Continuing the questions.

Tonight I have decided to finish answering Annies questions.

It has been a very interesting experience, working out the answers.

Here we go again.......

2.      How did you end up in the position you are in now?

Fl    Flu >> pneumonia >> a virus.

4.      What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

DiDifficulties are many, losing my independence, having to be dependent on other people for the basic things of washing, toileting, dressing, moving from bed to chair. Other people thinking that because I live in a power chair I have lost my intelligence, my power of speech and I am deaf. People talk to my carer about me e.g. what does she want to eat? Lack of access to most buildings – wheelchairs do not climb stairs. Lack of Job opportunities.

5.      Have you achieved anything in your years in your chair (medals, trophies e.t.c)? What are/were they?

Y Yes I have achieved many things, in sport I won the first “run” I did as a disabled athlete.

MMy main achievements have to do with advocacy, after two years I have at last persuaded City Link to allow me and any other power chair user ,who feels capable, to run in the long RCH good Friday run.This is a run through the Domain tunnel and over the Bolte Bridge,it was a hard fight, as they could not understand that I am as safe, if not safer than someone running on two feet.

 I   I am still trying to persuade the Victorian Marathon to allow power chair runners to compete in the Vic Marathon and other Marathons.

I II have persuaded local Government to put in a path for people in chairs to access the local bike paths. I  had a curb cut put in at Caulfield station so that people with a disability of many sorts can use the taxi rank without “walking” down the middle of a busy road.

MMy latest achievement is to persuade the Glen Eira Council to look at disabled parking spaces in the municipality and change the way they are made e.g. Long cuts in the foot paths for parallel parking, and a designated bus parking place in Elsternwick shopping centre. If this passes the final council approval it will be a first in Victoria.

“ To me the advocacy wins are much more important to winning at sport; these things will benefit many people, not just me”

6.      What are some of your goals for the future?

MMy goals for the future – to continue fighting for equality for people with a disability, to keep myself as active both mentally and physically as I can.

TTo train and register, the first privately trained service dog in Australia, this would give many people the chance to have a dog to help them live their lives a little easier. Overseas this happens; if there is a test that service dogs have to pass I want my beautiful, well trained dog, to be able to sit the test.

7.      If you met a Genie and they granted you 3 wishes, what would the wishes be?

 

   Not the one that many able people seem to want for me – to walk again! There are many things that I think are important. >>>>

1.              Tolerance and equality for all people, no matter their race, their colour or their religion [or lack of]. This would mean no more wars; unfortunately I am certain this will not occur in mine, or my grand children’s life times.

2.              A world that is not being destroyed by our human greed.

3.              A chance for all people with or without a disability to reach their potential, this would mean enough food, shelter, and schooling, these are basic human rights.

8.      Have you gotten better over the years?

   How?

   The simple answer to that question is no!

  I have however worked out many alternate ways to do things that I used to do before I became disabled. I am always thinking of solutions to problems. E.g. I can play with my dog by getting in my sling. [ Annie, look at my blog for further information about this, and use your own words]

9.      Tell me a bit about your disability

  I    I think I covered this in an earlier question, see above.

   How did your life change at first?

    I was devastated! I became very depressed for quite a long time. 

 Then I realised that like everything else in my life, I had two choices, 

I could give up and die, or I could fight for life.

   For me the decision was life, it is different now, but it is still an adventure that I will follow until it ends.

A         Anne. 26 / 5 / 2011

 Well that is what I wrote, it made me think, and probably if I had more time I would have writen more. Probably just as well I didn't.

           

      Until next time ---- Think of the world we are leaving

                                     for our grandchildren!!

postscript, sorry about the double letters at the beginning of paragraphs -- blame Blogger!!!!!!