Overcoming Disabilties Team Room

[rivka]

Jim, I hope you are doing well. Please hang in there, you can deal with adversity.
love you,
Rivka and Sarah

[brotherjim]

We are hanging in there, still in 11th place. As always,you are doing an amazing job team!

Virtual Team Challenge 2011 Individual Standings
Name Gender Age Total Event Meters
1 Jim Kielma M 57 1,083,793
2 Samuel Johnson M 75 885,391
3 Zander Fraser M 36 764,425
4 Michelle Donavon F 22 714,417
5 Rosita Delacruz F 35 704,790
6 Ronnie Mills F 43 683,291
7 Christa Krause F 31 674,073
8 Anita Holub F 42 656,418
9 Harold Janusek M 60 362,633
10 Andrew Augenstein M 59 240,431
11 Benny Delacruz M 18 187,788
12 Bobbie Kielma F 58 147,666
13 Gene Hulsey M 21 22,850
14 Allie B F 5 10,461
15 Aidan W M 4 272
7,138,699

[brotherjim]

This is short article from the Special Olympics website. We have 2 very competitive Special Olympians on our team who also embody the spirit of the Special Olympics and it's motto, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

SpiritShare
A former professional player with the National Football League, Tony Covington understands the meaning of "the power of sports"--on and off the playing field. He told us about the difference he sees in Special Olympics athletes and how his own worldview has been transformed.
NFL player turned Special Olympics staffer Tony Covington says he is “hooked.”
A Chance to Compete
Tony Covington's introduction to nonprofits came while he played professional sports, with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Remembering the impact of his own role models when he was growing up, Tony sought out opportunities to be involved and speak to kids in the community. When someone suggested looking at nonprofit work as a professional path, it just went from there. Today he calls himself 'a lifer' - "I've been hooked every since, feeling like I am changing lives and affecting change." That path led him to come on board full time with Special Olympics, to help raise awareness and build programs in schools and the local community.

Although Tony always understood the power of sports to transform, everything changed when he met Special Olympics athletes. It was the height of local summer games. At an aquatics event, Tony saw a young girl in the pool, swimming, trying to get to the finish line. Her fellow swimmers were all already out of the water and cheering her on.

This was a defining moment. A competitive player, Tony always believed that those who say "it’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game" have never played themselves. He recalls watching in awe -- the girl in the water and the cheering crowd -- and having an 'aha' moment. He then realized that it is not about winning or losing, but having a chance to compete, push your own boundaries, and cross the finish line.

"Sports teach you life skills, team work, and about working hard. The competition brings out self-confidence. To be the best you can be, you have to work hard at it – and it’s not just about sport, it’s about your life being shaped by what you learn from sports."

Beyond athletics, Special Olympics is about raising awareness and helping people with intellectual disabilities belong and thrive. "We have significant concerns about acceptance and inclusion in school systems," he says "our athletes go through a lot of health disparities."

"When talking to the athletes they tell me about being excluded, feeling like they are not a part of society. Special Olympics helps them gain self-confidence, feel included, and realize they are not alone. Beyond the sports field, they gain confidence to hold jobs, take college courses, to belong."

[brotherjim]

Before I post this next article, let me say I ran track in high school and college, and the times these men post, I have never ever come near. I think most of us wish we could run this fast.
jim

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius lost a 100-meter paralympic race for the first time in seven years on Wednesday, coming in second at the world championships in a photo finish.

Jerome Singleton, a 24-year-old single-leg amputee from the United States, ended the South African's streak when both finished in 11.34 seconds and Singleton won the photo finish at the International Paralympic Committee track and field world championships.

"This is an unbelievably great feeling," said Singleton, the first American male to win gold in the 100 at the worlds or Paralympic Games since 2004. "It's been a long time coming for the U.S. to reclaim the gold in this event and I'm blessed to add my name to the greats who have come before me."

Pistorius, nicknamed "Blade Runner" because of his prosthetic racing blades, beat Singleton by 0.3 seconds to win the gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

"There isn't much of a rivalry there if it's one-sided," Singleton said. "I've been working to bring the gold home to the U.S. and now this motivates me even more to do it again in London in 2012."


A "

[brotherjim]

Name Overcoming Disabilities
Team Captain Jim Kielma
Team Comments This team is for those who are disabled and know no boundaries. We strive, we achieve, we conquer.
Virtual Team Challenge 2011 Individual Standings
Name Gender Age Total Event Meters
1 Jim Kielma M 57 1,153,128
2 Samuel Johnson M 75 979,291
3 Zander Fraser M 36 810,010
4 Michelle Donavon F 22 773,094
5 Rosita Delacruz F 35 751,178
6 Ronnie Mills F 43 728,825
7 Christa Krause F 31 721,390
8 Anita Holub F 41 700,590
9 Harold Janusek M 60 394,176
10 Andrew Augenstein M 59 250,306
11 Benny Delacruz M 18 201,533
12 Bobbie Kielma F 58 167,776
13 Gene Hulsey M 21 29,575
14 Allie B F 5 11,238
15 Aidan W M 4 272
7,672,382

This is the current meters from the challenge. We are in 11th place
Here is an update of meters since the 21st of those on the Aff. team

Gene------------------------------16075
Benny-----------------------------40895
Anita------------------------------148663
Christa----------------------------155156
Michelle---------------------------175843
Ronnie-----------------------------178569
Andrew----------------------------43555
Zander-----------------------------177240
Rosita------------------------------154754
Jim----------------------------------244519

Samuel is very close to 1 million meters in the challenge and I know he will make it. I can't say it enough that you have all rowed beyond anyone's expectations and I have received congratulatory emails from many people on other teams applauding each of you.Way to row team O.D. Wherever we finish in the challenge, please know that you have amazed me along with many others. It isn't easy for you, but you have truly OVERCOME the challenges you face.
jim

[ronnie1]

Zander just finished his first full marathon. I looked at rankings and he is the only adaptive rower in his weight class and age, so he is 1st! His chair pad is soaked and I believe he may need a new one
Ronnie

[brotherjim]

Congratulations Zander for rowing your first marathon Your time is fantastic and I hope you aren't too sore in some places

Mr. Samuel, I would like to present you with the highest award I can give you, "The Gramps Award". Before you turn it down, let me tell you a little of the history of it.
My Gramps was born exactly 70 years, 10 months, and 4 days before me. When my Dad passed away while I was very young and my Mom was "crippled" from childhood Polio, Gramps took us in. He was a harness and saddle maker born in Czechoslovakia. He came to the U.S. in 1903 and actually made a harness for Theodore Roosevelt's carraiage when he came through Chicago in 1904 during his 2nd term. Gramps never learned to drive and walked everywhere. He would wake at 5 every morning and walk 2 miles, then walk 3 -5 miles every evening. At 77 years young, he pulled (ran) me around the neighborhood in my little red wagon. He attended all my ball games and track meets.
For a man 5'4" tall, he had hands the size of hams. I knew this because he taught me how to box. When I was beat up by a gang when I was 10, Gramps came to school the next day , at 80, and scared the *********out of the 11 boys ages 15-17.
He taught me to play the accordion and when his hearing was going, I still played polkas as loud as I could for him.
At age 95, while he was waiting for me to come home from a late night at work, he fell and broke his hip. As always happens, pneumonia set in and he passed. Samuel , you inspire me in the same way my Gramps did and still does. Please accept this award from me, it means alot to me if you do.
jim

[brotherjim]

An Incredible Story Out of Maine…
Posted on January 28, 2011 by h2brandworks
The following note was sent to us by the staff at Special Olympics Maine… this is what the Special Olympics USA Scarf Project is all about! As I was reading the below, and knowing how much we are all putting into making this possible, it truly brought tears to my eyes… thank you to the knitting and crocheting communities across the USA and around the world…

THE SCARF PROJECT

I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. Three months ago I came across an email that shared information on a national campaign called Scarves for Special Olympics. The idea was to ask knitters/crocheters in our communities to make a scarf for one of our Special Olympic Winter Games athletes. It seemed like a cute idea so I signed us up. For everyone to get a scarf we would need 500 for our athletes and 300 for our coaches. A grand total of 800 scarves for Special Olympics Maine Winter Games. Feeling pretty confident that we might get 100 if we were lucky, I went on with work as usual.

Press releases were sent out in hopes that maybe someone would share the scarf project on a slow news day. As the weeks went by, no stories and no scarves.

During the Holidays a few papers here and there posted a paragraph on the campaign and a large newspaper ran a story on it. And then…a scarf came in the mail. Followed by another one, and another. My phone began ringing with calls from knitters asking about lengths and colors and things called pearls and stitches and rows.

By the second week of January we were pretty excited to have received 50 scarves and we began brainstorming on how we would choose the fifty athletes who would get them.

And then it happened. Word seemed to spread through the knitting and crocheting community. Clubs were getting together to take on the scarf project. People who call themselves “Knit wits” and “Sweater Tree members” began working in a frenzy to complete their scarves. Not one, not two but for many of them seven and eight scarves each. Teachers were incorporating knitting in to their curriculum. Grandmothers were teaching their grandchildren how to crochet. Nursing homes met daily for knitting sessions. Even Special Olympic athletes were making scarves themselves to give to other athletes.

Two days before deadline 800 scarves have been logged in to the computer and packaged for the athletes and coaches at the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games. I am spending every minute of my final days before the games frantically opening the dozens upon dozens of boxes and envelopes that still need to be processed and delivered. My office is overflowing with scarves. There is no longer a space for my chair. The royal blue and light turquoise colors make my office look more like the tropical waters of the Bahamas.

There are many perks to my job. Every day I am blessed to see that my program is helping to make a positive difference in someones life. This scarf project went from being a cute idea to something incredibly motivating, inspiring and heart warming.

The notes that have been included with many of the scarves have seriously touched me. Notes of encouragement to the athletes, and prayers for a safe and fun filled competition. Notes stating that the person making the scarf was thinking of them while thy made it. Notes from elderly citizens who thanked us for the project, stating that they were not able to give money or to volunteer at an event and that this gave them the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way.

There was a note from two sisters who wanted to make a scarf in memory of their dad who had suddenly become ill and passed away during the holidays. He had been a supporter of Special Olympics and they felt that the scarf project would be a nice way to honor him. They had planned to each knit one but as they spent time together knitting and sharing memories of their dad, before they knew it they had made nine.

A young girl sent a note stating that she had seen her bus driver making one and asked her about it. The bus driver told her about the project and ended up teaching the girl to make one.

A mom sent a letter telling us how her family of five had taken this on as a fun family project. 36 scarves later thy were delivered to my office.

Many letters came from people from away who like to spend their summers in Maine or have relatives who compete in Special Olympics. Many scarves were made in honor or memory of dear friends and loved ones. Homesick college students, stay at home moms, church groups, civic groups and library clubs all getting together to make sure we reached our goal. Some people even sent in matching hats and mittens.

A teacher at The George E Jack school in Standish formed a knitting club after school and the students created scarves for the project.

Christine Caputo, a teacher at the REAL school used the scarf project as a low stress activity for some of her students. The REAL School is an adventure-based Alternative school with minimally restrictive components of Day Treatment for students with extreme social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs from RSU#14 and several other districts in Southern Maine.

And the stories just keep coming.

I never dreamed that a simple scarf could mean so much. For our athletes these scarves are going to be an outward display of support. They are going to wear them knowing that someone spent their time and energy creating it especially for them. The scarves are a reminder to our athletes that they are loved and cared about.

[brotherjim]

Stats for today


Sam------------------50000
Anita-----------------31000
Gene-----------------3000 Congrats for passing 30K
Benny----------------11358
Christa---------------28000
Michelle-------------25500
Ronnie---------------35800
Andrew--------------5015
Zander---------------42195 Awesome!
Rosita----------------33333
Jim-------------------40818

We are hanging on to 11th place in the challenge. Some teams are making a big final push. Don't worry about it, just row what you can. We have had an outstanding challenge.
jim

[cathie11]

Jim, Thank you from Pa and me. You made my Dad cry. Very nice of you to say those things and compare my Pa to your Gramps. Pa is an extraordinary man, as your Gramps must have been. Now I better get back to watching my class.
C

[brotherjim]

Jim, Thank you from Pa and me. You made my Dad cry. Very nice of you to say those things and compare my Pa to your Gramps. Pa is an extraordinary man, as your Gramps must have been. Now I better get back to watching my class.
C

You are both welcome
jim

[brotherjim]

Virtual Team Challenge 2011 Individual Standings
Name Gender Age Total Event Meters
1 Jim Kielma M 57 1,244,446
2 Samuel Johnson M 75 1,078,391
3 Zander Fraser M 36 875,705
4 Michelle Donavon F 22 834,394
5 Rosita Delacruz F 35 824,511
6 Ronnie Mills F 43 806,125
7 Christa Krause F 31 785,390
8 Anita Holub F 41 767,590
9 Harold Janusek M 60 440,776
10 Andrew Augenstein M 59 260,301
11 Benny Delacruz M 18 218,441
12 Bobbie Kielma F 58 187,774
13 Gene Hulsey M 21 34,577
14 Allie B F 5 13,125
15 Aidan W M 4 272
8,371,818


Hanging on to 11th place in the challenge. Incredibly huge meters rowed by all today!!!! I am amazed.

Stats-
Sam------------------------------46600
Anita-----------------------------36000
Gene-----------------------------2002
Benny----------------------------5550
Christa---------------------------36000
Michelle--------------------------35800
Ronnie----------------------------41500 Congratulations on passing 1 million meters for the season!!!!!
Andrew---------------------------4980
Zander----------------------------23500
Rosita-----------------------------40000
Jim--------------------------------50500

2 more rowing days left in the challenge. It is OKAY to slow down.
jim

[brotherjim]

No Arms, No Legs, But One of the Happiest People in the World
June 27, 2010 by Luc
Filed under Articles and Stories, Inspiring Disability Stories
3 Comments
What do you do when you have no arms and no legs? Your life may seem overwhelming because you may feel like you are missing out on so many things you are unable to do. Nothing is more untrue according to Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms and legs. It is all about attitude! If you concentrate on what you do have instead of what you don’t have, you are setting yourself up to become a happy person. Be thankful for what you have; don’t be bitter for what you don’t have!
Being a C5/C6 quadriplegic, I can relate to Nick’s inspirational message quite well. It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself when you’re disabled and to blame your disability when you run into adversities. I have been there many times! And, just like Nick, I feel that having a positive attitude is the foundation for being a happy person regardless of whether you are disabled or not. I truly believe keeping a bright outlook on life after my disabling accident is what has allowed me to live a good life.

Nick certainly takes attitude and inspiration to the next level. Despite having no limbs, Nick is probably one of the most accomplished and happiest people in the world. One can only imagine the challenges he faced during his childhood years being ‘different’. But, he never gave up and instead turned his limitations into opportunities.

Now at the age of 27, Nick travels all over the world inspiring and motivating millions of people from all walks of life. He believes there is a purpose in the struggles we encounter in our lives and that our attitude towards those struggles along with our faith can be the keys to overcoming the challenges we face. Watching his humorous and inspiring introductory video will encourage you to reflect on your own situation and will very likely remind you that life offers a lot to be grateful for, whether you’re disabled or not.

[brotherjim]

Just wanted to offer a word of encouragement to you. We are in 1st place meters/person in teams of 6-20 members in the challenge. And in the Affiliation standings, same catagory, we are in 3rd place behind 2 very amazing teams. So---way to go team.
Also- Congrats Ronnie on your marathon of this morning. Super time
jim

[brotherjim]

What started as a typical winter-sports program has blossomed into a place people can heli-ski or handcycle down a winding Utah trail.



Amanda Young says the adventure taught her to not function, but thrive in the Alaska environment.During summer 2009, six athletes set out from all corners of the United States to convene in the remote Alaskan wilderness to break new ground in the realm of back-country access for people with disabilities. Participants came with a range of stories and experiences, from recently injured veterans to a seasoned mountaineer who sustained a traumatic brain injury during a climbing accident. They joined together as part of the Second Annual Alaska Adventure, organized by the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP) of southwestern Colorado.

TASP partnered with Mountain Trip Guides, an internationally recognized guide service, to offer a seemingly impossible trip for adaptive adventurers. Together they pioneered a new movement in adaptive recreation, opening a whole new level of back-country access to people with disabilities.

The 2010 expedition began in the small outpost of Talkeetna, Alaska (gateway to Denali National Park). The team flew by bush plane to the Pika Glacier in the Alaska Range. Here, Mountain Trip guides and TASP personnel spent six days facilitating the exploration of an area known as Little Switzerland, with the objective of learning the safety and care it takes to live among and travel within Alaska's glaciated mountains. Rope travel while on skis, crevasse rescue, rope ascension, and self care were just a few of the daily topics covered while exploring the landscape.