Learning to Ride

If you think someone with a developmental disability can't learn to ride a bike, think again.

Since 1999, Lose the Training Wheels Inc. has been teaching individuals with developmental disabilities how to ride two-wheel bikes - and with its special coaching and equipment, the success rate nationally has been an astonishing 70% -- far above what most would have expected more than a decade ago. Clearly, we need to look at the "hidden" abilities of the developmentally disabled with new eyes.

Locally, the Lucas County Board of MR/DD, Lucas County Special Olympics, Maumee Valley Civitan and Wersell's Bike and Ski Shop are sponsoring this year's week long "Lose the Training Wheels" camp from August 10-14 at the Tam-O-Shanter facility in Sylvania.

The program utilizes a stepping stone process. Each participant moves through a progression of bike types, beginning with an ultra stable training bike, and gradually progressing toward a conventional two-wheeler. Each biker attends one 75-minute session daily for five consecutive days.

Bike Camp last summer was a huge success, with 84% of the participants successfully learning to ride a two-wheel bike, placing NW Ohio above the national average. If you haven't yet tried something like this with your MR/DD son or daughter, I couldn't recommend it more. For registration information please call Tracey at 419-380-5175 -- but call soon as space is limited.

Ride on!

He's My Friend

...or, "Love me -- Love my Dog."

Many of us know that current laws protect the rights of certain disabled persons (such as the blind) when it comes to bringing your "service animal" along with you as you travel. Hotels and motels, restaurants, and other public businesses are required to allow you equal access to their establishments, within the guidelines set forth by the ADA. For a nice FAQ on those guidelines, and how a business owner must comply, see here. For the rest of us (abled and disabled alike) a pet is often not just a simple animal. They also offer us comfort, support and companionship. They are a beloved member of our family.

For someone with a cognitive or emotional disability, a "pet" can be an anchor to stability (or at least familiarity) while on an extended road trip or vacation.

Some disabled people live in near isolation, and for them, the idea of being separated from their "best friend" is unbearable, even if it is only for a few days. What if you have no close by friends or family who can shelter your pet while you're away? You could just stay at home... or, you could try and find a hotel at your destination which will love your dog as much as you do. Thankfully, that's no longer as hopeless a task as it used to be.

Allow me to introduce you to DogFriendly.com. Dog Friendly provides a service that any pet owner will immediately appreciate... they collect data on hotels and motels which have "open door" policies that include your dog (and sometimes cats too.) This can save you a lot of work and worry if you're planning to take Fido on your next family vacation. They offer online searches, guides, a newsletter, and even a blog for tips and tricks of the trade for dog lovers. Oh, and yes, it's free.

So, as vacation season rapidly comes upon us, give DogFriendly.com a closer look. You'll be glad you did. Just be sure if you're planning to take your furry friend on a long cross-country trek that you make allowances for his (or her) special needs. Food, water, frequent stops for "rest" and most important of all, remember that dogs don't wear seat belts. Drive safely!

Woof! Woof!

This Just In: Blog visitor Amy was kind enough to let me know of yet another great resource out there called GoPetFriendly.com. Not only do they provide up-to-date info about Pet Friendly accommodations, but they also have information on just about anything else you might need if you plan to travel with your pet... er, best friend. I was very impressed with their site, and I think you will be too. Thanks Amy!

Crisis? What Crisis?

The Economy, The New Prez, and the Sinking Ship.

Those of you who remember the 70's as fondly as I do no doubt remember Supertramp's now classic album, "Crisis? What Crisis" -- if not for the incredible songs, then for the imaginative cover artwork.

For those of you unable to view the provided image, the cover shows a young man lounging in a beach chair, with small table nearby (complete with drinks) and a bright yellow umbrella which shields him from the view of pollution and utter desolation behind him. But enough music history. This isn't about music.

I've been watching the Senate this week as they bicker like small children over how to spend something like 800 billion dollars of taxpayer money that doesn't even exist yet. One side wants more tax cuts, the other side wants more public services and bailout relief. As usual, the division runs cleanly down partisan lines. And as Rome burns, the fiddler plays on. But enough politics. This isn't about that either.

I'm sure I don't need to convince most of you that the crisis is real. For the disabled among us who depend on public services for things like shelter, food and transportation, the "economic downturn" is affecting us in a very real and measurable way. At the very time in our nation's history when the need for these services is greatest, their availability is decreasing due to a lack of funds. Clearly, if change is coming, it had better come soon. President Obama seems to get that. Good man.

My parents were alive during the Great Depression, as I'm sure many of yours were. They learned, the hard way, that at some point it's no longer "every man for himself" but rather, "we're all in this together." That's how one survives hard times, and I hope it's a lesson our Congress learns soon. The boat has a hole in it, Congressmen, and the time for blaming each other for the rising water is long past. If we all don't start bailing, we'd better hope we all know how to swim. Those sharks look hungry.

But I said this wasn't going turn political, didn't I? Sorry.

So what lessons can we learn from the Great Depression? For one, such things can be survived. Our parents did it, and so can we. As many social service agencies are now joining forces to share resources, so can we. Start conserving everything. Consolidate trips. Shop smarter. Use coupons. Buy in bulk if that's feasible for you. Wear a sweater. Network with each other. Odds are good that you're already doing many of these things, but think hard and act harder. Don't be afraid to get creative. This too shall pass, but until it does we have to do everything we can to help ourselves. The Government will get around to us eventually...

Oh dang it. I give up. So it's turned political after all. Wanna do something to help? Call your representatives in Congress. Tell them your story. Don't whine, and don't scream... just tell them your story. Then tell them that sooner or later, elections will roll around again. Remind them, gently, that hungry voters tend to not be quite so pleasant at the polls. Tell them to shut up, and start bailing. The "stimulus bill" may not be perfect, but doing something is better than doing nothing.

The Crisis is here. It's time to act.