Hello Everyone,
The date of our next meeting has been changed to:
Saturday, March 5, 2011
1:00 pm at
Gelsosomo's Pizza
2605 LaPorte Ave
Valparaiso IN
477-4255
map | driving directions
*Please RSVP for the meeting. Hope to see you there!
The date of our March meeting has been moved due to the fact that three members of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group have started playing sled hockey with the RIC Blackhawks and there is a scrimmage scheduled for the RIC Blackhawks to play GLASA’s Falcons sled hockey team on Sunday, March 6th and March 13th from 3:15pm – 5:30pm at the Hot Shot rink in Lake Bluff, IL.
Gary and Paul have been going to practices for a while now and I just started. If you are free and interested in supporting the fellow NWI members in their Sled Hockey endeavors, please feel free to ask one of us for more information.
To learn more about RIC Blackhawk Sled Hockey...
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*Hopefully those members who took part in the adaptive ski trips with Adaptive Adventures will be in attendance to regale us with their tails of adventure, as well.
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A message from Kim...
My friend Drew and his band This Last Dance are having a FREE show in Michigan City and he wants us to attend!
March 3rd, 10pm
Ryan's Irish Pub
401 Franklin St
Michigan City, IN
It's a pretty open bar, but if we need to, Drew said that we can sit to the side where they will be. They want to do fundraisers for us so this is a great way to find out what their music sounds like. I think they're awesome! Hope to see you all there!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
February Meeting
Hello Everyone,
I hope that you have all made it through the Blizzard of 2011 and have gotten yourselves dug out by now. This is just a reminder that the February meeting of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group will be:
I hope that you have all made it through the Blizzard of 2011 and have gotten yourselves dug out by now. This is just a reminder that the February meeting of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group will be:
Sunday, February 6, 2011
1:00 pm at
Gelsosomo's Pizza
2605 LaPorte Ave
Valparaiso IN
477-4255
map | driving directions
Bring your Valentine out for some pizza...1:00 pm at
Gelsosomo's Pizza
2605 LaPorte Ave
Valparaiso IN
477-4255
map | driving directions
Please RSVP if possible... Hope to see you there!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Adaptive Snow Skiing
Hello Everyone,
On January 18th, 2011 three members of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group participated in the Adaptive Ski and Ride Program at Wilmot Mountain. The pictures can be found here.
Anyone interested in participating in future skiing outings please read the email below and contact Diana Helt (dhelt@ric.org) and Angela Allen (angela@adaptiveadventures.org ). Let me know if you get scheduled, because the NWI SCI Group would like to pay for your lift ticket to help facilitate your adaptive skiing experience.
My Skiing Experience...
I had never been skiing before this trip, and I was definitely nervous going into it. The organizers and the volunteers really instill confidence though and make you feel as comfortable as possible. We started out getting basic instruction on the equipment and getting fitted into our skis in the warmth of the lodge. Once secure, we headed just outside the door to get back into the skis on the snow. That's where you get more instruction on turning, stopping, and getting on the lift. Turning the mono-ski was surprisingly easy. After getting acquainted with the skis, Joel said our group looked balanced, stable, comfortable, and confident... and if we felt that way we should start skiing. We skipped the "bunny hill" and went straight to the ski lift to hit the slopes. They stop the lift to help you get on the lift chair with your instructor/volunteer and may or may not stop at the top to let you off. You are on the seat, in your ski, and clipped to the lift the whole way up. Once you're on top, it's time to go down the hill. It was an amazing experience! I couldn't even tell that my instructor was right behind me holding on to the straps the whole way down the first couple of times.We probably got to take 4 or 5 runs before it was time to go. I have to say that it was one of the more exciting, exhilarating, and awesomely terrifying experiences I've had in a long time. I will go again!
If anyone else cares to write about their skiing or any other experience I would love to post it on this blogsite.
Joe White
On January 18th, 2011 three members of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group participated in the Adaptive Ski and Ride Program at Wilmot Mountain. The pictures can be found here.
Anyone interested in participating in future skiing outings please read the email below and contact Diana Helt (dhelt@ric.org) and Angela Allen (angela@adaptiveadventures.org ). Let me know if you get scheduled, because the NWI SCI Group would like to pay for your lift ticket to help facilitate your adaptive skiing experience.
My Skiing Experience...
I had never been skiing before this trip, and I was definitely nervous going into it. The organizers and the volunteers really instill confidence though and make you feel as comfortable as possible. We started out getting basic instruction on the equipment and getting fitted into our skis in the warmth of the lodge. Once secure, we headed just outside the door to get back into the skis on the snow. That's where you get more instruction on turning, stopping, and getting on the lift. Turning the mono-ski was surprisingly easy. After getting acquainted with the skis, Joel said our group looked balanced, stable, comfortable, and confident... and if we felt that way we should start skiing. We skipped the "bunny hill" and went straight to the ski lift to hit the slopes. They stop the lift to help you get on the lift chair with your instructor/volunteer and may or may not stop at the top to let you off. You are on the seat, in your ski, and clipped to the lift the whole way up. Once you're on top, it's time to go down the hill. It was an amazing experience! I couldn't even tell that my instructor was right behind me holding on to the straps the whole way down the first couple of times.We probably got to take 4 or 5 runs before it was time to go. I have to say that it was one of the more exciting, exhilarating, and awesomely terrifying experiences I've had in a long time. I will go again!
If anyone else cares to write about their skiing or any other experience I would love to post it on this blogsite.
Joe White
Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!
Hello Everyone,
2010 seemed like a busy year for some, if not most of us. We have a couple of new college graduates, some of us took adaptive sailing lessons, some of us have a new pool, and still others have started playing sled hockey. If you have learned something new or picked up a new hobby or sport that you'd like to share with everyone, let me know. I'd love to send an email out and post about it on nwiscig.blogspot.com. We had a great turnout for the Spinal Cord Injury Walk this year as well. Just over 120 people were in attendance raising over $6000. We donated $2000 of it to Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, and $2000 to research facility committed to curing paralysis
2010 seemed like a busy year for some, if not most of us. We have a couple of new college graduates, some of us took adaptive sailing lessons, some of us have a new pool, and still others have started playing sled hockey. If you have learned something new or picked up a new hobby or sport that you'd like to share with everyone, let me know. I'd love to send an email out and post about it on nwiscig.blogspot.com. We had a great turnout for the Spinal Cord Injury Walk this year as well. Just over 120 people were in attendance raising over $6000. We donated $2000 of it to Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, and $2000 to research facility committed to curing paralysis
It seems that we've lost a couple of group members and their families to the beautiful Denver Colorado area. I can't wait to go visit. The up side to wheelchair friends moving across the country is that you know you have a wheelchair accessible place to visit when you get a chance. Or at least one can hold out hope for that being the case.
For those of you who are sticking it out in Northwest Indiana, we are planning to stay just as busy in the upcoming year. We should be able to look forward to local kayak/canoe outings along with the possibility of more adaptive sailing, adaptive scuba diving, adaptive water skiing, and handcycle rides. If you have any other ideas, let me know. We are open to suggestions.
These are the tentative dates for the NWI SCI Group meeting for the rest of the year. We will try to send out a reminder email every couple of weeks. If anyone wishes to receive any other form of reminder let us know how we can accommodate you.
Sunday, February 6,2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011*
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011*
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
*Denotes 2nd Sunday of the month due to holiday weekend.
Check back to see what's going on and what's gone on...
Joe White
Check back to see what's going on and what's gone on...
Joe White
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Wheelchair Accessible Caves
A little over a year ago my daughter asked if I could ever take her to go see some caves. To which I immediately replied, "I'm sure I could. We have to do some research first though." I don't know if you've ever done a search for wheelchair accessible caves before, but nature isn't too wheelchair accessible sometimes.
I read a number of reviews, and went to so many websites that my head started to spin. It was a little confusing, because I would read websites that said there was no wheelchair access and then read reviews that would say some of the caves were accessible. I think the discrepancy has something to do with the difference between "wheelchair accessible" and "handicap accessible". Just because something is handicap accessible, doesn't mean that it will work out for wheelchair users.
We got to Mammoth Cave National Park, and I expected to be able to do something there cave related. After all, it's a national park. Nope... none of their cave tours are wheelchair accessible. All tours start at the Visitor Center, then a (non-wheelchair accessible)bus takes you to the mouth of the cave. I was told that I could follow the bus to the entrance of the big cave so I could hear a story, but then my daughter couldn't even go on the tour alone since she was only 12.
One of the rangers got an excited look on his face and told us to hang on, he'd be right back. He came back with a pamphlet for Cub Run Cave in Cub Run, KY. They have built a boardwalk that goes about 1/2 mile into the cave. I believe they did this just to keep people from walking on and contaminating the cave floor. It would have been great if the owner had the forethought to make the ramp ADA accessible... no such luck though. There are 12 steps to get up to the boardwalk. I just got out of the wheelchair and bumped up the steps on my butt and got back in the chair with a slightly wet butt. It a little narrow, so I could only turn around at certain spots. The tour guide was super great and friendly, however due to liability purposes can't help anyone up and down the steps. They supposedly have tentative plans to someday get rid of the stairs and slope the ramp down to the cave floor.
I took some pictures but the Cub Run Cave website has some good pictures as well. If you're interested in caves, and you have help or can bump up 12 steps, it's well worth the trip.
The other cave that we found was the Kentucky Action Park/Outlaw Cave in Cave City, KY. There isn't a ramp or boardwalk in this cave. The entrance is ground level though, a little rough... but there are no steps. The two caves and how they're treated couldn't be more different, but I think they're both great experiences though, especially considering the limited wheelchair accessible options.
Happy Caving!
I read a number of reviews, and went to so many websites that my head started to spin. It was a little confusing, because I would read websites that said there was no wheelchair access and then read reviews that would say some of the caves were accessible. I think the discrepancy has something to do with the difference between "wheelchair accessible" and "handicap accessible". Just because something is handicap accessible, doesn't mean that it will work out for wheelchair users.
We got to Mammoth Cave National Park, and I expected to be able to do something there cave related. After all, it's a national park. Nope... none of their cave tours are wheelchair accessible. All tours start at the Visitor Center, then a (non-wheelchair accessible)bus takes you to the mouth of the cave. I was told that I could follow the bus to the entrance of the big cave so I could hear a story, but then my daughter couldn't even go on the tour alone since she was only 12.
One of the rangers got an excited look on his face and told us to hang on, he'd be right back. He came back with a pamphlet for Cub Run Cave in Cub Run, KY. They have built a boardwalk that goes about 1/2 mile into the cave. I believe they did this just to keep people from walking on and contaminating the cave floor. It would have been great if the owner had the forethought to make the ramp ADA accessible... no such luck though. There are 12 steps to get up to the boardwalk. I just got out of the wheelchair and bumped up the steps on my butt and got back in the chair with a slightly wet butt. It a little narrow, so I could only turn around at certain spots. The tour guide was super great and friendly, however due to liability purposes can't help anyone up and down the steps. They supposedly have tentative plans to someday get rid of the stairs and slope the ramp down to the cave floor.
I took some pictures but the Cub Run Cave website has some good pictures as well. If you're interested in caves, and you have help or can bump up 12 steps, it's well worth the trip.
The other cave that we found was the Kentucky Action Park/Outlaw Cave in Cave City, KY. There isn't a ramp or boardwalk in this cave. The entrance is ground level though, a little rough... but there are no steps. The two caves and how they're treated couldn't be more different, but I think they're both great experiences though, especially considering the limited wheelchair accessible options.
Happy Caving!
Handcycling, anyone?
Our Mission, as the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group, is to improve the quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries, living in Northwest Indiana; through education, advocacy, peer support, and recreational outings.
As the director of the NWI SCI Group, I would like to help further our cause by offering to go on a handcycle ride with anyone interested in experiencing handcycling.
I have two different styles... a Quickie Mach II and a Top End XLT.
I wold even be willing to loan one of my personal handcycles out for a short time as well. I find that riding gives me a feeling of freedom and independence that I don't experience in many other ways. I know the cycling season is coming to an end shortly, but there's always next summer.
Contact me at nwiscig@gmail.com or call 219-531-0055 for more information.
Let's ride!
Joe
As the director of the NWI SCI Group, I would like to help further our cause by offering to go on a handcycle ride with anyone interested in experiencing handcycling.
I wold even be willing to loan one of my personal handcycles out for a short time as well. I find that riding gives me a feeling of freedom and independence that I don't experience in many other ways. I know the cycling season is coming to an end shortly, but there's always next summer.
Contact me at nwiscig@gmail.com or call 219-531-0055 for more information.
Let's ride!
Joe
Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2010 Outcome
The Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2010 was on September 26th, 2010. We had just over 100 participants, and raised $5600 this year.
Thank you to all who participated, donated, and volunteered. Thank you to our sponsors, Allen and Associates, Wagenar Steel, and Elegan Sportswear. Chesterton Physical Therapy, Inc. supplied water and Family Catering prepared the hot dogs and Sloppy Joes.
All of the proceeds are to benefit the activities of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group, Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, and paralysis research. Donations are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax ID# 27-1583899
Picture of the event are coming soon.
Shirts from the event are for sale for only $10 each plus $5 shipping per order.
Send sizes and appropriate donation amount to:
NWI SCIG
1052 Joliet Rd
Valparaiso, IN 46385
...or donate online at www.sciwalk.info
Thank you to all who participated, donated, and volunteered. Thank you to our sponsors, Allen and Associates, Wagenar Steel, and Elegan Sportswear. Chesterton Physical Therapy, Inc. supplied water and Family Catering prepared the hot dogs and Sloppy Joes.
All of the proceeds are to benefit the activities of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group, Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, and paralysis research. Donations are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax ID# 27-1583899
Picture of the event are coming soon.
Shirts from the event are for sale for only $10 each plus $5 shipping per order.
Send sizes and appropriate donation amount to:
NWI SCIG
1052 Joliet Rd
Valparaiso, IN 46385
...or donate online at www.sciwalk.info
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