On the Road Again to Inspire

“It’s easier to go to bed with success if you wake up with determination.” This is a quote by a man, Barry Owens, whose life changed in a truck accident. On November 19, 1981, Barry laid his foot on the brake, but at his dismay, the brake locked, causing the truck to crash, and sending him to the hospital.

It was in the hospital that he found out that he was paralyzed from the waist down. He was devastated at first, but then he was quickly inspired (realized he could be dead), knowing everything happens for a reason.

Barry’s family offered him help but he said, “I am going to try to make it on my own.” With courage and support from his wife (Kathy) they started down a new road, not knowing where it would take them. But, it wasn’t before long that Barry realized how much he missed the life on the road; therefore, he began trying to get back into it.

“I faced many obstacles to get my CDL (Commercial Driver’s License); not only did I have to take a state test, but I also had to take a federal test. After acquiring all of my licensure, I had to have a special waiver mandated by the orthopedic counsel,” stated Barry. Nevertheless, in May 1992, Barry met all of the requirements and he was ready to work.

Once he had the proper licensure, the next task was to design a truck in which he could get in and out of with ease. To do this, he took a lift out of a school bus and retro-fitted it to work in the truck.

For the next three years Barry hauled any loads he could find to make ends meet. In 1995, he found a company who provided him the chance to show he could run with any other drivers. At the end of 90 days, he was in the top 10% of all of the drivers and never looked back.

In 2006, Barry had logged over 1.75 million miles and he was on his third truck (which had over one million miles on it). Barry knew it was time to get a new truck; but instead of buying one, he decided to re-build his old truck. He was going to make a state-of-the-art vehicle with the latest technology, such as air disk brakes, a camera system with a recorder, a select comfort bed – all of which would be new to the trucking world and help promote the industry. In fact, Barry even has a fold up bed with two wheelchair tie downs under it, so he can give two individuals in wheelchairs the opportunity to ride in his truck.

Now, with his state-of-the-art truck, Barry’s plan is to have companies sponsor him to travel across the country and promote the trucking industry as a profession, and give others the drive they need to make their life more complete.

According to Barry, “Being in a wheelchair is 25% physical and 75% mental; the only limitations that exist are the ones in your head.”

Barry has a Web site that features the truck that he has built and photos of its accessibility. Visit the Web site at www.determinationtransportation.com for additional information.

Breaking Down the Barriers

The month of May not only gave us hope that warmer weather was approaching, but the month also stood for Barrier Awareness Month.

For the disability community this month is dedicated to bringing awareness to the public, lawmakers, politicians and educators in Pennsylvania regarding the issues surrounding the barriers for people with disabilities.

Barrier Awareness Month reminds organizations, individuals and communities the importance of advocacy and what it can accomplish. The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) continues to advocate for its consumers, and all people with disabilities. Whether it’s identifying barriers in the community and working with the businesses or organizations to fix them, or contacting the legislators to affect change in policy, CILCP has made significant contributions in grassroots advocacy.

CILCP’s overall mission through the organization and the Living Well With A Disability program is to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society, and live well no matter what the disability. CILCP strives to empower and encourage people with disabilities to speak for themselves and others on their rights and privileges. CILCP assists individuals in developing self-advocacy skills to uphold their rights under the (Americans with Disabilities Act) ADA and other civil rights laws.

CILCP provides a number of advocacy programs including local systems advocacy, statewide advocacy, and individual advocacy. The local systems advocacy involves the formation of local consumer groups to work on disability issues that are of concern to them. CILCP advises and assists people with disabilities to eliminate practices and barriers that prohibit access and inclusion in the community. In an effort to address these issues, an Action Team (Accessible Communities Today (ACT)) is formed in the area and assistance is provided by a community organizer via CILCP. Issues that have been addressed by CILCP have involved curb cuts; accessibility of restaurants, restrooms, public buildings; and, availability of housing and transportation.

The Statewide Action Team brings together the disability community across Pennsylvania to identify issues worthy of statewide efforts. Local groups are developed to address statewide issues such as Attendant Care or PA Transportation. CILCP assists individuals in forming groups in local areas should one need to be established.

In 1999, CILCP along with Accessible Communities Today conducted the “Midtown Sweep” in Harrisburg – identifying buildings and businesses in Midtown Harrisburg that needed to be accessible. Because of their efforts, businesses were made aware of the importance of accessibility, and moved to comply with ADA. The goal of the Midtown Sweep was to enforce Title III of ADA and it was accomplished. The detailed article can be read at www.cilcp.org/publications/grassroots_advocacy.php.

From advocating on behalf of parents with children with disabilities, to assisting individuals to move into the community with appropriate support from nursing homes, CILCP has stood by individuals’ sides in addressing the issues at hand.

For more information on CILCP’s advocacy efforts, please contact Gil Selders at gselders@cilcp.org.

A Face-Splashing, Clothes-Drenching Adventure

For those who love the water, we’ve found something you may enjoy!

At first, it’s not really a recognizable rumble. It’s more like that first hint of thunder that you’re not quite sure you really heard, long before the storm clouds come into view. Or the faint sound of a distant jet, somewhere near the horizon.

Paddles dip lazily in the still smooth flow of crystal clear water that’s drifting quietly over broad, turtle shaped boulders just under the surface of the river. And a dozen rafts filled with novices float toward a bend in the river that the river guides moments earlier described as “the beginning of the gorge,” where dozens of face-splashing, clothes-drenching drops leave everyone soaked and screaming for more.

This is whitewater rafting through the Lehigh River Gorge in the Poconos. And it’s the kind of user-friendly, eco-adventure that’s suited for just about every age and ability level. Trips through the Upper and Lower Gorge feature miles of Class II and III rapids. At most river levels, these are appropriate for novices age 10 and older. The lower section of the river is a bit milder (mainly Class I and II rapids) and is well-suited for families with youngsters age 5 and older.

Whitewater Challengers first introduced guided whitewater rafting trips to the Lehigh River in 1974, and since then has taken more than a million and a half guests on more than 19 million miles of guided river tours. (That's equivalent to going to the moon and back ... 19 times!)

According to president and co-founder Ken Powley, “Most of those guests were first time rafters, and a very large percentage has been boy scouts, girl scouts, school groups and families. There are a lot of rivers out there that are tougher for the real adrenaline junkies, but for a fun day out with your kids, surrounded by spectacular scenery and the excitement of soaking whitewater, you just can’t beat the Lehigh.”

Thanks to its user-friendly rapids, easy access, and guide-assisted format, the Lehigh is also a terrific destination for individuals with disabilities. Rafts are incredibly stable, even in class III whitewater, and guides in kayaks accompany every trip to help anyone if needed. As Powley points out, though, this is a participation sport. Everyone paddles, and each rafting team is responsible for negotiating its way through the rapids. Sometimes that means making quick, sharp turns; threading the needle between house-size boulders; or staying on the main current to avoid gravel bars or other obstacles.

Part of the joy of rafting at the Lehigh is the sense of accomplishment that comes from “doing it yourself.” Each trip begins with a Safety Talk at the put-in point. Your lead guide explains safety and how-to tips, such as how to: paddle; steer a raft in turbulent water; properly sit in the raft so it lessens the chance of falling out; self-rescue if you do fall out; splash without hurting yourself or others; the importance of teamwork within your raft; and lots of other safety and how-to tips that come in handy throughout the day. While it’s difficult to say that any disability can be safely accommodated, Whitewater Challengers makes every effort to accommodate individuals. The team has hosted dozens of veterans, and others with disabilities, over the years. Whitewater Challengers does ask that if a person with a disability is interested, to please call ahead to verify whether your individual accommodations can be met.

In addition to providing guides and instructions, the Whitewater Challengers provide all the equipment needed, shuttles to and from the river, and meals depending on the date and trip offered. The shuttles are not wheelchair accessible. Rafters may bring a lunch, and may want to bring a dry change of clothes! The final requirement that’s asked of all rafters is to bring a smile and good sense of adventure!

“We pride ourselves on bringing this experience to as wide of an audience as possible. It’s just too awesome of a trip for anyone to miss. We like to hear from our guests in advance, fully understand their needs, and have the opportunity to share with them as much detail as possible regarding the risks (and rewards!) of a whitewater rafting trip on the Lehigh. We recognize that every person and every group is unique. And we rely on our 34 years of experience in addressing those unique interests and needs,” Powley says.

For more information about Whitewater Challengers, visit the Web site at http://www.whitewaterchallengers.com or call 800-443-7238.