Spinal Cord Injury Walk/ Roll/Ride 2008 Registration

Hello all,

The Spinal Cord Injury Walk/Roll/Ride 2008 is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2008 and the preregistration deadline is right around the corner. Shirts are guaranteed if you are registered by September 12, 2008

To register, simply email or call with your name, address, phone #, and shirt size. If you are walking with a team, feel free to include your team name and goal amount as well. Then show up at the Old Fair Grounds Park at 12pm on September 21, 2008 ready to receive your shirt and walk, and have fun.

Walker Registration and Sponsor forms, and flyers can be found right here. Just click the alide show.

Last year more than 180 people attended the walk and it was a huge success. This year should be even better. It is a great way to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. There will be live music, a silent auction, door prizes, food, and a 5k-fitness walk.

We are pleased to announce the addition of a poker run this year. For those of you who are not familiar with a poker run, it is usually done on a motorcycle and consists of a route with five stops. A playing card is received at each stop and the highest poker hand wins. The route for this year can be found on the attached flyer. Registration for the poker run is 10:30-12 at the Fair Grounds Park and ends at Martini's. The last bike must be in by 5pm and prizes will be given away at 6pm. There will be live music and food provided at the end.

Pictures of the Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2007 can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/nwiscig/SpinalCordInjuryWalk9292007.

The proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research, advocacy groups and the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group. For more information call 219-531-0055 or email nwiscig@gmail.com.

I hope to see everyone on Sunday, September 21, 2008 for an unforgettable day of fun and fund raising!

Sincerely,

Joe White

Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group

219-531-0055

nwiscig.blogspot.com

Indiana Dunes State Park and the Chair

Sunday, I went to get my Access pass for the national parks. I figured since I was almost all the way there, I would check out the dunes and see what they had to offer. A season pass for disabled visitors cost $18. That's half the price of regular season pass. We parked right up by the Pavilion/bath house and thought we would get something to eat. They have an elevator to the second floor, you just have to ask the ice cream girl or the life guards. The elevator is just inside the middle doors on the parking lot side of the building. Once on the second floor, You notice you are getting off in the back of the kitchen. Wheelchair accessibility sometimes means you get to roll through the behind the scenes stuff.

On the way to the elevator I noticed a crazy looking power chair in a closet. This peaked my interest, so I asked about it. This is a powerchair with tracks on it like a tank. It is meant for beach use and can be checked out if you have your ID and Can give up your chair for collateral. The life guard brought it around and I went for a stroll down the beach with my daughter for the first time in five years.
It was quite an adventure. I first noticed that something was not exactly right with the steering. It kept taking me much farther to the left than I wanted to go. It seemed that if I backed up a bit and tried again, it was alright. Upon further inspection, I noticed the little wheels kept spinning in the track. The track needed tightened up. We went to the sign where the state park meets Johnson's Beach and I thought I'd see if it goes up hill very well. Unfortunately it didn't go up hill very well. The wheels kept spinning... even if I tried to go up backwards. I figured I would turn around and try to go back to the pavilion when I just stopped going anywhere. I stopped going, because the track had come off of the right side.



I thought, "This is another fine mess I've gotten myself into." I was stuck on the beach in a really big power chair. I sent my daughter to the lifeguard station to get help While I just sat and enjoyed the beach. I also met quite a few people. I guess a power wheelchair that has tank tracks on it stands out in a crowd. I don't mind meeting new people, in fact it gives me a chance to talk about the group, give out a card and raise awareness a little. There were many helpful offers from passers by and the people around, however I thought I would just wait for the park officials to rescue me. I ended up using my cell phone to call the park office and request assistance. My daughter got to ride on the back of the 4-wheeler, which she loved. The DNR officers came shortly after. Together with the life guards they tipped the chair and put the track back on. Say "hi" to Officer Brandt and Officer Bruno.
Officer Brandt assured me that they would order new tracks and get the awesome beach char back in working order as soon as possible. If lifeguards are not on duty you can request the chair at the entrance gait or call the park office at 219-926-1952. All in all, it was a good day. Thanks to everyone who helped make it that way.

Wheelchair accessible beaches in Northwest Indiana

I understand it's almost the end of summer, but there's always next year.

We have discovered a few little known facts about the Indiana National Lake Shore.

From the National Park Service website http://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm ...

"The major sites in the park are accessible with assistance. The West Beach Bathhouse, the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, and the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center are fully accessible by wheelchair. Accessible parking and restroom services are available throughout the park. A standard wheelchair is available for loan at the Paul H. Douglas Center.

Indiana Dunes has made significant achievements in providing access to beach areas. However, access to the waters of Lake Michigan pose challenging accessibility problems. Presently, these beach areas are accessible: West Beach, Lake View Picnic area, Dunbar Beach, and Porter Beach."

I have since found out that the lift at Lake View Picnic area has been abandoned due to numerous maintenance issues. West Beach has a ramp down to the beach and offers two beach wheelchairs for use on the sand. To request these chairs, call the Dispatch Center at 219-395-8640 or ask the booth attendant at the gate entrance. Driving directions to West Beach can be found here.

Another fun fact...

Access Pass

"America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass– Access Pass - Free (replaced the Golden Assess Pass)
This is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. The pass can only be obtained in person at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center or other federal recreation sites where it is accepted.

The Golden Access Passports will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. Only paper version of the Golden Access Passports may be exchanged free of charge for new plastic passes.

Additional information on Access Pass"

I have heard that Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana has a lift, yet I have not had a chance to look into that beach. I will update this page as soon as I find out more.

Have fun at the beach!

Joe

Movie update

Success, Success!

We have had two movie screenings so far and they went quite well. When we organize something we always shoot for the moon and hope for the best. Our screenings went as follows...

Christopher Reeve: Hope In Motion on July 20th, 2008 had 48 people in attendance and...

Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incogneta on August 3rd, 2008 had 55 people in attendance.

These are considered successes for many reasons. One being, people actually cared enough about the topic to show up. This exhibits tremendous support from the community, family, and friends. Two being the average of 53 people would not be able to fit comfortably in a living room or even conference room. If you were one of the attendees, thank you for the support and please take the time to comment about your experience. If you weren't there for the first two movies, we hope to see you at our next.

August 17th at 2 pm
MURDERBALL… Trailer

Murderball is an intimate and personal look at life in a wheelchair. The story chronicles the journey of the United States Para Olympic Quad Rugby Team from 2002 to 2004 ending in Athens, Greece with a championship game against their rivals from Canada.

Also...

Please reserve the date for the

Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2008

At the Old Fairgrounds Park/Butterfield Pavilion,

704 McCord Rd, Valparaiso, Indiana

September 21, 2008, Noon-5pm

Last year more than 180 people attended the walk and it was a huge success. This year should be even better. It is a great way to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. There will be live music, a silent auction, door prizes, food, and a 5k-fitness walk. Pictures of the Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2007 can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/nwiscig/SpinalCordInjuryWalk9292007

The proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research, advocacy groups and the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group.

Volunteers and sponsors are needed for this event also. Please contact nwiscig@gmail for more information.

I can email flyers for all events, but If preprinted flyers are needed I will try to get them to you as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help.

Joe White
Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group
219-531-0055
nwiscig.blogspot.com