LIVE QUICKIE BLOG

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.

Rochester Accessible Adventures formed in 2015 exactly because of these two realities. We know: a) people with disabilities and their families are not enjoying the positive health benefits (social, emotional, physical, and mental) of recreation opportunities in their communities, and b) recreation businesses are not equipped with the knowledge and resources to be able to open their doors to people with disabilities and their family and friends on a daily basis.

I was born in Laos in 1978 where people were self-sufficient and farmed their own land to feed their families and animals. My father was in the military and like most people in my country, my mother and grandparents were part of the farming culture. We took nothing for granted and were happy to live the life that we did. We didn't have much, but we were content.

According to the most recent statistics, there are more than four million parents with disabilities raising children in the United States. By most accounts, it's an underserved population, one with relatively few resources. By contrast, there's an abundant supply of online information about parenting children with disabilities, where to turn for advice, special equipment, and more. Parents with disabilities often have to rely on others in the disability community for advice on creating a safe and efficient home environment.