LDS Site on Disabilities / Getting Out There

Brian found this site about disabilties from our church. This page that I linked lists Ways to Help. .
I like what they said here:
"People with mobility and movement impairments may find it difficult to participate when facing social and physical barriers. Quite often they are individuals of courage and independence who have a desire to contribute to the fullest level of their ability."
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This is my favorite:
"It is okay to ask if someone would like help, but do not assist a person without his or her permission. Consider safety and liability issues. "
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Just yesterday, I had one person grab my groceries from behind me so that she could "help", and then when I got to my car, another lady grabbed my car door to open it for me. Neither of whom spoke to me first. I didn't even see them until after they had touched my stuff. This happens about every other day! I know people are trying to be nice, but at some point, it's just plain inappropriate to touch someone else's purchased groceries and car without their permission. If I had a nickel for every time....

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No wait, I think this one is my favorite too!:

"Show compassion, sensitivity, and sincerity by respecting the individual’s wishes. Maintain a balance between helping and allowing the individual to grow by providing for him or herself."

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That’s been my argument all along, that I need to learn to do things for myself. People are always trying to help, and I know they’re trying to be nice, I really do, but I also really need to learn this.
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March 1st was my one year anniversary of when my physical abilities began declining incredibly quickly. With that anniversary, I realized that I’ve completed my basic lessons on how to do things. I can do pretty much anything I want. I use a grabber for high things, can cook, clean, homeschool, do laundry, and grocery shop. I can also drive a car, go up and down ramps, go over grass and rocks, pop a wheelie, and my newest trick, going in and out of a stepped up doorway.
I can go up the doorway by pulling on the door frame, which I why I can’t use that trick on any step, I have to pull on something. But, I can go down any one step now. From a single outdoor step, to a doorway threshold plus step combined. Anything up to 5 inches high, I have learned to drop from. I can’t just go straight down because my footrest will get caught on the ground.

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What you do is balance on the back two wheels, which I’m great at now, the go forward to the edge of the step, then in one move – with no hesitation – push forward over the threshold, while at the same time bringing your front wheels down (just like landing a plane) to meet the ground at the same time or immediately after your back wheels hit down on the lower step. It has to be in this order. If the front goes down first, you’ll hit footrest instead of wheels. If the back wheels go down alone, you have to be really talented to keep from falling backwards to the ground. So, it’s like falling, and timing the fall to let the wheels land at the proper times in relation to each other. At first it was very scary, falling and being in mid-air for a moment, with no control. But I’ve been practicing for a month now, and now that I’ve got it down, it’s fun to do!

Anyway, the point of all this is that I think I'm ready to allow more help when people want so much to give it. I just needed to know that I could do it first, and now I know. So, I'll work on this. Of course, I've said no to help 7 out of the 8 times it's been offered in the past week since I made this decision, so clearly I have more work to do on it.

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I've also hit a phase in my life where I'm starting to understand why there's a prevalence of people on wheels who do a lot of sports and activities. I need those things too. I need to seriously get out there and have fun. Fear be damned. Murderball (wheelchair rugby) is looking pretty good right now. I think that would be a lot of fun. I've been searching the ends of the earth and finally found some groups, mostly in Dallas however, who have activities I can go to. They have handbikes I can borrow, they have boating trips, and rugby. On our own, our family also wants to try kayaking and archery.

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So, we're using the chair as a motivator to get ourselves to finally get out there and do the activities we've been dreaming about for years but were too unmotivated to schedule. My stronger desire to actually do something physical, combined with the fact that I live with 3 boys who thrive on physical activity has left us no choice -- we've got to go have some fun!! :-)

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By the way, I love this guy and this chair he made (see above picture): http://www.axessoutdoors.com/