Crossing the Mile High “Swinging” Bridge at Grandfather Mountain in a Wheelchair – A Dream Come True

I remember going on a day trip to Grandfather Mountain near Linville, North Carolina a few years after my disabling accident when I was still living in Charlotte, NC. Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains and it’s best known for its mile high “swinging” bridge that links two of the mountain’s rocky peaks. The panoramic views from the bridge are supposedly spectacular, but I never got to see it because there was no wheelchair access to the bridge when I visited. Needless to say that I was very excited when I read an article about a new structure built at the top of Grandfather Mountain that provides wheelchair access to the bridge. Read more

Scouting with a Disability: A Story of Inspiration, Goals and a Very Worn Pair of Shoes

As with any organization, The Boy Scouts of America have rules and guidelines that must be adhered to. When Nathaniel Schrader of Chantilly, Virginia, joined a local Boy Scout troop, the leadership was hesitant. They werenʼt sure how a boy with cerebral palsy would be able to fit in or even progress within the ranks with all his limitations. The leadership offered information on another troop in the area that served mobility impaired scouts but Nathaniel wanted to stay with his Cub Scout friends, all of whom chose this particular troop. Leadership wasnʼt sure how to teach a scout with so many limitations. Read more

These Disabled Musicians Rock the House

Javier Pena never saw himself working with people with disabilities, let alone leading a 25-member band whose members struggle with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and blindness. He didn’t really understand what he got himself into at first when he accepted a symbolic position to help socialize disabled folks with music.

But what Pena has been able to accomplish with a group of disabled musicians is extraordinary. Now his band, known as the Spirit of Goodwill, is a group of legitimate performers, complete with a blues-belting lead singer, a well-trained choir, a horn section, keyboards, guitar, and drums. They have become sought-after entertainers and their story has just recently been turned into the award winning documentary For Once in My Life.

You can read the entire heart-warming and inspiring story, a contribution by Jenny Inglee, here.

Cerebral Palsy Will Not Stop Steve Wampler from Climbing El Capitan

Have you heard about Steve Wampler? In September, he plans to become the first person with cerebral palsy to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan, a vertical granite rock twice the height of the Empire State Building. Because of Steve’s condition, he will rely solely on upper body strength to reach the top. The ascent will take six days, with about 20,000 pull downs and the help of two skilled climbers.

One of the amazing things about Steve is that he’s climbing for something much greater than personal achievement. He is climbing to raise funds for his wilderness camps for kids with disabilities. He is so inspiring that he’s even gotten the attention of Ellen DeGeneres and Will Ferrell.

To read the whole story behind Steve’s climbing endeavor, his foundation, and an interesting personal anecdote about how he met his wife check out this uplifting article by Jenny Inglee.

Dance Therapy for Disabilities

I recently stumbled across a wonderful article in the New York Times looking at dance therapy in treating cerebral palsy. The most wonderful thing to see what that a man who for years had walked with a very distinctive gait that often caused others to stare at him was able to, through a process of “awakening” knowledge of his muscles, alter his walking pattern so that he is able to move in something very close to a standard human gait. It’s a very inspiring and touching story and I definitely recommend giving it a read  – here’s a quote to give you an idea of the story:

They started at the top and worked down — sternum, sacrum, knees — with Mr. Mozgala’s body and brain opening paths of communication that had not existed.

“There’s a lot of howling, screaming, crying, sweating,” Ms. Rogoff said. But “we often have these huge eureka moments.”

The other day, for instance, it was brain, meet lower-leg tendon.

“I said today, ‘I can feel my Achilles,’ ” Mr. Mozgala said. “You have to realize, I have never felt my Achilles before.”

The thought of someone who has never been able to feel a body suddenly generating a connection there gives me the chills. So if you’d like to read more you can see the whole story here at the New York Times.