I have enjoyed taking part in recreational and social activities as long as I can remember. As a child I went fishing with my dad and wrestled and played football and basketball with my older brothers. In grade school, my friends and I figured out a way for me to participate in the school soccer matches. I rode my wheelchair up and down the field receiving passes from teammates which often gave me unobstructed access to the goal.

As a teenager my interest shifted to social activities. I attended dances during high school and helped out on school plays. I realize now how participating in these activities helped focus my career aspiration – to be a rehabilitation counselor – and develop many of my skills. Lifting weights at the gym, for example, gives me the strength and endurance I need to move heavy objects at home or at the office. Also, interacting with non-disabled gym goers helps increase my social skills.

Participation Denied
Recently I attended the “Spring Fling” at the University of North Texas. The event included many activities that required extensive physical endurance, such as mechanical bull-riding. There were no activities designed for wheelchair users. This limited my “Spring Fling” experience to spectator with little opportunity for participation. As I watched the bull-riding event, I wanted to ride the bull myself. The bull was smaller than those often seen in western clubs and movies and there were air mattresses surrounding it to break the fall of people who were bucked off. After evaluating the safety concerns and my level of physical endurance, I expressed my desire to the bull operator. He refused to allow me to ride the bull. This frustrated and angered me because I take pride in attempting activities that others often think I cannot or do not want to do. The operator made the assumption I was unfit to ride the bull just by looking at me.

A Skill-Building Scuba Dive
But I have had positive experiences. Last year I was given an opportunity to attend a scuba diving demonstration for the Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities (TCDD). As a TCDD board member, the instructor was eager for me to enjoy scuba diving. Despite my fear of water and an overall low amount of body fat, I attempted the activity with little expectation of success. I believed my irregular breathing pattern and spasticity would prevent me from staying underwater. After making several attempts using different mouthpieces, I was able to relax and feel comfortable below the surface. I was amazed at what I was able to accomplish because someone had confidence in me. That made all the difference because it allowed me to be able to take part in the activity. In addition, it gave me a strong sense of empowerment because it illustrated my ability to participate in the same activities as non-disabled individuals.

Building a Professional Network
For me, one of the main goals of taking part in recreational and social activities is to forge ties with new people that might evolve into employment opportunities. One of the reasons I became a board member of the TCDD was to build a professional network in Texas, my home state. On the board I help handle logistics including transportation, attendant care and recreational activities for board meetings. This shows my ability to effectively organize and carry out tasks, a marketable job skill.

Many of the decisions I make and chores I do at home build marketable skills. I believe a home is a smaller version of a business entity. In order to live in a home, a person must make financial, family and personal decisions that are indicative of one’s ability to be active and independent.

printer friendly format