Tim Swenson's Off-Road Wheelchair

Inspired by his son who was paralyzed in a car accident, Tim Swenson created the Action Trackchair. What is an Action Trackchair? Well, essentially, it’s an all terrain “mini-tank” that lets it’s users regain a sense of independence in the outdoors.

Check out the below video of Cpl. Michael Boucher enjoying the outdoors in his Action Trackchair and click the link to read more…

Natalie Angley, CNN: “All-terrain wheelchair helps disabled get back on track.”

Meet Marlon Jackson, a Man who Refuses to Let Paralysis Slow Him Down

Marlon Jackson (Photo courtesy of ZacharyToday.com)Marlon Jackson of Zachary, Louisiana refuses to be limited by his paralysis. “I never dwell on the few things that my disability doesn’t allow me to do, but instead concentrate on the many things that I can do!” he says. Through the injury he sustained 24 years ago in a severe car accident, Marlon learned that “nothing can hold me back and failure is not an option.” Marlon’s response to his injury has proved what he’s made of. 

Marlon says he “feels the need to help my community, especially other people with disabilities and the elderly,” and he has done just that. He has severed as the Inclusive Education Coordinator for Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge where he helped disabled children and their families access much-needed accommodations. While keeping busy helping his community, he also finds the time to play for the New Orleans Pelicans Wheelchair Basketball team and has even served on the Louisiana State Board of Council for Independent Living.

Marlon is currently a second-year law student at the Southern University Law Center. He chose to purse a career in law “…to become a stronger leader within my community.” With his degree, he plans to use his expertise in the fields of international human rights and disability rights.

Click the below link to read more about this inspiring individual…

ZacharyToday.com: “Law School Prepares Zachary Paraplegic to be Stronger Community Leader.”

Samuel Nobile de Oliveira, a Paraplegic Man in Brazil, Builds His Own Ramp at Town Hall

After growing sick and tired with his public officials’ inaction, Samuel Nobile de Oliveira, a 41-year-old paraplegic man in Brazil, decided to build his own handicap ramp at the town hall. As he says, “Every time I come here I have to ask for help from someone to be able to come up…I Had the day off today and resolved to do this.”

Through his inspiring act, Nobile de Oliveira hopefully raised the awareness to push the town officials to act. As town mayor Hermes Bergamim announced afterwards, “I apologize to all disabled by the situations and constraints…We will take appropriate action in the city so this does not happen anymore.”

Check out the picture of Nobile de Oliveira taking matters into his own hands below and click the link to read more…

The Huffington Post: “Samuel Nobile de Oliveira, Paraplegic Man, Builds His Own Wheelchair Ramp in Brazil.”

The Sky's the Limit: Quadriplegia Doesn't Stop Skydiving Enthusiasts

Watch the below video, courtesy of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, to see how Randy Haims, a wheelchair-bound man on a ventilator, made his dream of skydiving a reality. A little disclaimer: While we're not necessarily encouraging you all to go skydiving, we are encouraging you to go out and challenge the limits and make what might seem impossible, possible. 

As fellow skydiving enthusiast Kim Anderson, PhD, says in the video, "You have to get back into life and you have to keep trying. The more you try and the more you prove people wrong, that you can do things, the more satisfaction you feel from that. It's the freedom I've been looking for for the last 15 years that I've been injured."

For more videos on people testing the limits and living their lives, check out the Sports & Recreation section on the Reeve Foundation's website:

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.5848659/k.5E06/Reeve_Foundation_Videos.htm

Reeve Health Minutes - Video Tips for Individuals Living with Paralysis

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is an organization “dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information, and advocacy.” In addition to their numerous initiatives and resources is a video series called Reeve Health Minutes. As the website describes, these videos provide “actionable tips for individuals living with paralysis to help them improve their health and wellness.” To check out what this site has to offer, click here: Reeve Health Minutes. Also, to learn more about the Reeve Foundation and how it helps, follow this link to the website’s home page: The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.