CNN Hero Dana Cummings Teaches the Disabled to Surf

People who surf will tell you that there is something immensely freeing and satisfying in riding a wave and feeling the power of the ocean. After losing a leg in a car accident, Dana Cummings discovered that freedom and made it his mission to share it with other disabled people.

AmpSurf, short for the Association of Amputee Surfers, was founded by Dana and is a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities learn to surf. Many of them can’t imagine that they’d be able to get on a surfboard, and nearly all of them are nervous, but they all end up surfing.

Dana has said that he just wants everyone to be able to feel the rehabilitative power of surfing and the ocean, and this video shows that he is making a difference.

Congratulations to you Dana, and thank you for improving the lives of so many people.

Wheelchair or Tank?

I’m not sure whether this should be classified as a wheelchair or a tank… take a look and let us know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsyDqlRrSWE&feature=fvsr

A Helpful Disability Resource

Have you heard about the National Organization on Disability? If not, you are missing out an important resource to help you live life to the fullest as a disabled person. Founded in 1982, the National Organization on Disability is supported by grants from such notable organizations as the Ford Foundation, Lockheed-Martin, UPS, and the American Red Cross, just to name a few.

The mission of the National Organization on Disability (NOD) is to expand the participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. Our current focus is on improving employment prospects for America’s 33 million working-aged Americans with disabilities.

Although many of the programs of NOD are far-reaching and have impact at the state level, they still have plenty or resources to help the disabled. If you have a few minutes, take a look at what they have to offer.

National Organization on Disability

A Factory Built Wheelchair Accessible Van

Anyone who has had to purchase a wheelchair accessible van, ramp van, or a lift van knows how expensive the customization can be. Taking a factory made van, lowering the floor, and installing a ramp is a labor intensive process. Nearly all of these vans are customized by relatively small specialty shops, and while these shops often do great work, factory support isn’t there if something goes wrong.

So we were excited to see that the first factory built wheelchair accessible van will be available soon. Dubbed the “MV-1″, and looking like a cross between a truck and a minivan, this new vehicle could prove to be very useful.

Wheelchair Pride has a nice story on this great new vehicle – you can see their article here for more information.

More Extreme Wheelchair Stunts with Aaron Fotheringham

Aaron Fotheringham has taken a fact of life for him – being in a wheelchair – and converted that into something that can show others the power of resilience. In the first 20 seconds of this video, Aaron falls or crashes several times. It’s not the crashes that are important, though. It’s that he gets back up, keeps trying new tricks, and has almost single-handedly created the extreme sport of hardcore sitting.

We think Aaron is great and hope he keeps trying tricks and keeps living his dream.

Celebrate Ed Roberts Disability Rights Day

UC Berkeley may be one of the most accessible, disabled-friendly universities in the United States. Much of that is thanks to one man, Ed Roberts.

Roberts, who became a quadriplegic after contracting polio as a teenager, was admitted as a student in 1962 to the Berkeley campus. He immediately found difficulty in obtaining campus housing, however, as campus housing officials refused to accommodate the 800-lb iron lung he had to sleep in. Read more

Obama Orders Increased Employment of the Disabled

Yesterday, on July 26, President Obama issued an Executive Order to increase the Federal Employment of the Disabled. Citing the 54 million Americans living with disabilities and the need to set an example and reduce workforce discrimination, the order notes that the Federal Government should be a model for the hiring of the disabled.

Additionally, the order has specific time-lines of 60 days and 120 days for federal agencies to design and implement strategies to increase the hiring of the disabled.

We think this is a really encouraging step and commend President Obama for his dedication to employing qualified Americans, no matter what their physical condition.

To read the full press report and text of the Executive Order, visit Whitehouse.gov.

The ADA Turns 20

This year, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 20 years old, and while not perfect, this piece of legislation has made a profound difference in the lives of countless Americans. As part of our recognition of the impact of the ADA, we’ll be highlighting stories of people whose lives have been positively impacted by the changes brought about by the ADA.

Today we have for you a story from the Minnesota Public Radio News. The Gray sisters, only a year apart in age, have lived profoundly different lives – but both of their lives have been touched by disability.

It’s an excellent story and one that I think really highlights some of the changes in attitude the ADA has brought about. The ADA really put in motion a shift in mindset towards the view that the disabled are valued members of society, and that if you open doors to allow them to contribute, your society as a whole will be all the richer for it.

The short radio program is definitely worth listening to, and if you’d like to read the full story it’s on the Minnesota Public Radio web site: Disabilities Act at 20.

Journey Forward – Changing Lives One at a Time

A few weeks ago we discovered and posted about a nonprofit started with the mission of helping to improve the lives of those with disabilities. Founded by Dan Cummings after he regained the ability to walk again through intense exercise, Journey Forward aims to help those with spinal cord injuries recover function and improve the quality of their lives. After reading about the program on their web site, we wanted to know more and recently had the privilege of interviewing Journey Forward and their founder Dan. Their words were a dose of inspiration, and reinforced our belief in the importance of helping others achieve their goals. Read on to hear about how Journey Forward is making a difference and changing lives one at a time.

Read more

Turn Your Wheelchair into a Hand Cycle in 30 Seconds

Ok, this one is short and sweet, but I think it’s an awesome demonstration of a really great device. Rio Mobility makes the Dragonfly – a hand cycle wheelchair attachment that takes less than 30 seconds to connect – and you can connect it while you are in your wheelchair.

Rio Mobility also makes an electric hand cycle attachment and seems to be creating some really innovative wheelchair products. We definitely recommend taking a look at their site just to see some of the cool stuff they’ve come up with.

What do you think? Would you want to use a hand cycle attachment like this one? Let us know!

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