Overcoming Disabilties Team Room

[DUCKMARX]

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

I was looking at the statistics last night (obviously with the my eye geared for LUNA-tic 'Atta-a-Mateys!') when I noticed something that you might like to know:

There are 4,205 people actively involved in the Virtual Team Challenge.
I looked at the top 1% based on meters rowed (i.e, the top 42).
I was pleased to see that the LUNA-tics have 7 rowers in the top 1%.
What you might like to know - you have the most rowers in this elite group: 8!

More impressive . . . out of the 15 people on your team, over half are in the top 1% !!


HOOYAH!

[rosita]

Thanks A.J. That is a very cool stat. And I noticed for about 5 minutes today, we were in 10th place.
Rosi

[brotherjim]

Haven't kept stats from the past 2 days but WOOT WOOT, I believe the numbers have been totally incredible. I see we are in 10th place. I have one more row to add, but my goodness, you have rowed over 500k in 2 days There are many teams and people cheering you on and have sent me their best wishes for us to finish in the top 10. You have shown people that obstacles are overcome, and your spirit is strong. Thank you all for rowing in this challenge with me. I am humbled as Andy has said before, to be in your company and to be your teammate.
jim

[cathie11]

Jim,
It has been my pleasure to have you on my team too. Thank you for Gramps award. We have fought the good fight.
Samuel J.

[brotherjim]

Organization's mission: 'We use sports to rebuild lives'
Clayton A. Culp sports@knoxnews.com
Knoxville News Sentinel
Posted December 12, 2010 at 10:36 p.m.


Former Marine Bradley Walker, from White Pine, is one of many veterans skiing for the first time at the 23rd annual Hartford Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colo., which began Dec. 5 and ended Sunday.

Walker, who turned 30 on Thursday, was working as a combat engineer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines in Iraq in 2006 when an improvised explosive device hit the Humvee he was driving. Doctors were forced to amputate his right leg above the knee and his left leg just below it.

In the intervening years, he's recovered enough to be a highly-competitive sitting volleyball player and do the Marine Corps marathon, but he says there's a special sense of freedom being on the slopes.

"It's exhilarating," Walker said. "It's something new. That's always great. It's a great confidence builder and everything.

"It allows you to focus on your abilities rather than your disabilities. You're normal again. You can compete, get your competitive edge."

This year's event included more than 100 wounded warriors and their families, the largest contingent in the event's history.

But the event - which includes skiing, snowboarding and the training to teach adaptive skiing - is not limited just to veterans; it includes people with any kind of disabilities and skill levels ranging from newcomers like Walker to U.S. Paralympians.

It's the largest event of its kind in the country, featuring more than 800 participants at Breckenridge Ski Resort and Beaver Run resort.

Kirk Bauer, who began as an event participant after losing his left leg in 1959 during a grenade ambush in Vietnam, now serves as the executive director for Disabled Sports USA, which conducts the event.

The organization has grown from one chapter in California with just one sport offered to a group of 104 chapters in 37 states, offering 20 sports throughout the year.

Along with two veterans who received their first sports training at the Ski Spectacular, Bauer recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.

"We use sports to rebuild lives," Bauer said. "When someone becomes disabled . . . they feel like they have limitations, and they're frustrated by their new condition. Sports help to free them. It helps to show them they can be active and live a healthy life."

Title sponsors The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. along with other contributors like the Challenged Athletes Foundation help Disabled Sports USA offer a free of charge experience for athletes, including travel, lodging and equipment.

Walker says his skills have improved drastically over the course of the week, as he's gotten more comfortable with sitting on the monoski setup that includes side arm braces.

"I was probably tense," Walker said of his spill-filled first outing. "It's something new. I was able to relax and get more fluid and feel everything out a little better."

Walker says he's remained positive throughout the recovery, taking time for sports and travel.

Over time, he learned to accept his injuries, and with the help of programs like the Ski Spectacular, he's realized he hasn't lost his former self completely.

"It's allowed me to see that there's plenty of life after injury," he said.

"I don't have to stop doing stuff I enjoy. I don't have to stop being competitive."

[brotherjim]

Jim Congrats to you and your team, we have followed you throughout the month. Inspirational. Well done Pete and Jenny Alker Team Canada

Teammates, this is just one of hundreds I have received from other team rowers. It says so much about the wonderful people who row in these challenges.
Thank you so much to everyone who wished the Overcoming Disabilities team well.
jim

[brotherjim]

Congrats again on a terrific challenge. Looks like we missed the top 10 by 898 meters, but who's counting.
Rosi says put the blame on her-- so i guess i will. Rosita, do better next time

i will try for stats tomorrow. I had some minor problems with chickens and dogs all day and the dogs ate my stats.
Seriously though, you are all the greatest!
jim

[ronnie1]

Chilly day here today, it was down to 73 degrees last night I almost had to close my windows. Very nice to erg on the deck.
Ronnie

[brotherjim]

Ronnie, I hope you can manage to keep warm and comfortable. Good grief, you almost had to wear a long sleeve shirt and socks.






Araceli Maldonado, 28
San Bernandino, CA


I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 25.

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed after I delivered my second son. It was hard because I also have a five year old son and a newborn. It broke my heart because I couldn’t carry my newborn or get up and make a bottle for my son. With my five year old son it was sad and broke my heart because he wanted to play and he started to realize that I couldn’t anymore. He asked what was wrong with me and we finally told him. He cried and cried when he found out and saw the pain I was in and that I couldn’t move. What also has broken my heart is when my oldest will cry and tell me “mom please don’t die.” He will also say “mom, please get better and I promise that I will be your doctor. Also when I grow up to be a doctor I promise I will be your doctor to fix your bones.”

It took almost six months before I could get medication. I didn’t have insurance or a job only my husband was the one bringing in money.

One day, I woke up and prayed and prayed to God to please give me the strength to get me up to take care of my family and to help me to get treatments and to help my body not to get another thing. I thought that I would never able to get up again and move but thanks to God I am able to get up again and move to help my family.

I am now 28 and have a job and I can play with my kids. I can also jog with them and help my husband with a lot of things that I couldn’t have. I learned that my RA is not going to win, I am going to win because the love that I have for my family is stronger than RA is. And one last thing, I thank RA because my oldest son now is in advanced classes because he still has it in his mind that he is going to be my doctor, and I tell him don’t think because he already is.. Thank you RA for making me stronger and to appreciate life more.

[Kristine Strasburger]

Just wanted to say, "Fantastic Job, to the whole OD Team!" You all did amazing stuff during the VTC. Amazing and inspirational!

[brotherjim]

Just wanted to say, "Fantastic Job, to the whole OD Team!" You all did amazing stuff during the VTC. Amazing and inspirational!

Thanks Kristine from all of us

[brotherjim]

Stats for the day, may be off but ---

Andy------------------8955
Anita------------------7000
Gene------------------3600
Benny-----------------3100
Christa----------------5500
Zander----------------5200
Sam-------------------7654
Ronnie----------------7777
Michelle--------------11500
Rosita-----------------10741
Jim---------------------12585

Great rowing team. And yes Rosita, I know it is 75 degrees there pffffftttt.
jim

[brotherjim]

Autism fitness

..By Dominique Dawes – Thu Jan 27,


My younger brother Don was diagnosed with autism around the age of four. Early on, it was evident that his development was delayed, primarily his verbal development and temperament. We also noticed him exhibiting repetitive actions; all symptoms of an individual with autism.

I was ten years old when he was diagnosed, and at that time I wasn't clear what having autism entailed. I accepted the fact that he was unable to communicate verbally and seldom interacted with his peers; however, he was quite talented physically. I remember playing hide-and-go seek and tag out in the backyard. He also loved to swim and was very good basketball. I should know, as he once beat me on the court! (Being an Olympic gold medalist doesn't make me immune to losing). After that I refused to compete against him again. Don was quite the athlete when we were kids!

Today, it's a different story. Don is not nearly as active as he was when he was a child. Although inactivity is an issue for most adults these days, Don isn't inactive because of a lack of interest or drive. Rather, it could be because the opportunities for fitness targeting individuals with autism, is far and few between. So when I heard of Autism Fitness, founded by Eric Chessen, I was eager to travel to New York City with my brother to see how he could benefit from this program.



At the start of the program, Chessen put my brother through a comprehensive assessment known as the PAC profile, which is used to determine the physical, adaptive, and cognitive abilities of each participant. Autism Fitness is more than just a program to improve one's physical health, it also aims to improve behavioral issues and enhance cognitive abilities. As I observed the activities that my brother participated in I saw his listening skills and visual awareness being put to the test. Though he did not get through all of the 20 exercises in the PAC program, it was clear that he was challenged physically and mentally. I can only wonder if my brother was regularly exposed to a program like Autism Fitness as a child, would his overall development be different than it is today?

[brotherjim]

Champion Speller
By Carol Cavazos, CBS 11 News
January 26, 2011 10:35 PM


RICHARDSON (CBSDFW.COM) – Cerebral palsy took Tanu Shivaswamy’s ability to speak, but it didn’t take away her ability to compete.

Tanu is a 5th grader at Canyon Creek Elementary in the Richardson Independent School District and uses sign language to spell all her words. That’s how she became her school’s spelling bee champ.

Wednesday, the girl her father describes as very determined faced competition from the district.

“She puts her mind to it, she will go after it,” Kiran Shivaswamy said.


Her interpreter is her voice. Kim Spiegel has known Tanu since the little girl was in the first grade. Ask Tanu if she receives A’s in spelling, and Kim Spiegel responds, “Yes. Yes. As a matter of fact almost every week, it’s 100 on the spelling test.”

Tanu learned how to spell as a toddler when other toddlers were just learning how to speak.

“We were trying to understand what she was spelling and then inevitably correct her,” Shivaswamy said.

Tanu has spelled thousands of words but never the word “phalanx,” which is a group or body in close formation. It’s the word that took her out of the district competition in the fourth round.

She said she’ll remember that word forever. And she’s already made up her mind to come back next year. Because that’s the kind of champion she is.

District winners advance to competitions at the county, state and then national level – held in June.

[brotherjim]

Congratulations Gene on passing 50K meters!!!!!!!!!!!

Stats
Gene-------------2600
Benny------------4255
Ronnie-----------8067
Andy-------------5010
Zander-----------5100
Sam--------------15111
Rosita------------7525
Jim---------------7500
Great rowing team