Life Possible with a Disability

I interview Jenny Smith, who sustained a C level spinal cord injury while practicing a  cheerleading at the age of 16. Jenny had to learn to live life again as a quadriplegic. Jenny is an advocate, peer mentor, and encourager for people living with spinal cord injuries. Jenny has a website, Jenntsmithrollson.com, where she writes funny and meaningful articles about living life as a wheelchair user. Jenny also recently published a book titled, Live the Impossible: How a wheelchair has taken me places I never dared to Imagine. Jenny and Karen talk about their shared experiences and what is very different about their spinal cord injuries. Jenny also talks about her experience with the Ms. Wheelchair America organization and what she learned as a result of that experience.

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Karen

Dallas Crum's father started AMS Vans in 1998, inspired by a family that needed an accessible van for their daughter with severe Cerebral Palsy. Kip Crum, Dallas's father,  realized  that there were a limited number options for accessible vans and all options were very expensive. Vantage Mobility International (VMI) acquired AMS in 2017 and at that time AMS was the largest dealer of accessible vans in the country.  Dallas also talked about his wife, Faith, and their kids Ethan and Riley. Riley has a rare chromosomal disorder that impacts her both physically and intellectually. Riley can walk, but does have some deficits with balance and will need care for the rest of her life. Dallas and Karen discuss how disability impacts our lives both professionally and personally. Learn more about how to find hand controls and accessible vans get to know Dallas on a personal level.

For more information go to www.amsvans.com or call 800-775-8267.

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

Meet David Thomas, an avid water-skier, founder of the non-profit Ski Dawgs and senior drafter for NASA. Doing tricks with his friends at fifteen years old, resulted in David suffering a C5 incomplete spinal cord injury.  David tells the story of how he built his own adaptive waterski and then how his friend talked him into starting a non-profit adaptive waterskiing program. The program is called Ski Dawgs and it's been a huge success in Louisiana.
Adaptive waterskiing is a sport that people with all different levels of ability can participate. Another special part of the Ski Dawgs Program is that people hang out all day and we have lunch together. Making new friends with others who have disabilities similar to yours is always important for mental health.
If you would like more information about Ski Dawgs go to:  https://www.facebook.com/skidawgs/

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

I interview Cody Verrett and Chris Collin who both work for Motion Composites and are devoted to disability advocacy. Chris is also a wheelchair user who sustained a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident in 2008. In this episode we discuss how Motion Composites became a company. We discuss carbon fiber, disability advocacy, advantages of hiring people with disability and  adaptive sailing. This episode is packed with great information for wheelchair user, their allies, therapists and anyone interested in complex rehabilitation. 
For more information about topics discussed go to:
https://www.motioncomposites.com/en_us/products
https://www.theimpossibledream.org/
https://nrrts.org/
https://www.ncart.us/
https://unitedspinal.org/

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

In 2010 Ali Ingersoll was 27 years old living in her family home in the Bahamas when she broke in neck in a shallow water diving accident. Ali's neck fracture caused her to become paralyzed from the neck down and she is a power wheelchair user. Tenacious, adventurous, fun, intelligent, and persistent are just a few words that come to mind when I think of Ali. Taking charge of the process of obtaining her new wheelchair is something that Ali does very well! Ali researches everything about the process of obtaining new complex rehabilitation (custom wheelchairs). She has been successful in getting CRT denials reversed not only for her own wheelchairs, but guides others through the appeals process.  Learn more about Ali's fascinating life! You can check out Ali's stories, photos, and articles at  quirkyquad.com. 

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

Josh Turek was born with Spina Bifida and is a lifelong manual wheelchair user and a lifelong participant and advocate for adaptive sports. Josh is a gold medalist and 3x Paralympian in wheelchair basketball. He has played professional wheelchair basketball 15 years in several countries. Josh has represented the USA in 3 Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball, winning a gold medal in Rio in 2916. This summer’s Paralympics in Tokyo will be his forth and final Paralympic Games. 
 Josh has a BA in history and a Masters Degree in business administration. 
 Josh is currently an ATP certified Specialty Account Manager for Numotion in Omaha Nebraska. As well as a volunteer Director for the Ryan Martin Foundation which provides free adaptive sports camps for disabled children. 

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

Barb Zablotney is a manual wheelchair user and disability advocate and Karen discuss the importance of using models and actors with disabilities in main stream media. Barb won a contest recently and will be featured in Torrid's national holiday ad campaign. Barb will be the first wheelchair user Torrid has ever used in an ad campaign. How can people with disabilities increase visibility in main stream media? You can see more of Barb on her YouTube Channel, Rolling Rainbow. Follow her IG @therollingrainbow.

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

Warren Cleary was an expert skydiver who was injured in a skydiving accident. That did not stop him from skydiving, snow skiing, traveling the world, getting married or starting a family. Karen and Warren discuss how having a mentor who has experience in the activity you want to participate in will help you live your best "Life possible" with a disability. 

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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Karen

Karen and Justin are both wheelchair users that work at Numotion. While both have navigated relationships prior and post-injury, they discuss the differences to make relationships meaningful in and outside of the bedroom. They talk about how they portray their disability on dating  sites and discuss commonly asked questions about sex with a disability. Fun stuff, don't miss it!

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
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If you are enjoying the content or have feedback send me a message. I would love to hear from you!
Karen

In 2021 people with disabilities still don't have equal access to medical care. People with mobility impairments don't have height adjustable exam tables, x-ray machines or scales that can weigh a person that is unable to stand. In this episode we will discuss the laws and standards that are currently in place to protect access to medical for people with disabilities and what we can do to continue to make improvements.

Thank for Listening! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LifePossibleKR. Here is my Linktree!
https://linktr.ee/lifepossiblekr
If you are enjoying the content or have feedback send me a message. I would love to hear from you!
Karen