Going back to work is one of the scariest things when you have a spinal cord injury. Everything seems impossibly more difficult, especially when it comes to getting your butt from Point A to Point B, i.e., from your house to work that is.

Maybe you can still drive yourself in your old car, but you have to use hand controls now, or maybe you live in a huge metro where there’s subways – how in the heck are you going to get to work now? From an amazing video profiling a vent-dependent quad kindergarten teacher to a paraplegic who commutes into NYC each day, here are three videos showing how they got back to work.

In our first video, we get to meet the amazing Johanna Johnson, a C1-2 vent-dependent quadriplegic, and kindergarten teacher from British Columbia, Canada. In the video she talks about how she landed her job, which was many years in the making. Johanna was injured when she was 12 and wasn’t sure what she wanted to get into career-wise when she first started college.

But after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Math, Johanna knew teaching was her calling and began her epic search of finding a job, and she *did* run into some hiring discrimination along the way. But she finally snagged a FT job, and teaches with an assistant who does what she can’t (passing out things, helping with set-up). Watch her video from the BC Paraplegic Association

Our second video proves it’s possible you can do it all boring morning routine-wise without needing to stand up. The video comes from a favorite of ours, Andrew Angulo, a paraplegic and father from Cali. In his video, he shows a typical morning in his life, from transferring into his car to driving the kids to school (and eventually making his way to work).

It’s a great 4 minute video, especially for anyone newly injured. He talks about how good it was for him to get back into his routine, even if it’s physically harder, and dealing with LA traffic. Ready to watch a get-back-to-work rockstar, along with some awful LA traffic? Watch his video

And our third video comes from aspiring actor/singer Joseph Genera, a paraplegic of 30 years from Gilford, Connecticut who refuses to be deterred by the long commute to NYC. In the video, he explains his route from CT to NYC, including catching the train to New Haven, then hopping on another train at Union Station, which finally brings him into NYC.

Once in NYC, this intrepid wheeler uses the awesome service, Accessible Dispatch, which are accessible cabs (they have a 233 van fleet). These cabs will pick you up anywhere in NYC. All you need to do is download the app to connect with them, and when you want a cab, just alert them and a cab will be there asap. Check out his video

And don’t forget, work doesn’t have to be mundane or something you can’t wait to get over with, especially if you’re a spinal cord injury survivor. Try to find something you love, and you will notice a huge uptick in your happiness.

How do you get to work each day?

Watch the videos!

- Paraplegic actor who lives in CT showing how he gets into NYC for jobs

- Paraplegic morning routine of bringing the kids to school/work/LA commute

- Vent-dependent quadriplegic kindergarten teacher

The post Getting to Work After a Spinal Cord Injury appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

Anyone that has recently experienced a spinal cord injury may understandably find themselves discouraged or lethargic. But it’s important to remain as active as possible despite limitations.

The question is, of course, what sort of activity can properly be done from a wheelchair? There are certain activities that can be performed depending on your disability and advisement from your doctors or, if you are working with one, a physical therapist.

What Exercise Can I Do?

Cardiovascular

These exercises help with heart rate and endurance. Rowing machines are especially popular among people in wheelchairs, as they provide a great cardiovascular workout while also conditioning the upper body.

Depending on your location, you may find that your local gym not only has rowing machines, but tracks or studios that are designed for wheelchair sprinting. This is a great way to for those recently placed into a wheelchair to get accustomed to using it while also getting a nice workout.

If your doctor allows it, you may also want to look into swimming or, once you’ve gotten comfortable with the wheelchair, some form of wheelchair sport. There are variations of games such as basketball and badminton that are very popular among individuals in wheelchairs.

Muscle Strengthening

Proper strengthening of your muscles is crucial because sitting in a wheelchair can cause excessive atrophy. In terms of muscle toning, it’s suggested that you should work on the muscle groups that are constantly being asked to push your wheelchair forward. Proper training makes these muscle groups less prone to injury.

Strengthening your shoulders and back is key if you want to stay in shape while in a wheelchair. These types of exercises can be done from home using a series of resistance bands. You can also check with your local gyms to see if they have any wheelchair accessible equipment. While at the gym, ask if they know of any local programs or organizations for those with disabilities that are looking to stay active.

Other Activities

As mentioned above, there are various competitive sports you can participate in once you are comfortable with your wheelchair. From fast-paced basketball to leisurely strolls around wheelchair accessible nature trails, there is no end to the physical activities you can partake in.

As you can see, a wheelchair does not have to hinder you at all when it comes to staying active. As long as you can stay within your comfort zone and follow your doctor’s orders, you should have enough physical activities to keep your hands full.

Read More at The Mobility Resource: 7 Surprising (And Odd) Facts About Spinal Cord Injuries

About the author: Chris Miller is the director of interactive marketing for The Mobility Resource, an online adaptive driving marketplace. His team helps people with disabilities regain driving freedom through vocational rehab, veteran affairs and several non-profit and private organizations.

A graduate of The University of Akron, Chris holds a bachelor of arts in public relations and consumer marketing. Prior to his time at The Mobility Resource, he was an account director at a Cleveland-based marketing communications firm. It was there he serviced accounts for major brands including; the Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers, Chevrolet, Reebok, ESPN and the U.S. Army. Chris has been published on disability.gov, ADAP.org and blog.NCPAD.org, to name a few.

Born with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of muscular dystrophy, he is passionate about all things disability. In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his daughter while they dish up amazing meals for friends and family. Say hello to him on twitter @SweetMobility.

The post Basic Principles of Staying Active While in a Wheelchair appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

Winner of 15 Paralympic gold medals in wheelchair racing but first, a humanist and one of Canada’s greatest athletes, Chantal Petitclerc (pronounced “petty-claire”) is one of the most talented paralyzed athletes to grace this planet. And Canada is making sure no one forgets.

Growing up in a small town in Quebec, Chantal Petitclerc lived a quiet life on her family farm. And when she was 13, her idyllic life came to a sudden halt when a heavy barn door fell on her, breaking her back. Since that day, Chantal has been living her life as a paraplegic and she’s been unstoppable.

Why she’s fearless

When Chantal was first injured, she was young and not quite sure of anything yet, partly because of her age and also just like all of us are after spinal cord injury. And after she went back to high school, one of her physical education teachers recommended she try wheelchair racing, and she got hooked right away.  Even though she placed dead last in her first race (and experienced the race from a homemade racing chair), in that moment she discovered what she was born for.

And she began to race in competitions in Canada. After several regional and national championships under her belt, her skill was obvious, and she competed in her first Paralympics in 1992 in Barcelona. And it was here where she won her first Paralympic medals, two bronze medals – for the 200 m and the second for the 800 m.

Four years later at the Atlanta games, Chantal returned to Paralympics, this time tasting her first gold. She won three silver medals (the 400 m, the 800 m and the 1500 m) and she won her first two gold medals of her career, winning gold in the 100 m and the 200 m.

You can begin to see a pattern – Chantal is definitely a fierce competitor.  Maybe she wasn’t born athletic, but her injury certainly made her so, which I think is inspiringly ironic.  Chanel went on to compete in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, winning two silver medals and two gold medals (in the 200 m and the 800 m). And she really catapulted into fame after she competed in the 2004 Athens Paralympics, where she won (count them) five gold medals. Chantal was the best at wheelchair racing for several years.

And the last games she competed in before retiring were the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. She won 5 more gold medals, and was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as the Canadian Athlete of the Year and Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year the same year for her stellar performance in Beijing.

What’s next?

In 2009 after officially retiring, one of the coolest rewards was also bestowed on Chantal – she got a star on Canada’s walk of fame.  Watch her acceptance speech here

Also after retiring, Chantal became a motivational speaker, which is something she does to this day.  She’s also coaching. When her old coach moved onto coaching the British Paralympic racing team after she retired, she was asked to help coach the team in an official capacity as one of their coaches during the London 2012 Paralympics. And she’s currently a personal coach for star British wheelchair racer, Shelly Woods. Here’s a pic of them together last month

But don’t think Chantal isn’t stretching her athletic wings since she’s no longer competing. She keeps pushing herself and is currently learning a new adapted sport – handcycling. You gotta love how Chantal constantly pushes herself.  She’s unstoppable and so positive; a definite superstar in Canada, the spinal cord injury community and beyond.

Have you had the honor of meeting Chantal?

Visit Chantal Petitclerc’s site

Watch the videos!

- In a speaker capacity, Chantal talks about training for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics

- Chantal’s acceptance speech for her award at the 2009 Canada’s Walk of Fame

- Chantal talks about why people with disabilities should get involved in a sport

The post SCI Superstar: Chantal Petitclerc appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

If you have sturdy stomach and a sense of adventure, adapted sailing is one of the most thrilling sports to explore after an injury. Peaceful, beautiful, and incredibly challenging, the para and quad sailors of the world can’t get enough of it. And it’s no wonder, there’s magic in them there waters.

And let’s not forget, adapted sailing is also an official Paralympic sport. You will find dedicated disabled yachtsmen and sailors all over the globe. The sport truly has become an awesome fusion of ancient knowledge and modern technology. Check out our three videos showing some of the bravest sailors with spinal cord injuries we could find.

Now if you’ve ever dreamed of running off by yourself into the Great Outdoors, this video is for you. Meet Jordan, a 20 something paraplegic, who was injured back in 2000 snowboarding. Since last August, he left his home Oregon for an epic road trip, and has been on the road since. He sleeps in his Jeep Wagoneer and has been all over the country and made hundreds of videos documenting his adventure. Visit his site

Jordan’s ultimate goal however is to use his road trip to get him sponsorship to purchase a sailboat one day, where he wants to take off from Hawaii for more epic adventures. He totally reminds me of Gizzly Adams or Jon Krakauer and his book “Into the Wild.” In this particularly cool video he’s made, watch him sail Lake Tahoe with his dog, and make a pit-stop to make coffee on his boat

Another jaw-droppingly talented sailor with a spinal cord injury is famous yachtsman and Member of the Order of the British Empire (award to him in 2010) Geoff Holt. He’s also a member of SPINALpedia – wetwheels – and has been a C6 quadriplegic since breaking his neck in 1984 in a swimming accident in Tortuga (an island in the Caribbean) when he was 18.

He spent several years on land, but eventually got back into sailing, operating a sailboat by himself with the help of electronic controls, and sometimes his wife who comes along on some of his voyages. In 2007, he become the first quadriplegic yachtsman to sail solo around Great Britain, and in 2010 he set an even more impressive record – and became the first quad to sail across the Atlantic. How does he do it? Watch this awesome video showing him and his wife on day 8 of their Atlantic crossing

And the last video – a custom accessible yacht. That’s right, a gorgeous yacht made to work perfectly for a captain who can’t walk, and the lengths at how accessible this boat is quite impressive. In this video of the Verity K, a ship docked in the UK, watch Mike Wood, a C6 quad, give a tour of his accessible yacht

The boat has a side cut-out, enabling him to wheel right on, and there’s also a lift to bring him below deck. The kitchen, the bedrooms, he can reach it all (disabled sailors all over the world are salivating for this thing). Take a tour of the Verity K

Adapted sailing, despite the expense and difficulty, is without question worth every cent and bead of sweat. It’s definitely for the hardcore quads and paras of the world, those who choose adrenaline over comfort, and we love them for it. Watching these men sail completely unlimited definitely lifts the spirit

Find an accessible sailing program near you

Have you went to an adapted sailing program?

Watch the videos!

- On-the-road paraplegic Jordan sails solo with his dog

- Profile of the amazing Geoff Holt, British yachtsman, first quadriplegic to cross the Atlantic Ocean

- Tour of an accessible yacht

The post These Sailors Don’t Need Legs to Sail appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

A dedicated, hard-working family man is something Chad Hymas has always been, but the incredibly ironic happened as he rushed back to the homestead to watch his young son take his first steps – a 1 ton bale of hay landed on him, taking away his ability to walk. Since that fateful day, Chad has went on to become one of the most dynamic speakers on the speaking circuit.

Why he’s fearless

Now 37 years old, it’s been 10 years since his injury and Chad’s life, both professionally and personally, has grown in some amazing ways. Motivational speaking is something he got into relatively right away after his injury, spurred by his wife Shondell. And he began at the civic level – speaking at area schools and businesses.

But Chad is the kind of speaker you can’t help but be drawn do. He’s incredibly candid in every speech he gives, never too embarrassed to explain certain aspects of paralysis to make an important point. Able-bodied crowds can’t get enough of him. He’s grown into such a sought after speaker in fact as a member of the National Speakers Association, he gave 220 speeches last year traveling over 300,000 miles. That’s a whole lot of speaking, and traveling. Not surprisingly, Chad has some funny airline stories (link).

Chad’s story and his message, several messages actually, that he touches on are incredibly powerful. He talks about how you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, overcoming emotional paralysis, why you shouldn’t worry about where you’re going to land (“You don’t need legs when you have wings.”) and personal accountability.

And speaking to business and Fortune 500 companies is a huge part of what he does. He’s spoken at Wells Fargo, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AT&T, Rainbird, IHC, American Express, Prudential Life, Vast FX, Zion Securities, and hundreds more. As his notoriety as a speaker grew, he was even a Hall of Fame Speaker inductee in 2011.

What’s next?

When Chad was injured, his two sons were quite little, not they’ve grown into sturdy young men and his family has two new additions as well – Gracie, a beautiful 5 year old girl they adopted, and Kyler, another young boy they’ve welcomed into their family. Despite speaking more than ever these days, he’s also busy with his family just as much.

Chad can’t be as hands-on on the family farm in Rush Valley, Utah as he was, but he still helps out on the family farm by driving on the land and checking up on the animals from his truck. He loves to point out whenever he can that his accident was not a tragedy. You just figure out new ways to do things, like farming from a truck, that he does now.

I will end with my favorite quote from Chad, something that definitely alludes to how he’s adapted to everything in life. “Dreams aren’t destroyed by circumstances. They’re destroyed by what you believe.”

Chad Hymas’ site

Have you been moved by Chad’s words? What was the message?

Watch the videos!

- See Chad and his family on their ranch, introducing his family

- Shondell, Chad’s wide, recounts his accident

- Chad’s business motivational speech

- Chad talks about how a bad Southwest flight changed his perspective in life

The post SCI Superstar: Chad Hymas appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

Water skiing may have been invented in Minnesota decades ago, but it’s become one of the most popular water sports in the world, and this is especially the case among people with disabilities. It may seem like a lot of work – getting in and out of the water – not mention the need of a boat and a rather expensive ski, but if you have the help, adapted water skiing can be one of the best ways to have a blast if you’re paralyzed.

Our first video comes from the British Disabled Water Ski Association. In this video, a guy with a great British accent goes over the basics of the sport; and they show it all.  It starts by showing how they get people ready to ski their first time by letting them practice in the pool first.

They put them on a inflatable tied to a rope so they can practice their balance. I’ve never seen this before, so this is quite interesting.  Where I’m from, they just put you out on the water with an assistant until you feel comfortable on the ski, then you say, “Hit it,” and you take off. But I kind of like this method better, especially if you’re not very comfortable in the water after an injury.

The video also shows how to use a slalom sit ski, and you get to see a great clip of Indy Fahey, a world champion water skier from Britain.  She talks about how water skiing is one of her favorite ways to get out of her wheelchair. Watch the video

Our second video is a fun little 53 second clip of James Hektner, a 35 year old T6/7 paraplegic, water skiing on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia, Canada.  If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to wow your friends sitting in your boat as you’re skiing, this fun video will show it’s possible. Watch James ski on a beautiful Canadian lake

In the third video, this video show it’s possible to build a water skier pyramid with disabled athletes. So cool! From Ucanski2, an adapted skiing organization, watch as able-bodied and disabled skiers create a pyramid after a few tries. Quite awesome? You know it. Watch the pyramid come together

And if you love first-person perspectives, you’ll love this water ski video showing Mark “The Animal” Turner, a national water ski champion longtime wheelchair-user, going off a jump. He lives in California and has been adapted water skiing since he was 13. Watch him catch some air from his perspective

Summer is nearly here, and adapted water ski clinics are rearing to open, if they’re not already. So if you’re interested in water skiing and would like to see if any clinics are near you, check out this great link from Adaptive Aquatics to find out.

Have you tried adapted water skiing yet?

Watch the videos!

- An overview of adapted water skiing from the British Disabled Water Ski Association sport

- A T6 paraplegic water skiing in British Columbia

- A water skier pyramid with able-bodied and disabled skiers

- A first-person perspective in a sit-ski going over a jump

The post High H2O adrenaline: Adapted water skiing appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

He may be no super hero, but up until a few months ago, Lenin Moreno was the most powerful person in the world with a spinal cord injury. A paraplegic from a robbery shooting in 1998, Moreno went on to become the Vice President of Ecuador, holding the highest state office ever achieved by a paralyzed individual since well, FDR.

Why he’s fearless

Lenin Moreno, 59, is paralyzed, but he is also one of the most enlightened individuals to hold such a high public office in recent memory. Growing up in the rural Amazon forest, Lenin was raised among natives and Latinos, giving him an amazing inter-connectedness attitude he holds till this day, and he was raised by a father who believed in helping the less fortunate. This upbringing molded him into a man with serious deep convictions.

For starters, after his injury, he took the positive road out by believing in the power of laughter, and went on to write not one but several books on the importance of it. One of his books is titled, “Ríase, no sea enfermo” (Laugh, don’t be sick). Laughter, smiling, being positive…it’s the little things.

And recently, after 7 amazing years as the Vice President of Ecuador (he started out as a lawyer, eventually getting into politics), Moreno decided to retire by his own volition after serving from 2006 to 2013 alongside his running mate and President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa.  ”Power comes with a stroke of fortune and you should quickly leave it behind,” Moreno believes. “But while you are in that space, you must take advantage of it to realize your dearest ambition. For me, that was to promote the rights of the disabled.”

And this is where Moreno’s story becomes amazing. When he first entered office, he discovered Ecuador was only spending $2 million a year on social services for the disabled. In the 7 years he served, he helped change that number to $150 million a year, and instated a $300/month Social Security-like program for its disabled citizens too. The country now also provides prosthetics to people who need them, making them employable, as well as wheelchairs and Braille books to those with visual impairments. This program is called Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission. Watch an overview of all they’ve achieved

Moreno personally visited the homes of hundreds of people with disabilities, some who have never left their homes before, to bring awareness to this underrepresented population. His disability rights improvements in Ecuador have been so vast that it even got him nominated for Nobel Peace Prize last year. He didn’t win, but it certainly put the plight of people with disabilities on the world stage where it belongs. Watch this video celebrating his work

While Vice President, he’s also been a champion for rainforest preservation, even meeting with Leonardo Di Caprio and Edward Norton last year, both renowned for their environmentalist passions. They discussed further preservation of the pristine Yasuni area. Read about their meeting

What’s next?

And this is just the beginning of this passionate man. It’s no wonder he’s surrounded by a loving family and has millions of adoring fans. He has a wife of 20 years Irina, and two beautiful adult daughters, and recently he became a fan boy himself when he met Stephen Hawking last year, which is in part why he’s retiring. Now that he’s officially out of public office, he wants to study the link between quantum physics and human values.

And there’s a rumor that Lenin may not be done with politics; not by a long shot. Some are speculating think there’s a chance he’ll run for the presidency of Ecuador in 2017.  Now if that did happen, that would be completely awesome.

In the meantime, Lenin is enjoying some time off, brushing up on his singing skills (yet another passion of his), and is back at humor writing. Maybe a tell-all book on the funnies that occurred when he was in office is his next book? One can only hope.

What do you think of Lenin Moreno? Do you think more leaders should take his lead?

Watch the videos!

- Awesome bio of Lenin Moreno (with English translation)

- Lenin Moreno singing a traditional Ecuadorian song

- Overview of the Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission

- A video showing Lenin’s dedication to the disabled population of Ecuador

- Lenin speaking to the government of Ecuador last August

The post SCI Superstar Lenin Moreno appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

Perhaps the most asked question to people with spinal cord injuries is, “How do you manage so well?” They want to know our secret (as if we have one). Maybe we do and have no idea. I do know this though – going through a spinal cord injury can strengthen you like nothing else.

From quadriplegics on ventilators to walking paraplegics, we all cope in our own way, and I love how many of us have gone a step further- making videos sharing what we’ve learned with the world. Here are three videos straight from real folks with spinal cord injuries, opening up their hearts and souls.

Billy from Seattle

In our first video, meet Billy Price, a great speaker and C6 quadriplegic from Seattle, Washington. In this video, professionally made by the University of Washington Medical Center, he opens up about his injury, which happened when he was in college (he was sleepwalking and fell out of a three story window, breaking his neck and back).

He talks about how in the beginning… he thought life wasn’t worth living if he couldn’t walk, and then he saw the pain in his mother’s eyes when he said that. As years past, he found out how wrong he was – you can still find success and have fun.

Billy went back to college and graduated in five years with an engineering degree. He knows he could have crawled into a hole, but he refused to. He still wants to walk everyday if he could, “but it’s not an excuse to stop living,” he says (love this line). The video also shows his cool downtown Seattle condo and his awesome adapted VW van. Watch the video

Margarita from Denver

The second video comes from a beautiful woman by the name of Margarita Verano.  In 2010, she broke her back at the T12 level while riding a motorcycle tandem in Medellin, Colombia. To cope, she views her spinal cord injury as a rebirth, and she says her injury hasn’t slowed her down one bit. Instead “these wheels were meant to ride,” she says. And she has done some awesome things since her injury.

One of the most impressive is become a certified yoga teacher.  She’s also gotten back into kayaking, a sport she loved before her injury (she grew up in Miami on the beach, buy now lives in Denver, Colorado). In her great homemade video, she shows photos from her life pre and post-injury, and reflects on what she believes her injury means – a second chance to live consciously and with purpose. Watch her video

Brian from South Carolina

And our last video comes from Brian, a paraplegic and avid motorcyclist from South Carolina.  I love this homemade video because it doesn’t beat around the bush.  He tells it just like it is – SCI is not fun, but he gives very practical and helpful advice on how to cope (he helps a lot of injured men online).

Staying busy was the number one thing he says that helped him the first year of his injury. He recommends everybody find something to keep them busy right away after an injury. He worked tirelessly to find a new way to ride his motorcycle after his injury, and find a way did he ever.

He also gives more great advice. One of the biggest – you gotta fight the fight. And another, you can still find things that make you happy. He also talks about the importance of finding normalcy, which can help immensely in the beginning. When he got back to work, his ability to deal with his injury (mentally) became that much stronger. “You have to fight to be happy.” Watch his video

They say dealing with a spinal cord injury is 90% mental and 10% physical, and they may be right.  I do know that the best advice usually comes from people who have experienced it personally, and that makes these videos priceless.

How do you coped with your spinal cord injury?  What tips would you give a newbie?

Watch the videos!

- A new C6 quad from the University of Washington talks about moving forward

- Margarito Verano’s poignant video on her rebirth post-SCI

- Brian, a paraplegic, opens up on how he copes

The post Coping advice from the pros appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

Stunning right? Tamara Mena, a paraplegic from California, is one of the most positive women you’ll ever meet. She’s an ambassador for Esko Bionics, the cutting-edge biotech company that creates exoskeletons for people with paralysis, as well as a model and motivational speaker.

Why she’s fearless

Born and raised in Leon, Mexico, Tamara moved to California with her mom when she was 13. It was in the US is where this over-achiever in school set her sights on college. But in 2005, when she was on a weekend getaway in Mexico with her boyfriend, the taxi they were in hit a horse on the road, with the horse landing on the car killing her boyfriend, and paralyzing Tamara instantly.

After returning home for months of rehab, she decided to not let the tragedy she went through diminish her spirit…or her ambition. She was determined to return to college and graduate with her Bachelor’s degree, which she finally achieved when she received a communication studies degree from California State University Stanislaus. .

After graduation, Tamara launched her motivational speaking career and right away she got one of the coolest gigs imaginable – she was selected as a test pilot for Esko Bionics, the world-renowned company creating exoskeletons for people with spinal cord injuries.

In 2011, because of this opportunity, she was able to walk again Mexico. So cool! She demonstrated Esko at “La Ciudad de Las Ideas,” a festival that brings together the world’s greatest thinkers. She’s also demoed the exoskeleton on Sabado Gigante and on The Doctors TV show. Watch her walk at the festival

And last November, Tamara crossed the Atlantic to Rome, Italy, to use both her modeling and speaking skills in one awesome event – the huge annual disabled fashion show, Modelle & Rotelle. This show features dozens of stunning women wheelchair-users. Watch Tamara report from Modelle & Rotelle

What’s next?

Tamara as of late has definitely tapped into her feminine side, and she does it like no one else. This past March she was a contestant in Nuestra Belleza Latina, a beauty pageant/reality show (hosted by Univision; an able-bodied event). She looked so good and so poised amongst all those two-leggers. Tamara surely knows how to work it (not to mention having absolutely no fear). Love, love, love her. Watch her audition tape

And Tamara has added another awesome ability to her portfolio – wheelchair latin ballroom. Last August, she danced at the American DanceWheels Foundation annual dance event hosted by the Cheryl Burke Dance Studio. Watch her dance in a beautiful red dress

Not to be out done, Tamara is giving back. She hosts a support group, the “Young Women’s SCI Support Group,” at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where she shares her wisdom with women who are in the midst of figuring out life with a spinal cord injury. Learn more

Beautiful both inside and out, a shining beacon of positivity, Tamara’s spinal cord injury experience…one of sharing love and positivity with others is certainly, without question, one for the records.

Visit her site: Tamara Mena

Have you met Tamara? Have you attended one of her support groups?

Watch her videos!

- Tamara modeling for Ti Light Wheelchairs

- Tamara reporting for the adapted Italian fashion event, Modelle & Rotelle

- Tamara’s audition for La Nuestra Belleza Latina 2013 pageant

- Tamara walks again in Mexico at La Cuidad de Las Ideas festival

The post SCI Superstar: Tamara Mena appeared first on SPINALpedia.com Blog.

Wheelchair softball first began in 1970 in Sioux Falls, SD. “Sioux Wheelers” was the team’s name, and I can only imagine how much fun this early ’70s wheelchair softball team had. Since then, hundreds of teams have formed in the US, and even cooler, it’s growing around the world. The sport overall is quite similar to the AB-version except one difference – wheelchair softball is played on a paved diamond (better watch out for road rash).

If you’ve always wanted to give wc-softball a go but have kept putting it off, the time is now – spring is here and there are loads of awesome people involved. Read on for four of our favorite wheelchair softball videos!

Our first video profiles some of the best wheelchair softball players in Japan, showing the top players playing against US players. It’s no secret baseball is huge in Japan, so it should come as no surprise that wheelchair softball is one of the biggest adapted sports in this country. Watch this video as it profiles top Japanese players, showing clips of their best moves

The next video shows the 36th National Wheelchair Softball Tournament in Chicago, Illinois last year. And it shows the rolling White Sox team playing against the rolling Minnesota Twins; two of the best teams in the US. The video also includes some awesome soundbites from passionate players talking about why they love the sport (as well as why they prefer the Chicago 16 inch softball). Check out an overview of this tournament

And for a real taste of wheelchair softball, you gotta watch this video of a chilly evening practice in Pasadena, California. In the video, you get a taste of the sweat and adrenaline from the game (I want to play!). They’re all in street clothes and the competition is fierce. Check them out

And out last video shows the lighter side of the sport – the inevitable wheelchair softball bloopers (oh you know it happens). From falling over backwards while racing to homebase and getting the ball underneath your wheels to throwing the ball out into the street (I think all of us have done this at some point), behold the mighty wheelchair softball blooper video

You gotta love this sport. All you need is a paved area – heck even a parking lot will do – and you can play. For more information on the sport, check out the official page for the National Wheelchair Softball Association.

Have you tried softball on wheels yet? What did you think?

Watch the videos!

- Wheelchair softball in Japan

- Annual nat’l tournament in Chicago each year (the best of the best)

- Cool kids practicing in Cali

- Wheelchair softball bloopers

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