July 2018

First of all, as a general rule for anyone, DON'T STARE. But please, whatever you do, DON'T STARE AT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS. I personally hate it when people stare at me. When people stare at me it makes me feel like I am different when I am really not so different than you.

I love sports. Growing up, I would watch just about any sport on TV. When I have the time, I still do. However, like many others who use a power wheelchair, my athletic endeavors were limited to being a spectator, referee, or scorekeeper. The desire to play sports has always been there, but for most of my life, that desire never manifested into anything more.

Besides improving physical form, playing sports has a positive influence on psychological development and mood, which undoubtedly favors quality of life. This, coupled with the proliferation and formalization of specific associations, federations, and regulations, makes adapted sports more and more attractive among people with disabilities, who can practice them from amateur levels to competitive levels.

Three was an important age for me. On top of receiving my first power wheelchair, I also began playing video games. Because I am a quad-amputee, using a standard controller wasn't an option for me. So my dad bought me an arcade-style controller. With that, he had inadvertently changed my life forever.

Our four-year anniversary was simple. We took the time to really enjoy one another and reflect on our accomplishments as a couple. This blog post is based on that reflection. I’d like to share with you the four most important things I have learned about dating someone in a wheelchair these past four years.