Hall of Fame will host the first of many annual recognition events during the summer of 2022.

Our honorees are role models for the next generation of young people with disabilities, and their awe-inspiring stories bring much-needed awareness to the general public. We celebrate the accomplishments of persons of all disabilities — from wheelchair rugby players to amputee skiers to visually-impaired swimmers — and each honoree must meet strict criteria for integrity and contributions to society.

We would now like to honor two athletes Rachel Morrison and Myreo Dixon for their outstanding contributions.
PLAY VIDEO – athletes receiving awards, soundbites

During these unique times, it is increasingly important that we commit to recognizing and engaging athletes with disabilities. Your support helps ensure that endeavor.

MPVA Talks: Adaptive Sports & Recreation

As spring is finally emerging in Michigan after several false starts, people with disabilities may only see barriers to getting outside and being active. But, the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) wants to spread the word about opportunities for our members, and for all of those facing physical limitations, who may have never considered the possibilities of sports and recreation.

We talked with Phil Chester, head coach of the MPVA National Veterans Wheelchair Team, for some insight, ideas, and inspiration. Phil has been coaching veterans with spinal cord injury or disease for over 16 years in sports like archery, basketball, tennis, hockey and so much more.

Phil Chester

We asked him to share his unique take on the power of individuals with disabilities, especially of the veterans that he has worked with throughout his long career. The takeaway: many people are not even aware of the power that they have and the amount of people willing to help them find that strength.

The Conversation

Coach Phil: What surprised and impressed me the most about the athletes I’ve worked with has been the many abilities those with disabilities have, even though I had experienced this through my relationship with my father-n-law, who had used a wheelchair most of his adult life. He, as well as all of these athletes, show and prove that they can do it everyday—just a little differently.

Robin from MPVA: What is your impression of those with severe disabilities competing in sporting competitions?

Coach Phil: Watching the team compete, from the get go, is just impressive. They have done and do things that a lot of able-bodied individuals wouldn’t even try. Watching the athletes even being knocked around and scuffed up is inspiring; they all just persevere and keep going. We have had athletes at the games become sick or hurt and have to be taken to the hospital. These athletes do whatever they can to get back to the games for their next event, even though no one would fault them for passing on that next event. They were there.

Wheelchair Team Competition

Robin from MPVA: I am a person in a wheelchair, but I am also a person who might not believe I could do something like this. What would you say to encourage me?

Coach Phil: Some days people get up on that ridiculously wrong side of the bed. Or we think someone else is more capable than us. But every athlete on a team is a person and will be there to boost and encourage that person to continue on doing the best that they can.

If they have done their best, they are a winner to themselves, even without the outer show of a medal. Maybe it is that inner medal about which we should be the most pleased. 

MPVA National Wheelchair Team gathers to visit before competition.

Robin, I would say to you that if you are considering just staying in your comfort zone, it will swallow you up. Get up. Do something. 

If you get the chance to go watch the MPVA Wheelchair Team compete, DO IT!. You will be impressed. More importantly, you will be inspired to join. We need those daily challenges of activity to survive through another day. So get out of that comfort zone and compete for your life. If not on a team, then for yourself.

Next Steps to Get Involved

Coach Phil: MPVA has a lot of resources they offer to make your life a more quality life. To get you out of that comfort zone. When was the last time you competed on a sports team? When was the last time you went hunting or fishing? Heck, when was the last time you met friends and played checkers? If there was a class for mind reading, most of us would fail! So no one will read your mind. But you do have a means for communication. DO IT! Tell us what you need. Leave that comfort zone behind.

Contact MPVA’s Scot Severn, Ray Brown, and the rest of our Sports & Recreation Team at chapterhq@michiganpva.org to get started.

COVID Vaccine for Disabled Veterans: What to Know

Note: This article is in no way meant to advise or comment on the medical nature on the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information please contact your medical provider, visit VA.gov vaccine info, or read about the vaccine here.

Update for MPVA Members: ALL of our members are now eligible for the vaccine. MPVA President, Michael Harris, has received confirmation from Michigan’s Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ever since the COVID-19 vaccine became a reality in the United States, reports about who is eligible and where to be inoculated at any given time have fluctuated, at best. The Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) serves to advocate and inform its members throughout Michigan on matters relating to their quality of life, and it is with that mission in mind that we write this blog. We strive to gather up-to-date information about the vaccine and its availability to veterans in Michigan with particular attention to our membership with spinal-cord injury or disease.

Continued Uncertainty

Throughout Michigan the COVID-19 vaccine availability can vary greatly. Indeed, some areas still remain in the first eligibility group because of differences in supply and demand. As with everything vaccine-related, questions can be answered by your health provider or by visiting the state’s COVID-19 response website at http://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. However, we tried our best to help sum up some information for you.

Long lines for COVID testing and vaccine.

For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) COVID-19 vaccine rollout. To stay informed, we follow VAntage Point’s blog and found this latest post particularly helpful.

Yet, when visiting the VA.gov website and looking for any information coronavirus or vaccine related, the following message seems to appear in one way or another:

“Who can now get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first 2 COVID-19 vaccines. We currently have a limited amount of these vaccines. We’ve worked with the CDC and other federal partners to develop a phased plan. Our goal is to do the most good for the most people during this time.”

While that information in not completely forthcoming, the general take away from most information available through the department is that:

● Currently, most VA’s are reporting that those 75 years of age or older—or their caregivers, if they have them—are the only ones outside of other high-risk groups (i.e. healthcare workers, first responders, those in nursing homes) that are eligible (this includes those with spinal cord injury or disease, as well as all others with disabilities.). However, each VA facility will determine when veterans will receive their vaccine.

● In many areas, dissemination of the vaccine may depend on that community’s individual needs and the access to administer and store the drug appropriately.

The Definition of “Risk”

The VA.gov website goes on to share that they have determined the schedule of those veterans that will be eligible for vaccination based on criteria of risk:

● of catching the disease;

● of developing serious illness if infected;

● the likelihood of spreading the disease;

● and the likelihood of infecting healthcare workers.

Veterans have been told that they will be contacted by their local VA health system when they are eligible for a vaccination. MPVA has recently discovered during our “Chapter Check-In” phone calls to our members, that approximately 10-15% of the membership that fit the age requirement of over 75 had been contacted and been able to receive their vaccination. Additionally, our membership has begun to be contacted about scheduling their vaccination in larger numbers since the week of February 8, 2021.

It is important to keep in mind that the MPVA membership is made up of varying ages and locations throughout the state of Michigan; only 21.5% of our current membership of nearly 400 veterans is over 75 years of age. We remain committed to keeping our membership safe, regularly sending out care packages with face masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes so that our veterans at high risk have the tools at their disposal to remain healthy until given the choice to vaccinate.

The report below from Carl Blake, Executive Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Chapter shows that similar statistics exist across the country for veterans with spinal cord injury/disease. Sitting and waiting for word may not work out for many of our members who have served their country and now live with a spinal cord injury/disease. Continued advocacy is required in this case, as in any case where the stakes are high.

Advocacy with PVA

Should you be interested in contacting your local VA to get find out how and when you may schedule your COVID-19 Vaccine, the Chapter recommends calling the closest location via the following VA phone numbers:

Ann Arbor: (734) 222-7100

Flint: (810) 720-2913

Jackson: (517) 767-3609 x52529

Toledo: (419) 213-7614 x57614

Please contact Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America at chapterhq@michiganpva.org to share any feedback regarding your experience with the COVID-19 vaccine so that the Chapter can stay abreast with our members and learn how to serve you better.

Finally, please take some time to read PVA Executive Director COVID-19 vaccine survey results report that was issued the week of February 8, 2021:

Dear members, associate members, and staff,

I want to thank the many PVA members who took part in our recent survey on access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Over 800 PVA members responded to the survey. Less than 30% of those who took it reported having had received the vaccine. Of those who need the assistance of a caregiver, over 80% reported that their primary caregiver had not yet been vaccinated. We have expressed our concern to VA about the uneven roll out of the vaccine across the SCI system and are advocating for VA to provide priority access to the vaccine for all veterans with spinal injury or disease.

In an effort to provide our members with more information about VA’s roll out of the vaccine, we are hosting a webinar with VA on Friday, February 26 at 1:00 pm ET. Information about how to register for the event is below.

PVA Webinar: Access to the COVID Vaccine for SCI/D Veterans

Register in advance for this webinar: https://pva.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7F-QJb-cQqSBE4nLWpD0ww

Thank you.

Carl Blake

Executive Director

Paralyzed Veterans of America

202-416-7708

carlb@pva.org

Remembering & Honoring Vets as Living Memory Reaches Record Low

By: Michael Harris, MPVA President

Many Veterans Day activities throughout Michigan, like many public events, were cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  That included the annual Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) “Salute to Veterans” luncheon. Instead of our traditional event where people come together physically, we opted for a “Salute to Veterans Virtual Run, Walk, Wheel” event. We also partnered with Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea–Plymouth Green location for a fundraiser.  I am proud to say that both efforts were a success, especially provided that it was the first time we have done something like this and that it was a challenging year for so many! The two combined events raised nearly $10,000 which will go on to support the MPVA’s mission.

Since I did not get the opportunity to speak publicly at our event, I wanted to share my remarks about Veterans Day here:

Photo by IIONA VIRGIN on Unsplash

Lessons for Veterans Day 2020

As we pause to remember our past, let us also remember our present, where at this very moment our servicemen and women are putting themselves in harm’s way for the cause of freedom and democracy. We salute their courage, strength, and dedication to these high ideals. We pledge our gratitude for the sacrifices they will make; and we vow to never forget.

Veterans are ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things.  They are young and old, rich and poor. black and white-–and nearly every category in between.  They are men and women who served or still serve America. Many have endured the great hardships of separation from family and drastically altered lifestyles.  Some have been scarred physically or psychologically.  All sacrificed something so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today.

There is no group of people I hold in higher regard than veterans.  Because of veterans, we live in the strongest, freest, greatest country in the world.  Throughout history, our country has been blessed to have men and women willing to answer the call to duty and accomplish great things for the benefit of their fellow man.   

It is our responsibility to ensure that our children and grandchildren appreciate the sacrifices made by those serving our country and never forget them.  Each year, as the percentage of our population who has worn a uniform declines, fewer and fewer individuals and families have a personal connection with the military.  Instilling in America’s youth an awareness of the contributions of veterans past and present becomes even more important.  

Photo by Connor Betts on Unsplash

Even though many Americans will not serve, knowledge of those who have served is essential.  The traits we learn from veterans – courage, honor, duty, sacrifice, patriotism, heroism – are characteristics that make us better citizens.  Their everyday acts inspire us to reach beyond our limits.  Their losses remind us to live a life worthy of their sacrifice.  And through their service on our behalf, we remember the obligations we owe.  These are important lessons only a veteran can teach us. 

WWII Memory & Current Service Connection Fades

Every day, memories of World War II—its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs—disappear. Yielding to the inalterable process of aging, the men and women who fought and won the great conflict are now in their late 90s. They are dying quickly—according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 325,574 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are alive in 2020.

It seems like yesterday that the last World War I veteran from the United States died at the age of 110 in 2011.  Soon we will be saying the same thing for World War II veterans.  The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated in September 2020 that just over 10,270 Michigan World War II veterans were still alive out of more than 600,000 who served.

During the past two decades, as the military has been engaged in the longest period of sustained conflict in the nation’s history, just one-half of one percent of American adults has served on active duty at any given time. As the size of the military shrinks, the connections between military personnel and the broader civilian population appear to be growing more distant.

While most Americans today have family members who once served or are currently serving in the armed forces, as we move forward the generation gap is getting larger.  More than three-quarters (77%) of adults ages 50 and older said they had an immediate family member –a spouse, parent, sibling or child – who had served in the military.  For many of these adults, their military family members are likely to have served prior to the phasing out of the military draft in 1973.

However, adults under the age of 50 are much less likely to have family members who served in the military.  Some 57% of those ages 30-49 say they have an immediate family member who served. And among those ages 18-29, the share is only 33%.

In the future those numbers will continue to get smaller.

Volunteerism: Service to Your Country

Over the years people have thanked me for my service and regretted the fact they did not serve.  I always remind them that you do not have to wear a uniform to serve your country.  People can honor veterans throughout the year by serving in the communities in which they reside. 

Volunteering and service are woven into the fabric of our country’s history. We are a nation of people who care for and look out for each other.  Community service is also a way to connect with our neighbors and use our skills for the common good. Helping people in your community makes that community stronger and healthier — and makes you stronger and healthier in the process. 

Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash

With the disconnect currently going on in our country, community service has the power to bring young people together from different races, incomes, faiths, and political backgrounds to work on pressing problems facing U.S. society today.  In the process, they get to know each other around something positive—the shared work of participating in a common goal that makes a difference in the life of someone in need of their support. 

Imagine for a moment a large-scale commitment to offering young Americans who are black and white, rich and poor, Republican and Democrat, and Christian, Jewish, and Muslim opportunities to work side by side, serving their country together. The focus of their service year would be teaching, tutoring, and mentoring disadvantaged students; cleaning neighborhoods in need of renewal; renovating homes in blighted areas.

Beyond the valuable work they would do to improve their community, young Americans would develop the powerful habits of citizenship.  A service year that teaches young Americans the habits of citizenship and the power of working in teams to build trust is one of the most powerful ways this generation can help restore political and civic responsibility.

While I may not be the first to thank our veterans for their service, I ask each of you to ensure that I’m not the last one who thanks them today and every day throughout the coming year. 

For those who served our country I want to thank you for your service!

Access the Vote: Voting with a Disability

The vote is the key to our democracy in the United States of America. This key can open doors to engage, no matter where we live, our background, or our differences in ability.

The Paralyzed Veterans of America is currently on a mission to encourage people with disabilities to know their rights and be ready to vote in this year’s election.

The Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) has partnered with the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL) to help spread the word and share resources with people with disabilities. MPVA staff interviewed a representative from both the MPVA and AACIL in order to share some personal perspective on inaccessible voting and why it is important to make a plan so that everyone can share their voice.

We asked:

Paralyzed Veterans of America’s “Access the Vote” campaign is sharing news about inaccessible polling stations, mail-in voting options, and the importance of ensuring that ALL Americans can access their right to vote.

This information, which can be found here, shares that government research shows about half of polling places were inaccessible in 2016. There were a variety of barriers, like inaccessible sidewalks and parking lots, doorways that were not wide enough for a wheelchair, and long lines, among others. Have you ever encountered barriers to voting? How were you forced to adapt?

Joyce, an AACIL consumer shared:

[A barrier to voting for me] occurred about 20 years ago when I used a manual wheelchair for a period of time due to a biking accident. It was so frustrating, I simply didn’t vote in the next election because of inaccessibility.

It was hard for me to navigate stairs, so the biggest obstacle [during that time] was not being able to use my wheelchair while getting in doorways that were not accessible. I had to either wait to have someone hold the door for me or try to finagle holding my walker and a chair that I could sit in while trying to open the door for myself. Most of the time it didn’t work because the door was so heavy. There was also confusion as to whether or not a person with a disability could have someone accompany them to vote. At the time, people were just unsure as to their rights and responsibilities, so there wasn’t a lot of accommodation. It takes much longer than it would take the average person to vote […] now I share with other people how they can get access.

Show off your “I Voted” sticker with #AccesstheVote”

According to the Voters with Disabilities section of The Michigan Voter Information Center, voters may receive assistance from another person, provided that the person assisting the voter is not the voter’s employer, agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a union to which the voter belongs.

Westland, Michigan City Hall where MPVA filmed a promotional spot about best practices in accessible voting for the “Access the Vote” campaign.

Clark, MPVA member & Paralyzed Veteran shared:

Strangely, polling place accessibility has never been an issue for me. I am lucky that my polling place has always been accessible. I have been voting at the same place for 15 years [because I know] this one works.

Robin, MPVA staff member and wheelchair user shared:

I have always had poor dexterity, so was always on the lookout for the machine that would provide the accessible technology that I would need. I never saw this machine so I found ways to make it work, even though it was very difficult.

In the 2018 election, I finally saw this machine and was told by poll workers that they had never used this accessible voting machine, or the Direct-Recording Electronic machine (DRE). Considering that these machines were part of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, I was disappointed, to say the least!

Erica Coulston and Westland, MI City Clerk, Richard Leblanc, show off an Accessible Voting Terminal during a mock election set up for MPVA to film a promotion for the “Access the Vote” campaign.

Michigan’s Secretary of State website says at least one voting station inside a polling place should be adapted for an individual to vote while seated. In addition, all voters have access to a Voter Assist Terminal in all polling places, which helps a voter mark the ballot.

Are you concerned that the current pandemic, health risks, or other factors might present a barrier or extra challenge to your “Access to Vote” in this upcoming election?

Joyce, an AACIL consumer shared:

The United States Postal Service slowdown is a concern for people that are registered absentee voters [like many with disabilities] because they’re worried that their absentee ballot might not make it in on time. I am concerned about mailing my absentee ballot and will personally visit the local clerk’s office on or after the date that early voting starts in Michigan. That date is September 24.

Remember to call your local clerk’s office with any questions about requesting an absentee ballot, early voting, or anything related. A list of. Offices can be found here.

Have you been able to review your rights, polling access, individual needs, etc. to make a plan to vote in the upcoming election?

Joyce, an AACIL consumer shared:

I actually went to www.michigan.gov and looked up voting information, how to vote, and what to do if you needed assistance with voting. I encourage everyone to review their individual needs and make a plan to get to the polls.

More information can be found on www.michigan.gov or by calling the MPVA or AACIL, whose contact information is below.

Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America:

www.michiganpva.org

(800)-638-MPVA (6782)

Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living

www.annarborcil.org

(734)-971-0277

What is your view on the importance of voting?

Both Joyce and Clark shared that voting is our participation in the democracy of the United States of America. When your vote is cast, you as an American are speaking up about what you want for this country, not only in the individual that you vote for, but in the judicial appointments, leadership choices, and characteristics of our country’s role in the world.

Please be informed voter! Do some research and let your voice be heard this November!

3 Disability Barriers & How to Begin Making the Change

I remember being asked in 2013 at a strategy meeting for the MI Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) about my hopes for progress the disability community could achieve by the year 2020.

A way to think about equity

“Robin, with the hindsight that we will have after 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what would be your version of a 2020 vision?”

I recall going on about foreseeing changes to transportation, employment, housing, and more issues. However, I don’t recall saying anything in particular about how to make a change.

Here we find ourselves in the year 2020 celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ADA, and as I reflect on that strategy meeting, I’m unsure where to pinpoint how far we’ve come. I know our country has made progress, but certainly not as much as I had thought we could have achieved.

So where should the disability community, legislators, and service organizations like the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America focus their attention before the next big anniversary of disability civil rights law? And once we’ve aligned our sights, how do we create change?

Employment

As a person with a disability (PwD), I have experienced my fair share of the inequitable opportunities for a wheelchair user in the job market. I majored in theatre arts at Eastern Michigan University, and what I felt every time I rolled into an audition is exactly what I feel when I roll into an interview.

I expect to be judged based on my appearance and the way I move when I am auditioning for a specific role, however, those traits won’t tell someone very much if I am interviewing for a job where my skills are top priority.

Check out this short YouTube video from an episode of Michigan’s A Wider World about employment and disability. https://youtu.be/YXOO7wOGTkg

Where Change Can Begin:

“According to an official press release, House Bills 5150 and 5151 are meant to open up greater employment opportunities for Michiganders with disabilities. The bipartisan package would allow employers to apply for up to $1,000 to make reasonable accommodations for employees.”– https://wkzo.com/2019/10/23/bipartisan-legislation-introduced-to-support-new-employees-with-disabilities/950257/

Support House Bills 5150 and 5151 before the Michigan Congress to give incentive to employers to hire and provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities.

Transportation

Quality public transit is usually in more urban areas. These areas commonly have a higher priced real estate market than surrounding rural areas. They also can provide better access for a PwD to achieve a higher quality of life and be a contributing member of society.

Accessible transportation is by and far a local/regional issue. I was the go to on the SILC when discussing transportation issues and proposed improvements; it was nearly impossible to discuss anything on a statewide basis that might improve systems. However, there might be changes coming from progress with self-driving vehicles.

Where Change Can Begin:

Read up on the plan for a Regional Transportation Authority for Southeast Michigan. Their planning board meets once a month for public meetings to stay informed on current efforts and plans. Be sure to vote; it will be on the ballot again soon!

Stay in communication with MPVA to learn about current advocacy efforts and transportation for disabled veterans and more. Be sure to communicate your concerns about accessible public transit and paratransit options for your community with your MI State House Representatives and State Senators. You can search for them here.

Housing

When I took my first job at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, I spent months combing through every apartment listing that included words like “accessible”, “barrier free” or “wheelchair friendly”. However, with limited apccessible housing options, I was lucky enough to trip into a workable situation!

I was told by experts and housing employees that wheelchair accessible (barrier-free is what a wheelchair user who has limited mobility is looking for) apartments go fast because cities that have quality access for PwDs–transportation, healthcare, social services–are limited, so accessible housing is hard to come by.

Often when someone finds such an apartment, especially if it is affordable, they won’t let it go for the whole of their lives. I hated the thought that I had to wait for someone to die to get an accessible and affordable apartment in the area where I had a job opportunity.

Where change can begin: The Paralyzed Veterans of America had a legislative win earlier this year when a program that would provide more funds for home modifications to disabled veterans was passed by both the US House and Senate.

It is now time to make sure that similar improvements happen in the state of Michigan for all people with disabilities. Please support the HB 4813, The Inclusive Home Design Act, which would give tax credits for purchases or modifications to make a home more accessible.

In August of last year the bill was placed in the Finance Committee of the MI Senate and Tax Policy Committee of the House.

Contact your MI Congressman and Congresswoman to make sure this important bill is moved out of committee and receives a vote with support.

With the intersectionality of many vital aspects of a PwD’s life, it is difficult to find all that are needed and equally difficult to sacrifice any one. People with disabilities and members of the general public must become advocates sharing a collective voice for access to opportunities like these.

It is said that the disability community is the only minority group that anyone can join at any point in their lives. Let each of us as Michiganders speak up to improve the access to opportunity for ALL in our communities so that when your mother or father, brother or sister, you or I need a clear path to access opportunity, that path has already been laid with the hindsight of 2020.

Wheeling in Michigan: Travel During COVID

**Please note: This blog, nor MPVA, seeks to give formal recommendations on travel throughout Michigan in regards to safety or health standards during the coronavirus pandemic. Please be sure to consult the CDC recommendations and the destination’s health advisories/travel restrictions whenever thinking about travel.**

As June dawned in Michigan and warm weather no longer seemed to be a passing pleasantry (fingers crossed) my mother, sister, and I made the decision to venture northward to enjoy nature and a time gone by in Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island is a picturesque island at the top of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula that is a short ferry ride from Mackinaw City. It is next to the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere that connects Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula. There are no cars on the island and the primary modes of transportation are horses and bicycles, lending to a pre-20th century vibe. The architecture of the homes, hotels, boutiques, and rustic cottages adds to the islands distinct charm.

As these things present unique challenges to those with accessibility concerns (such as myself) and as Michigan begins reopening in stages, I had to wonder: how will this experience play out?

I began planning for our getaway by running through a checklist that I normally have when I set out to travel:

• Contact anyone I know in the area that can give me specific advice on where to stay, eat, things to do, etc. in respect to my personal abilities.

• Be sure to look up the accessibility information on travel websites for the destination and take note of any deal breakers or no-goes

• Look for the best place to stay: this means doing an advanced search for what I specifically need, such as a roll-in shower, accessible or barrier-free room style, or bed height in a hotel room, timeshare, or cottage.

Some other things that were specifically on my mind during the reopening of Michigan amidst the Covid19 response:

• What are the current travel restrictions throughout the state? (Are we allowed to travel where we are going, and if so, are there any quarantine requirements once we arrive/return?)

• Where is best to stay and eat in terms of cleanliness and social distancing practices?

• Are rest areas open and accessible when driving throughout the state?

• Are the needs for transportation open and accessible?

Day 1-The Drive

I love a nice, scenic drive through Michigan, but it can be a challenge for me (and for most people who rely on wheelchairs to get around) to sit in a car seat for several hours at a time. In addition to the need to stop to answer the call of nature, I also need a place to get out and stretch.

At the time I was traveling, restaurants and the like where I might have previously chosen to stop for a break were still not allowing customers inside, so Michigan’s rest areas were on duty. I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the level of cleanliness and accessibility. MPVA looks forward to working through our Rollin’ Traveler program to forge a partnership with Michigan’s rest areas so that they offer the best of barrier free integration.

The highlight of the drive is the sharing and laughter that happens on the road. There always seems to be an increased level of what I like call “humorous happenstance” when traveling as an individual with a disability; that’s just what seems to happen when the world is not made for you. For instance, when we stopped at our first rest stop, there were a plentiful amount of handicap parking spaces and signs pointing to the accessible entrance. However, once out of the car, I found that the accessible entrance was a roll halfway up a hill! Thank goodness my mother and sister are used to pushing me uphill–and that they still volunteer to travel with me!

Day 2–Mackinac Island

Upon settling into our chosen hotel in Mackinaw City, we were careful to take note of their health precautions and the surrounding area’s requirements for social distancing. As continental breakfasts were suspended at Michigan hotels at the time of our travel, we did some research to find a carry-out spot. We were surprised to find that many dine-in restaurants in the UP (or the top of the LP) were open, with some restrictions, for sit down service.

Even the horses are getting into the health precautions on Mackinac

At the time that this blog is being written, the top 2 regions of Michigan are a step ahead of reopening because of their lower case numbers of virus (for more information on the regions or what stage the reopening is at currently, please visit Michigan.gov).

I have to admit that I was a tad bit nervous sitting down in a restaurant for the first time in almost 4 months. The staff was incredibly conscientious of cleanliness and required that masks were donned whenever not at the table, and I soon was able to relax. It was encouraging to see that, in such a tourist destination, tables were set at least 6 feet apart and everyone was made aware of safety measures.

After breakfast and a botched coffee order thanks to my mother (I adore you!), we went to board the ferry to the island. This particular ferry had only opened to the public days before. I am always interested in how boats and water recreation services deal with the challenges of accommodating a person with a wheelchair, but the Americans With Disabilities Act always expects them to have it figured out (that is an expectation not always met).

I finally got my coffee on Mackinac Island!

This service, however, seemed well acquainted with how to handle a wheelchair. More importantly, they treated the person in the wheelchair (me) with respect and autonomy. The crew offered me choices of where I would like to set, as both rows of seating areas were up or down stairs. On the way to the island, I chose to have the crew help me down the stairs so I could sit with my mother and sister. On the way back, I chose to sit in the cargo area where I could be right next to the rushing water (calm down, Mom, there was a locked barrier!).

There is a lot of walking on the island, and as I am not fond of pushing myself, I was happy to be with people who took up the reins. Even though we did not get to see the entire island (8.2 miles around can be a bit of a hike), we enjoyed walking through the shops and hotels.

Some of the cottages and homes date back to the 19th century, as well as the old military fort. The architecture alone makes for a challenge to those on wheels. There were quite a few shops that, even if they had been open, I wouldn’t be able to go in without assistance. I can only imagine from looking at the antique architecture of cottages and small hotels that there would be little hope in staying there or finding barrier free amenities.

MPVA looks forward to developing our Rollin’ Traveler program to assist hotels in best practices for accessibility.

Still, I truly enjoyed the charm of Mackinac Island and found it surprisingly accessible for a day trip.

Date 3–Over the Bridge

Mighty Mac

On the final day, we decided it was time to see what the UP had in store.

When we had previously crossed the bridge, going to visit friends who lived there, the toll had never been much of an issue. Now with cleanliness practices that the bridge is taking throughout the summer of 2020, there were long lines and wait times. The bridge is only taking credit or debit cards for those that don’t already have a MacPass (a way to quickly pay for those who use the bridge often).

After paying the toll, we enjoyed the first city of the UP–St. Ignace, a small town full of quaint motels and pasty shops. We were able to do the majority of sightseeing from the car. We did, however, find a restaurant to enjoy (a sit down dinner two days in a row, it was almost too much!).

Eating at the Driftwood restaurant in Saint Ignace, Michigan

Our next stop was Castle Rock—basically, a rock sitting atop an overlook of surrounding area and water.

Castle Rock in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

It’s quite a climb to get up to Castle Rock and I was not able to go. It’s difficult sitting in the car or in a parking lot as others experience something that they can only tell me about later. However, I have always tried to have reasonable expectations of accessibility; certain things just can’t be changed or have an elevator added. I want others that I love to experience things, even if I’m not right there beside them.

Even Paul Bunyan is wearing his mask at Castle Rock tourist destination in the UP

With that said, I will loudly and proudly proclaim myself as a disability advocate that will go toe to toe with any business owner, manager, or legislator that is not providing/supporting the accessibility that is provided by the laws that activists with disabilities fought to pass.

In 2020, Americans will celebrate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act that was advocated for and not easily won. To learn more about the ADA and the road that led there, please click here or read the first MPVA blog about disability rights.

Back in My Own Bed

Reflecting on the short getaway, I ponder that for which I’m thankful.

• I am thankful for my mother and my sister who are great company and great sports, willing to flex muscles to help me enjoy an experience.

• I am thankful for Michigan and for every single person that has taken time to thoughtfully consider how best to keep people safe during the health crisis of 2020.

• Lastly, I continue to be grateful for the advocacy and sacrifice of members of my community–the disability community— to ensure equity in laws and in mindsets.

As we embark on celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ADA, let us always remember that “injustice old anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Paralyzed Veterans Respond to COVID-19

This month of April brings new challenges and unique circumstances, just as it brings warmer weather and new leaves.

 

The Board Members of Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America have experienced their own challenges and unique circumstances throughout their lives of service. During this unprecedented crisis in our world, let’s turn to the heroes of this country to consider their perspective on health challenges, isolation, and insight into why we should never give up.

The MPVA Board was asked:

1. How has the current COVID-19 crisis affected your life? (For example: has the stay at home order interfered with your ability to handle health issues related to your paraplegia, are you more isolated, etc. Any positive experiences?)

Board member, Clark Shuler, wrote:

“I don’t think my situation is terribly different from someone who doesn’t have a spinal cord injury, my family is concerned that my wheels might bring in microbes, whereas they can just remove their shoes before coming in the house. That seems to be the main difference! So, I am fortunate to have family that can go to the grocery store, drugstore, etc.

My caregivers have stayed and I have what I need. My van could use a wash, but that can wait. I have shirts at the cleaners, but since I’m not going anywhere it doesn’t really matter if my shirt is pressed!”

Board President, Michael Harris, wrote:

“A couple weeks ago I received a call from the University of Michigan Hospital, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation (PMR) clinic about rescheduling my appointments because of being at higher risk of contracting Covid-19.

(…) it was suggested that I communicate with my physician using my phone/tablet instead of doing so in the outpatient clinic setting. This type of doctor/patient visit is known as Telemedicine.

Telemedicine allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients in remote locations.”

In a phone conversation with Mr. Harris about his switch to telemedicine, he said,

“I didn’t know what my options were.”

He had needed to visit his provider for what turned out to be an ear infection.

Michigan’s governor had declared an Executive Order on March 23 requiring citizens to stay at home, whenever possible, and only allowed for certain “essential” businesses such as hospitals, grocery stores, and pharmacies to remain open. When he started experiencing symptoms on March 24, the majority of VA clinics were beginning to close to non-essential traffic.

That is when Mr. Harris discovered that telemedicine can help with a number of different appointments. Telemedicine is offered throughout VA hospitals/clinics and by a number of medical providers for a variety of health needs—from PMR appointments to routine appointments.

For more information on VA telemedicine opportunities please visit VA.gov/coronavirus to learn about using Secure Messaging through MyHealtheVet to send a message to your provider or to request a telehealth appointment online. You may also call your local VA hospital or individual provider.

2. As 90% of the United States is now under a stay at home order, many citizens find themselves experiencing new limitations on their lives. As a veteran with a spinal cord injury, what would you say to encourage or to bring awareness to able-bodied citizens experiencing these limitations for the first time?

Board member, Ray Brown wrote:

Abiding by this Stay at Home Order is the least I can do to help others stay safe. It helps those that need to do their jobs do so without me being in the way. I don’t look at it as ‘limitations’, but as chance to enjoy life. Slow your roll, so to speak!

We have been given a precious gift (time). Freedom to enjoy family, friends, pets…even our homes. The very things we’ve worked so hard for we now get to enjoy.

When I was in the Military, I longed to be home. It was a precious time at home on leave and it was over in a flash and we were separated again. Enjoy it while you can!”

Board member, Scot Severn wrote:

“Basically, we are choosing to look at it as an extended spring break with our kids around our house. I’m actually enjoying the time with my kids (ages 18, 19, & 21).

It’s hard watching them grow up and go off to college and it’s nice having them home for a while. It’s a little weird not having anyone leave the house, but we always stay stocked up on essentials.

The main thing I’m missing is my weekly massage and chiropractic care but I do have a chair that helps. Missing out on the normal activity of going to the gym 5 times a week with my boys is hard to get used to, but we are working out at home.

Not going to lie, I hate travelling in the spring. I’m usually on the road going to track and field meets but, I’ll keep my focus on the Paralympic games in 2021!”

3. Please share any insights or teaching moments that you have learned through this experience that could inspire or educate others?

Board member, Ray Brown wrote:

” Ya gotta have faith! My motto is, For God & Country. So I’ll share Isaiah 40:31.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

We’re going to get through this… cause that’s how we roll!”

Board member, Robert Vance wrote:

“This is our chance to rediscover what is most valuable and really needed in our lives.”

Board President, Michael Harris wrote:

“Over the years people have thanked me for my service to our country and regretted the fact they did not serve. I always remind them that you do not have to wear a uniform to serve your country.

As our country faces a pandemic, there are people I want to thank: the doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel who are on the front line of the war against COVID-19.

Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and first-responders around the country are facing an unprecedented workload in overstretched health facilities. They are working in stressful and frightening work environments, not just because the virus is little understood, but because in most settings they are underprotected, overworked, and themselves vulnerable to infection.

Our members know first-hand the critical role the medical community has in allowing people with a spinal cord injury/disease to live life to its fullest.

Their dedication, commitment, and courage deserve our deepest appreciation for the countless lives being saved under extreme conditions.

On behalf of MPVA, thank you for a job well done!!” .

Wheels 2020: 3 Moments in Disability Rights History that Shaped My Life in a Wheelchair

Perspective allows me to appreciate moments from the Independent Living Movement that have affected the life that I have been able to live in the 21st century. People often take for granted the struggles others went through to ensure rights we have today. I have been guilty of this many times throughout my life; it is only with awareness of what the IL Movement has done for people with spinal cord injury/disease and all disabilities that has brought me to where I can see what needs to be celebrated and what more there is to do.

Independent Living Philosophy 101

The foundations of Independent Living as a mindset, which rolled into a movement in the first half of the 20th century, are that people with disabilities should have:

• the same rights, options, choices, and access to equitable opportunities as anyone else

• the choice of living in the community
• the right to choose for themselves and to have equitable rights alongside able-bodied peers

There are many other things to understand about the Independent Living philosophy—within society, as well as for those with disabilities; however, for the purposes of my individual story, these are the three that I will focus on.

Grown from Necessity: Equitable Opportunities

My first trip to Lansing, Michigan as a person using a wheelchair

My introduction to the world as a full-time wheelchair user was also my first day of high school. I remember rolling through the halls that first day; those nauseatingly bright hallways with conspiring couples and riotous groups. I could not ignore the barriers to my new existence as I rolled along. Slowly, another restriction revealed itself; the students and teachers hushed as their eyes caught me.

Each group began to whisper about what now, apparently, was the most important thing about me. I was different, and that was saying something in the public school petri dish of labels. The necessity for me to advocate for equal treatment and opportunities for myself had begun.

So too did the seeds that would years later bloom into the IL Movement come from necessity. Injured World War II veterans were entering a world that was not designed for them. These veterans were on the front lines advocating for physical accessibility and advances in medical care, but also among the first to bring awareness to discrimination in federal programs and the need for support. The Paralyzed Veterans of America was founded by a group of veterans with spinal cord injuries in 1946 after returning to the United States. PVA has fought ever since for medical research, rehabilitative support, civil rights, and quality of life opportunities for veterans and those with physical disabilities.

Just as I had, these men realized that the barriers they now faced were from society and perception, as well as from the physical structure of buildings and the construction of opportunities. PVA’s mission–a mission carried out by MPVA in Michigan–is to empower veterans to return home to what they had thought for–freedom and independence. I understand the daily battle between the constructs of society and the effort to remain myself. The IL Movement has been engaging in the battle to advocate for all Americans with disabilities so that they may experience life independent of someone telling them what they can and cannot do.

Choices Bloom from Education: Living in the Community

Ed Roberts Day is January 23

The man widely known to be the Father of the Independent Living Movement is Ed Roberts (January 23, 1939-March 14, 1995). Roberts contracted polio at age 14 and spent 18 months in the hospital before returning home to live his life paralyzed from the neck down. While not giving up on life, it was unclear how he would pursue the dreams that he had from his new position in life.

He finished high school by attending through telephone communication with his mother. When an administrator sought to deny him a diploma because of not completing physical education requirements, his role as an advocate began.

My own role as an advocate began in high school when I was told I could not have a key to the elevator. The key would have given me independent access to half of my classes. I remember being astonished that I was denied something that would aid my education because of a physical limitation; something that had no bearing on my ability to learn.

I can still hear the administrator saying, “If we give you a key, then we will have to give everyone a key who needs to use that elevator because of crutches or any temporary physical ailment.”

My response is seared alongside that memory; “Well, if a football player comes to you expecting ownership of an elevator key because he injured his knee scoring the winning touchdown at the homecoming game, you can go ahead and direct him to me and I will explain why I own a key and he does not.”

Advocating on stage at a high school scholarship program for girls in 2005

Roberts’ self-advocacy had ignited a fight within him, just as it had in me decades later. He knew what he was capable of and would not let other people dictate his options.

When he decided to apply to UC Berkeley, he was told by collegiate powers that be “We’ve tried cripples before, and it didn’t work.”; in their minds, it would be impossible for him to live on campus and attend classes along with able-bodied peers.

Even a vocational rehabilitation counselor thought he was “too severely disabled” to ever work.

Usually when people tell a person with a disability, “You can’t do it!”

They respond, “Watch me”.

Ed Roberts and a fellow member of the Rolling Quads

Roberts was admitted to the University of California Berkeley in 1962. He was followed by many other wheelchair users with severe disabilities that called themselves “The Rolling Quads ”.

Like Ed Roberts, I advocated.

• for accessibility in the theatre department so that individuals using wheelchairs could pursue being thespians or stagecraft

• for more accessible dorm rooms in every apartment on campus
• for equality in opportunities, like castings and internships
• In so many ways, Ed Roberts and his fight for the Rolling Quads set me up to be able to advocate in my century. To have the choice to live in the community where I choose with the supports that I need, is an essential human right that I claim for myself and for all people with disabilities.

The Effort for Self-Determination

As the 20th century wound down, advocates across the US knew the best road to equality for citizens with disabilities was powerful legislation. This legislation would set a standard for rights and anti-discrimination in work, public policy, education, and more.

Led by advocates like Ed Roberts, Judy Heumann, and Justin Dart Jr., advocacy began around what would become the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The event known as the “Capitol Crawl”

Perhaps the key moment in the fight for the ADA was on March 12, 1990. The “Capitol Crawl” consisted of over 60 individuals with physical disabilities, the majority of which were wheelchair users, crawling up the steps of the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

These advocates put themselves on the line to make it known that people with disabilities were here to stay and willing to fight for equal rights.

One of the most inspiring pictures I have ever seen is that of 8 year old Jennifer Keelan crawling up the steps of the Capitol building and declaring “I’ll take all night if I have to!”

This young woman epitomized the importance of advocating for what we know is right for ourselves and for others in our community, and she showed for that message. Pres. George Bush signed the act into law on July 26, 1990 and said at the signing ceremony “Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling.”

Advocacy, Advocacy, Advocacy

As I learned in my own life, there is still so much more to do:

• mindsets that need to be changed
• accessibility that needs to be updated
• opportunities that need to be equitably provided.
• As people like Ed Roberts and young Jennifer Keelan have shown, the disability community must show up and advocate for change.
• I am proud to lend my voice and pen to such amazing disability organizations like the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America, that are doing amazing work to get things right the first time and empower your experience to roll the roads.

Sources:

https://PVA.org/

https://www.independentliving.org/docs5/ILhistory.html

Independent Living History

https://share.America.gov/crawling-up-steps-demand-their-rights/