United I Stand

festival on my birthday weekend! come out if ur in SoCal!

2010-04-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

my response to Yelp removing my review

2009-12-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Yelp HQ,

I am an avid supporter of Yelp because I believe in its mission "To connect people with great local businesses." People with disabilities are potential customers who want to learn about a business's accessibility services (or lack thereof) before patronizing that business. I am a person who uses a wheelchair, and I knew my Yelp reviews would help other consumers with similar disabilities who have a problem finding accessibility info on businesses. Yelp was the ideal answer for this problem.

In my review of Savor Seattle Food Tours, I wanted to make potential customers aware that my segment of the population, people who use wheelchairs, can never have a "first-hand user experience" because we are simply prohibited from using their service. I am aware that they disclose in their FAQ section "No, unfortunately we are not allowed to have baby strollers or wheelchairs on our tours, due to the crowds and tight spaces in the Market and the food establishments we visit. Some of the food artisans and businesses visited are very small, crowded, and not accessible in a tour group of up to 16 guests." I need to make other potential customers with disabilities aware of this. However, your star-reviewed system is flawed. Although I have not used the service and had a "first-hand user experience," I cannot use it at all as I, a wheelchair user, am prohibited from using that business. The problem here is that although I have not used the service, I still want to make other people with disabilities aware of the inaccessibility of said service. This is relevant and meaningful to my peers in the disabled community and me. How can I do this without writing a review? Your current guidelines don't meet what we need here. Is there a way to change your guidelines to allow for another type of review to discuss this kind of situation?

The message you are sending me is that Yelp is not disability-friendly, and that it is only from a business point-of-view, not a consumer point-of-view.

There are other websites, such as Accessible NYC http://www.accessiblenyc.org/, that review local businesses from the perspective of the disabled customer. I believe Yelp should have an accessibility section where people like me can review businesses' accessibility services, and thus better inform and connect disabled people to the best businesses. I can work to connect the largely untapped therapeutic services (of which I have deep connections) to businesses using Yelp's platform.

In doing so, together we can really connect ALL PEOPLE to great local businesses.

Best regards,

Leonardo R. Camargo
lrcamargo@gmail.com
http://unitedistand.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/dasalsakid

It is my intention to work together, not against one another. Yelp and similar businesses need to change, but they need help changing. That is what I am offering. It is a win-win situation - more disabled customers flock to Yelp when they provide the necessary information on accessibility that our disabled community needs. Let's work together!

my complaint against a business that wont take wheelchair guests was rejected

2009-12-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

How in the world am i outside of their guidelines??? how can i give more than 1 star to a business that simply wont take wheelchair guests? i am surprised that Yelp would do this. so much for the word of the people.
--------------
Hi Leonardo,

We're writing to let you know about our decision to remove your review of Savor Seattle Food Tours. Your review was flagged by the Yelp community, and our Support team has determined that it falls outside our Review Guidelines (http://www.yelp.com/faq#great_review) because it lacks a first-hand experience of the business.

We review every situation with detail and take the removal of reviews very seriously.

Regards,
Casper
Yelp User Support
San Francisco, California

Yelp Official Blog | http://officialblog.yelp.com
Yelp Frequently Asked Questions | http://www.yelp.com/faq

Removed Review: i'm visiting Seattle next week and liked the other reviews on here. just as I was going to purchase a tour, i found out the bad news. they won't take wheelchair guests:

"Are the tours accessible by baby stroller and wheelchair?
No, unfortunately our tours do not allow baby strollers or wheelchairs due to the crowds and tight spaces in the Market and the food establishments we visit."

Horrible. i can elbow and run over other people's toes to get across. at least say "with some difficulty" or something, but to flat-out refuse me? atrocious.

well i *was* really excited about this, but now I'll plan on something else. I sure hope they change their policy very soon...
--------------

did they remove it because i didnt get to use the service but still wrote a review? how could i when wheelchair users are discriminated against even trying to use it?

I need a Hero

2009-11-20T20:16:00.000-08:00

I need a hero
I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
- by Bonnie Tyler

Hero (the movie in the poster above) has a wonderful message. Jet Li has the opportunity to kill the emperor and be a hero. Instead, he sees the bigger picture. He becomes a martyr in order to unite the 7 kingdoms into what is now China. He redefined hero.

I feel the same way about our disability community. We need to unite all of our incoherent groups into one big badass group. I'm not alone. I was checking out Wheelchair Junkie's blog, and he had a great post on this topic. He urged our disability community to form a group much like AARP - "a serious, influential constituency."

It's true - we are too fragmented. Too often I find a new group or a new website that isn't connected to the rest or even tries to be. "Don't try to be a hero!" applies here. People are trying to reinvent the wheel and get credit for it. It's like we are a bunch of drops in the ocean when we could be a tremendous tidal wave!

Everyone wants to be a hero. Start up your own company. Cure paralysis and make billions. But there are so many good groups out there already. I know I have felt that I should be the one to fix things! I can start the revolution! This is fine and dandy but we should always subscribe to one group in the end instead of going solo bolo.

Don't misconstrue my thoughts, we should have our own niche programs, like focusing travel and tourism or outdoor adventures and sports, but we should always point to one group, one major player. We need to suck in our pride and unite under someone else's banner, like the Christopher Reeve's Foundation or United Spinal. Some groups have their prominent leaders, such as in the Spinal Cord Injury niche we have leaders like Marc Bucconoti of The Miami Project and Jesse Billaeur of Life Rolls On. Imagine if those leaders united under one banner? If they said "Yes, our respective associations are proud members of (insert badass name)!" This is the only way we can get something like the AARP.

We need to be heroes, but not in the popular sense. We need to be like the Jet Li Hero, sacrificing our individual heroism for the greater good. We need that individual energy, the fire, the determination. We need it to overcome our human rights injustices and help our fellow PWDs to make this nation, and the world, a better place for us all.

But to do so we need to martyr our desire to be the one hero, and instead, unite ourselves to become collective Heroes.

follow the (new) leader

2009-11-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

heads up PWD pioneers, theres a new kid on the block.

and by new, i mean i just learned about her blog. cuz she has been a badass blogger since 2006.

I have often raved about how badass Mark Zupan is - we can all use Zupans qualities - his tenacity, his ferocious, unrelenting vice-like grip he has on life - cojones. Not all of us were meant to be super-athletes though; each of we play to our strengths, inspiring others through being super-athletes, speaking, or writing. Through twitter I have discovered some real gems.

I have recently followed @wheelchairdancr, and my oh my, what a writer! She brings it. Sure, her thoughts are well-written, she is on top of trends, and she is active in the community (she is a dancer); that is standard for a good blogger. But she took it to the next level. She went from Good to Great. She challenged me. Yes, me, a fellow PWD. not just challenging peeps w-o disabilities, that is standard practice (and trust me, she does that too!). She pushed me to think about how we, the disabled, rank disabilities.

One line in her most recent post on Glee hit me:

We have a hierarchy that mirrors that of the nondisabled world; somehow, secretly, we prioritize impairments, compare them, and treat our people differently on the basis of perceived (or not) impairment.

Wow. It is true. I have often said things like at least my brain is ok. you know, the silver lining, hey ya it is bad, but it could have been worse. She calls me out on that:

This kind of shit is why it can be dangerous when a physically disabled person has to stand up for themselves and their rights by separating themselves from those with cognitive disabilities.

you better believe it - she is talking to ME. being disabled, it is easy for me to point to others, ya they need to be more open minded, and they need to change this and that. BUT ME??? yes, me. no more self-grandiosity here. humility comes back to reign.

now i must push myself to clean up my speech. When someone says, hey, at least your alive and your brain is ok, that is my cue. Do i reply, ya, it could have been worse, or what? not anymore. Maybe a better response would be, you know, now i am brother to everyone with disabilities, wuteva those may be, physical, mental, wuteva. Or i could say, worse? there is no better or worse. it just is.

what would you say?

Best Halloween Costumes are From Your Childhood

2009-10-31T18:14:00.001-07:00

1031091811a.jpg, originally uploaded by dasalsakid.

I was the ULTIMATE WARRIOR for Halloween. bam baby! Tassels on the biceps, cut off shirt with the UW logo drawn on with Sharpies, and of course, *face paint*! I even gave wonderful soliloquies in true Warrior fashion: I didn't stop to take a breath, i just kept talking til my voice went ooooouuuuut.

wonderful weekend! long live the Ultimate Warrior!

My letter to Charlie Davies

2009-10-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Charlie Davies is a badass striker for the US Men's National Soccer Team. Dude is awesome. This year has been his breakout year. He is one of the top 2 strikers on our team. His goal celebrations are T.O.-worthy. Just recently he got into a car accident where one person died. He was in surgery for a while, and now will undergo intensive rehab for 6+ months. I found out through his teammate Stu's twitter that supporters could send him an email. I felt I should because I am in a unique position: I have been there before.

Charlie,

My name is Leonardo R. Camargo. I'm from killa Cali - Salinas, California baby! (If you look on the back of a bag of lettuce, it says "Salinas." John Steinbeck is from here, too.)

My prayers are with you and your familia. I also want you to know that I know what you are going through; there is power in knowing you are not alone. I was in a car accident in 2003 that left me paralyzed. therapists are great and there are many cute nurses + hot PTs (DC im sure has a ton). Well i won't go through the sucky details but life is all good, mayn. Every year gets better - and sure that year was shit but damn man every year i meet more wonderful people and (more beautiful women). i'm still stoked on life.

anyway hospitals suck and im starting up a non-profit to make the hospital recovery stay better. im sure u'll have ideas on what you want or wish was there. (im sure they got a tv, but maybe you want to order in some food, or movies, or hear live music). lemme know ur ideas.

hey man hang in there. back in the day my bro gave me the best advice ever. one time back in high school my super hot crush broke up with me, and i was devastated. then my bro walks in, looks at me in the eyes, knows instantly what's up, and says "don't worry about it, kid. just roll with it. there are more fish out in the sea." so ya just hang in there, buddy, there's more to life out there.

In God's Love,
Leonardo

If someone you cared about was in a serious accident and in the hospital, what would you tell them? What is the right thing to say without making things worse?

I figure it's important to acknowledge it ("it sucks"), relate to it ("you're not alone"), show the silver lining ("nurses + PTs are hot"), and give hope ("still stoked on life"). Oh, and it's always best to end with a quote ("just roll with it").

Now Showing: Accessible Movie Theaters!!!

2009-09-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

I strive to serve you, my loyal reader, to the best + worst in accessible businesses wherever I go. My Yelp reviews include restaurants, theaters, grocery stores, and barber shops. You can always find my Yelp reviews in the widget to the right. Please contact me if you have more ideas for my reviews.

And now your Feature Presentation... my Yelp reviews on movie theaters in Monterey, California! My first review is on the indie film happy Osio Cinemas in downtown Monterey, voted #1 in the county. My second review is on Century Cinemas in Del Monte Center also in Monterey.

Osio Cinemas in Monterey
One marked "Accessible" street parking spot in front. Accessible seating options in middle rows.

ACCESSIBILITY: This cinema is accessible *ONLY* in the back cinema entrance on Calle Principal NOT Alvarado street. You have to park on that side and then roll through the cafe (which is nice) to get to the cinema in the back. There is only one marked accessible parking spot directly in front of the theater on the street. When this is taken, drive around or park in the garage a little down the street.

The seating options are decent, but as this is a small theater, all seats are low back and uncomfortable. if you plan on staying in your wheelchair you will be significantly taller than most; if you choose to sit in the middle rows and stay in ur chair, the people behind you won't be able to see. The sight lines in any part of the theater (even in the back) aren't very good.

SERVICE: solid service. I went to opening night for Inglorious Bastards and the line was out the door and down the stairs. The workers let me go in first! Otherwise I would not have been able to find a seat (and I don't like staying in my chair for a movie as described above). They give student discounts and military discounts too.

Century Cinemas at Del Monte Center

Decent seating options. Excellent service! Accessible parking in front of cinema.

ACCESSIBILITY: i love movie theater chains. everything is accessible - parking, bathrooms, doors, seating. Even better - this Del Monte location has great service: they open the door for me immediately upon seeing me (both outside and inside the theater). I ordered popcorn + soda, and the worker behind the counter came around to make sure i got everything i wanted; plus he carried it all to the theater!!! one time he even hooked up the popcorn! can't beat that.

One issue I sometimes run across is reserved seating. With stadium seating (most new theaters have this), accessible seats are in the last row of the floor section, and the row right under the stadium seats. This is ok. I prefer the theaters that have an ***elevator to the top row with reserved accessible seats on the ends.*** the bigger century theaters have it, as does Maya Cinemas in Salinas.

Long distance love

2009-09-21T10:58:00.001-07:00

0917091615.3g2, originally uploaded by dasalsakid.

The beach and I are long distance lovers. Like a long distance relationship, I take advantage of every chance I get to get close(r) to her. Unlike typical long distance love, this will work!

We have our obstacles: distance being the primary villain. I can't touch her sweet waves, or throw shiny seashells on the seashore. But on a day like this I was able to get a whole lot closer to her! I was probably about 40 yards away, and that's great for me! My thin wheels + the fine sand won't allow me to get any closer to her cold kiss. Not even my off-road Kenda tires can make it all the way there and back. This world seems to be keeping us apart. But not for long!

Don't worry, my love, I will not forget thee! I shall change the world so we can be together once again.

Mark my words: I will be back for thee!

unemployment and its distortion of my self worth

2009-09-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

by Tony the Misfit via Flickr

unemployment can suck the life out of you.

here are my 3 themes in this cycle of unemployment:

Desperation: as soon as i lost my job, i was scurrying for something, anything. My quote during this time, "Work, take me back, please!"
Vacation: meanwhile, i celebrated my new found freedom. free from the shackles of work! Party! (of course, this is short-lived, as money runs out quickly). "I'm on an indefinite vacation."
Idealism: two weeks later, i realized i dont just wanna work anywhere, but somewhere where i *love* what i do. "I'm holding out for better."

As the days go on, it's hard to keep the eye on the prize. Work? Grad school? Start a business? The confusion mixes with the deafening silence of waiting for a response from someone, anyone. They chip away at my mind, eroding my Mt. Everest of confidence.

Now the negative thoughts seep in.

"My disability will make it even harder to get a job." There's nowhere in my resume or my cover letter that says I have a disability. This thought makes no sense, but it creeps in anyway. It is there, and as my confidence falls, everything comes down with it. Daily productivity slides, I go out less (why if i have no money?), and my attitude turns sour as soon as i rise from the bed. Somehow my disability has something to do with it. Do i blame it? Yes. Somehow it is partially responsible. Cuz if years ago I didn't have a disability, that the accident never happened, well, then i would be a rock star by now. I think it has to do with a PWDs sense of denial. This thought pollutes my mind infrequently, but when I am weak, it is there. It may never completely leave. But at least now I can expunge it from my mind at lot faster than before. I can dispel this negativity from my mind, but it leaves a stain, like it's reserving a parking spot in my brain for the next time I am feeling low.

It is a unique thing to be both disabled and unemployed. I am not alone. 30% of my fellow people with disabilities are unemployed.

by atomicjeep via Flickr

Ah but there's always hope! I am a glass-is-half-full kind of guy, and I'm always seeking the light at the end of the tunnel. I've thoroughly described the enemy, so it's time to talk about our Allied Powers: the weapons we can use to annihilate our adversary.

PWDs' main weapon is our confidence. Take that down and everything will come down with it. It eliminates any desire to push oneself in any way, whether exercising, working, volunteering, sports, socializing, anything. Confidence is all we got. Our loved ones and good experiences fill it up. Our bad experiences and ignorant people deflate it. do what ya can to bolster your confidence: spend time with familia, exercise OUTSIDE every day, do fun things like fantasy sports (in moderation), socialize online and in public areas, and eat well. Our confidence is our sword and shield.

The other weapon is our bow and arrow. Our goal is to get a good job. We want to target something we are passionate about, good at, and something the community needs. Here are the job banks I recommend:

http://abilityjobs.com/a This site is specifically for PWDs. Ability's jobs are quality jobs, and as such many require extensive experience/degrees/certification. I recently talked to Chet at Ability magazine, and he feels their great job resource is underutilized. Check 'em out.
http://www.disaboomjobs.com/ Disaboom just made a huge, much-needed overhaul of its jobs site. It doesn't seem to be much more than an indeed.com. There is nothing that shows these jobs listings are targeted towards/specifically for disabled peeps. I found the same jobs on non PWD-focused job banks like simply hired.
http://www.gettinghired.com/ This needs a lot of work. I haven't found any good leads here yet, but it's worth keeping a tab on.

There is always hope. And our weapons are there at our disposal. We can overcome and will overcome all adversity. My fellow PWDs, do not wallow in despair, nay, join me, fight by my side! Let us be like the soldier in the photo, look high to the sky, lift your shield, and prepare thy sword to strike!

Grab your sword + shield and your bow + arrows, and let's FIGHT

downsized_0828091702.jpg

2009-08-28T17:04:00.001-07:00

downsized_0828091702.jpg, originally uploaded by dasalsakid.

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Free

2009-08-28T16:54:00.001-07:00

Free, originally uploaded by dasalsakid.

ADA logo can be a sign of false hope

2009-08-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

Gas stations are notorious for being a let down. It's almost as bad as that totally hot babe you met saturday at the soccer match who gave you her number just to never answer her phone again. almost.

You see, gas stations have the ADA stickers, the signs, and that darn blue button with the ADA logo. I can't even count how many times I've pressed that button incessantly to no avail. As I pressed the button repeteadly, I would stare down the gas station agent at the counter, who in turn would just gaze blankly at me for a second, then turn around and continue sweeping.

Ok, I tell myself, and grudgingly put together my chair, get out of the car, and pump the gas.

These signs simply tease you. They promise assistance if 2 or more agents are present, and I can only recall 1 (non-full service) station out of the many, many I've been to that actually fulfills this promise.

That said, it means I just have to drive a bit more to find the more expensive Full Service gas stations that will always serve me anytime before 10pm. I have to be ok with that, but I can't help but think of the older, less mobile peeps with disabilities that will run into this issue.

All I ask is that corporations keep their word.

ADA awareness - Almost there, but not quite

2009-08-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

Salinas businesses almost got the idea right. They have a brand new ADA spot with plenty of flat space marked off for an appropriate ADA parking spot.

But they decided it was a good place for the recylcing bin instead. c'mon guys!

you are never alone

2009-07-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

if you follow me on twitter, you will see that i RT a recent post of mine, "today my dog ran away and i couldn't do anything about it." as i re-read my post yesterday, i felt very proud of it.

i poured out my heart in that post.

i really hope it connects with someone out there, and inspires someone who is facing a glaring problem to just roll with it and know that you are not alone.

i go through the same sh*t too.

how this blog began (thanks Tony Pierce!)

2009-07-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

it's taken me a few years to get to this blog. excuses like no time cuz of work, can't communicate it the right way, and the like have delayed the emergence of this blog. i've written other ones, but couldn't do it consistently. now i got into a rhythm. besides, since i lost my job on my birthday in may, "i have no time" is no excuse anymore! now let me tell you how it all began.

early on, i realized the best topic for me to focus on is my life with a disability. i needed the best way to communicate the highlights of my life and issues that i feel other people with disabilities (PWDs) could relate to and benefit from knowing. With this new responsibility/opportunity, I needed to do it right. this blog is part of the solution, but how would i do it?

The answer began a few years ago, when i was totally enthused about getting into blogging. i was bouncing around, scouring google for the best advice on how to get started. then i found it. Eureka! Blogging 101 by Tony Pierce. His name should ring a bell; if you don't know, now you know. Tony has a fluid writing style similar to how i like to write. with Tony, you can't help but feel like you're just having a beer with a buddy. He's real. more importantly, he inspired me and continues to inspire me.

i must confess when i hit writer's block, i jump over to his blog to get inspired. the topics are completely different, but i get the natural flow in how he writes, and it inspires me to do the same.

case in point: re-reading a recent post of mine "today my dog ran away and i couldn't do anything about it" reminds me of tony's style, especially the title! and i give credit where it's due. yesterday i told him thanks on his blog, which i've done before several times. this time, however, he responded! you can imagine my excitement!!! (ya i know, i'm star struck. but i only get star struck by soccer players and people who directly affect me and my work. like Tony.)

Check it out:

tony i must say thanks. ur advice and ur skill has helped me write badass blogs. and i'm more entrenched in my disability community. i'm still at the beginning stages, but heck, i wanted to say thanks.

so ya, thanks Tony!
Leonardo | Homepage | 07.08.09 - 10:26 pm | #

im honored to hear that. thanks Leonardo!
tony | Homepage | 07.08.09 - 11:24 pm | #

isn't it awesome?! he said he was "honored" !!! woo hoo!!

take the time today to tell someone thanks - whether it's your parents for dealing with your caca day in and day out, or your physical therapist, or your girlfriend for sticking with you through your accident. or maybe another blogger who inspires you. do it.

thanks tony!

My Yelp Review of Monterey Crepe Company

2009-07-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

check out all my Yelp reviews in the column to the right --->

Monterey Crepe Company

Accessibility Verdict: E-Z as Crepe.

**Service** gorgeous green eyes at the counter took my order immediately and then served my food at my table. She even removed the chair from the table for me. she also cleared the table for me when i was done. I could fit under the table, but not completely; it got to mid thigh area cuz the table legs were preventing me from scooting all the way under. still i could reach the plate easily.

**Doors** are already open so no need to open any doors or worry about what kind of handles they have.

**Bathroom** looks ok from the outside, but i didn't go in.

**Overall** very accessible. the entire place was so spacious i didn't have to worry about scooting my chair in all the time or getting run into by able-bodied peeps.

Note: Monterey Farmer's Market causes a lot of traffic. this will make it hard to find a lip on the curb to get up on the sidewalk and enter the place. i encourage peeps to roll their chairs over to the crosswalk area where it's never blocked off by vendor tables.

today my dog ran away and i couldn't do anything about it

2009-07-07T01:19:00.000-07:00

i was dogsitting my sister's doberman for the afternoon. my cell phone died; i lost my regular phone charger so i had to use my car's cig lighter-phone-charger. my stupid kitchen door doesn't close properly unless you slam it, and next thing I know the dog poked its head through and escaped the house. he then trotted around the block.

i felt completely helpless chasing it in my wheelchair. I couldn't catch up. As soon as I got close, it would trot away. The dog didn't have a leash on cuz we were inside all day. Even if I could hold it, there was no way I could carry it back. It was impossible. I had no cell phone, no leash, no food on me, nothing. helpless.

thoughts raced through my mind like

why do i have to be in a damn chair - i can't keep up with him! if i could run this wouldn't be a problem. i'm paralyzed from being useful.
even if i did catch him how can i bring him back home? my chair will get in the way.
i have no way to call anyone for help! not even the police!
what if he runs towards traffic???
how will i tell the news to my sister? it will break her heart!
oh God help me!!!

my prayers were answered!!!

my instinct told me to ask people for help. i pleaded for help to a lady watching the dog in admiration, "oh what a nice dog!" "please help me! the dog ran away and I have no way to catch it!" my heart sank as the dog turned towards the busy street. Thank God it turned around on its own (God's help) and ran towards the neighborhood walking path instead. (There would have been no way to protect it from the traffic).

I continued to chase the dog up the path. i was furiously pushing my rims, making great speed but not enough to catch the dog. next thing i know the lady shows up on her bike with some dog food in her hand!!! instantly my dog responds to her, going straight for the dog food. we then hold onto the dog. she comes back with a leash and walks the dog back to my house.

THANK GOD FOR GOOD NEIGHBORS!

i learned quite a bit from today's strenous experience.

Have faith in God and in others.
Because of my shortcomings, I must be extra-prepared.
I am not physically able to be a hero. Therefore, I must be willing to call on others to be a hero for me.

feeling utterly helpless was terrible, terrible, terrible. it was like watching a disaster unfold right in front of your eyes. i don't want any one of you to go through that. i hope you can learn something from this too, cuz heaven knows i don't want anyone else to experience what i did today.

one thought that i must conclude with is this:

i felt helpless, but never hopeless.

it is this hope that kept me rolling at full speed chasing after the dog that i had no idea how i'd capture it and bring it back. this hope kept me going when all reason said there was no chance. hope is blind. it must be. i know i will feel helpless in the future, as much as i'd like to think that it won't happen, but i'm sure it will, and how even writing this makes me cringe of what's to come. but i will latch on to that hope, cling to it for dear life. and that will save me.

now i can understand what faith + hope mean.

to everyone out there, hold on to that hope. have faith. and love love love!

If I were in San Diego

2009-06-17T11:15:00.001-07:00

This is what I'd do.

Pumpin' up this summer!

2009-06-05T16:24:00.001-07:00

finally found my parallel bars! Gonna be ripped this summer! oh ya!

Abilities Expo: The Fashion Show

2009-06-02T07:23:00.003-07:00

Chloe Magazine hosted a fashion show at the Abilities Expo that I checked out on Saturday. I did not hesitate more than 1/2 a second to answer hostess Madonna Long's call to roll up to the front of the stage. Here are my humble notes from such a great show!

First, the designers were presented: A.g. Apparel's Jordan Silver (top right) i was most impressed with her fashion for mis amigas, David Lega of LegWear (suits and dress shirts, they were ok), and I can't remember the 3rd designer...

Great job Jordan Silver!

The Showstopper. When Tamara rolled out, you could hear the jaws hit the floor (no joke). several seconds later, other ladies would comment from the back "she's beautiful... gorgeous... so pretty..." and as the supermodel rolled away, the crowd ended with a (much) louder round of applause. for good reason.

The Charmer. Could be the light blues, or the inviting smile that promised cherry-pie sweetness - with either one of these Traci would staple her image to your memory. In my conversation with her after the show, Miss Dallas 2009 suprassed all expectations of sweetness - and she was quite humble about it all, too.

I sure hope Chloe Magazine can post these models' profiles so we can support them in their modeling careers/pageant contests. Already one of the models, Santina, is Miss Wheelchair New Jersey 2009. She can show you how to roll like a celebrity.

Here's the fashion show highlights from the New York Metro area show (not the one I went to):

Wheelchair LAX in a Dolce & Gabanna shirt

2009-06-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

a.k.a. WLAX

all photos displayed here are from www.wheelchairlacrosse.com

I had so much fun playing wheelchair lacrosse last saturday at the abilities expo. Here's their blog on the event.

that's me on the left in the bright orange D&G shirt!!!

yup there i am on the far right - totally open and ready for a pass - i had like 5 shots - one was a blast from up top which deflected off the keeper's helmet! woulda been a sweet goal... i like this sport cuz it has a bit more to do with flair and finesse than rugby/football/basketball. it's as close to the style i like in futbol (soccer) - a Barcelona-ish style of passing and good plays as i'll get in wheelchair sports.

I'm totally stoked about this sport. thing is, these totally-awesome + welcoming dudes are in San Dee-yah-goh. i have to get some peeps together from NorCal to form a team. if you know of any paras (parapalegic peeps) who are interested lemme know.

oh, just read in their blog that they are going to have a camp soon! I'm totally down!

of tickets and such pt II

2009-05-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

i recently requested tix to see my favorite band Reik in San Francisco. The venue has general admission seating only, which I'm ok with. I just need to know what to expect. I contacted TicketMaster and here's their response:

Dear Leonardo,

Thank you for contacting us regarding order number 15-48869/NCA. For general admission event, each venue handles the accessible needs differently. Regretfully, all the information they have provided us with is that they will assist you when you arrive. They have not provided us with a phone number as well.

Thank you for using Ticketmaster, where we continually strive to provide World Class Service to every customer, every day! We really appreciate your business, and hope we were able to resolve any problems or answer any questions you had. Please reply to this email if we may be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
Barbara_ZYS753
Ticketmaster.com Customer Support

Customer (Ticketmaster Customer) 05/28/2009 05:33 PM EDT

Thank you.
"Accommodations will be made for specific needs by the venue staff upon
arrival."
What kind of accommodations will I need? I ride in a manual wheelchair. is
there a roped off section?

Regards,
Leonardo

I want you to note the "World Class Service" they provided me. They responded promptly, but that is only half the battle. I found the venue's contact info simply by clicking "contact us"on their website; I emailed the venue and asked the same question. I am still awaiting a response. At least Ticketmaster could have done this very simple task!

tsk tsk. Ticketmaster. You have yet to impress me.

DYK: ADA Parking Perks

2009-05-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

You don't have to pay any meters! and you have unlimited parking time even in the limited green zones! if they write you a ticket, like this person here, then show them your paperwork and take the ticket to the nearest police station.

remember, yellow/white/red spaces remain off-limits to us, too. Click here for the official word from the California DMV.

In santa cruz, a meter maid approached me. She was distrusting of course cuz here was this young'n taking the only free handicap spot in a crowded garage on a Friday night. She asked me for my paperwork. i smiled and handed it to her. i happily handed her the paperwork that came with my placard, and she apologized.

"There's people abusing these placards, some are using their grandparents'."
"No problem, ma'am, keep up the good work."

2009-05-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

what it takes to make ADA parking

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2009-05-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

No lift. Had to wait for the next shuttle. I shoulda called in advance instead of relying on everyone being compliant, even though they are a four star hotel.

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brief vent

2009-04-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

some days i just don't wanna do it. like by a miracle my chair will be assembled on its own, and i can just hop into it. No pulling it across my body, reaching back for the tires, attaching the side guards and throwing on the cushion. Plop myself in the chair and i'm off. i'm not even talking not using a chair- i'm talking about just having it come apart and come together automatically like a transformer!

2009-04-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Flying to seattle

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DYK: Disability Income and SDI

2009-04-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Most California employees have a small part of their income taken out of their paychecks for State Disability Insurance (SDI). This money goes into a state fund. If you have paid into the fund and can’t work because of a disability not related to your job, SDI takes money from the fund and pays you a benefit. The idea is to replace income you’re losing while you can’t work. The SDI program also replaces income you lose when you can’t work because of pregnancy, or take time off to care for a sick relative or bond with a new child.

This is great info from our friends at the fantastic website "Disability Benefits 101." Click through to learn more about SDI and how it can help you.

DYK: If you live in USA you must go to a Conference!

2009-04-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Conferences are one the best things this country has to offer. The energy, wisdom, cutting-edge tech, interesting people - conferences have it all! And there's a conference for everything. The extreme thinkers and the fantasy world. and there's that Trekkie one. Disability issues are no different. In fact, there are so many I learned about this just year, that I have no idea how I didn't come across even half of these my previous 4 years in my 'chair. The Abilities Expo in Anaheim on May 29-31 will be my first disability-themed conference. Now that I'm going, you have to go to at least one conference this year, too!

Two reasons:

There are several conference themes that will suit your interests! from Extreme Sports in Miami, Career Fairs in Southern California, Research in Florida, Independence Expo in Long Island, this nation has a ton of options. [i won't say "has it all" cuz there are several topics that need to be covered still, like "professional disability organization" but that will come soon enough...]
Disability Conferences are tax deductible! You can go to any conference related to your disability and it will be tax deductible. From IRS Publication 502:

Medical Conferences
You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for admission and transportation to a medical conference if the medical conference concerns the chronic illness of yourself, your spouse, or your dependent. The costs of the medical conference must be primarily for and necessary to the medical care of you, your spouse, or your dependent. The majority of the time spent at the conference must be spent attending sessions on medical information.The cost of meals and lodging while attending the conference is not deductible as a medical expense.

There you have it. Now there's no excuse to not attend a conference this year! E-mail me if you need some help finding one for you.

DYK: Did You Know series

2009-04-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

My Tree of Knowledge in Orlando, Florida

There's a whole lot of juicy knowledge out there that's ripe for the picking. Frequently I find such delicious morsels, and I want to share them with you. Thus sprouted forth the "DYK" = Did You Know series.

Topics cover disability benefits, legal perks, traveling rights, and just damn good 411 to know and have ready at your disposal.

H2 for me n you

2009-04-10T09:04:00.001-07:00

It's not every day you see a Hummer in a handicap spot. She must have good insurance.

fashionable gear

2009-04-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

I used to have a backpack slinged around my chair to hold some catheters, my disabled parking pass, and an Allen Wrench to adjust my brakes when necessary. A backpack just ain't professional - it's for students, ya know. My company's 14" laptop has its own bag, but it's too wide and gets caught in the tires. Most messenger bags are also too big. So for 5 years I used my backpack.

Last Christmas Holiday season, I dared to go shopping at Union Square in S.F. Amidst the chaos, there was a kiosk with Bright Orange and Jet Black boxes with "Ben Sherman" written in cursive right in the middle of each lid. A black messenger bag was prominently displayed atop all the boxes. I swung the bag on my chair and rolled around to see if it'd get caught in the tires. It didn't! wow! Just as I read the that the price tag said "30% off," a man grabbed one and declared, "It doesn't get better than this" then walked away confidently.

Oh, he has no idea how right he was!

Ben Sherman, thank you!

of tickets and tomfoolery

2009-04-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Ever try to order tickets? It's a pain in the ass.

Purchasing "Disabled seating" = jumping through hoops, guaranteed!

Baseball tix? Sure. Just submit an email request on the website. Someone will email you or call you - you don't know who, and you don't know when.

My experience with purchasing SF Giants tix v my Mets baby! through their site that uses tickets.com has been something like this:

log on to SF giants tix site, click on "request disabled seating" & fill out form with my name, address, phone, email; then i submit form
i immediately get a confirmation email that they are "processing your request and will contact you shortly"
I usually hear back within 48 hours. i don't know when they'll call or from what number. I always let it go to voicemail cuz I don't recognize the #, just that it's from a diff area code.
i have to call them back during their business hours (most often my work hours) to purchase tix. to avoid trudging through the slush of touch-tone options ("press 1 to check on an order... 2 to make an order... 3 for disabled seating"), i push "0" for an operator or yell "ggRRAARRR" to get immediate assistance.
i have the Giants seat map open in my browser, and the sales rep tells me what seats she (usually a she - only 1x i had a dude) has available. if/when i decide on seats i like, then i order 'em.

This is the easy way, believe it or not.

Now, for the ticketmaster debacle...

I wanted to order tix for an upcoming concert in June. Reik. son tan chevere! Pop musica at its best, no doubt!

I was exctied to see that ticketmaster was selling their tix. Excited *only* cuz I have a ticketmaster gift card - chaa-ching! that i haven't spent in over a year. i finally get to use my Christmas '08 gift!

On the ticketmaster site, there's no form to request disabled seating (see step #3 above). instead, when i click the beautiful blue Wheelchair icon, it tells me i need to call the concert box office directly. great. being that it was saturday night and i was quite carefree (read: patient) I called them up. club nokia at 8pm on a saturday is not the best place to call. it's *loud*. the sales rep had to chat in a loud voice just so i could hear her, and vice versa. she found me great VIP tix, and when i gave her my gift card #, she stopped all of a sudden, and told me i couldn't use it to purchase VIP tix. no, you can use the gift card only at ticketmaster, not here at the club. but they (ticketmaster) can only sell you general admission tix, not VIP tix. ah, the disabled can't be VIP.

A) am I S.O.L.?

B) Shittily Outlandish Losers @ticketmaster

(raises hand) "I know! I know! "B!" it's "B" it's "B!"

Bingo! Ticketmaster blows. hard.

***Sidebar: The Solution***
I might beeyotch and groan and moan and sloan about purchasing disabled seats, but I also provide a solution. These are my main gripes:

we aren't allowed to have more than 1 parent/friend

Sales Rep: "I'm sorry sir, only 1 wheelchair and companion is allowed. Company policy"
Me: "But i have a mother AND a father! for crying out loud!"

we pay the same for *always* worse service. you have to wait longer to purchase ur tix, you are very limited on your selection.

Ah, dear Watson, I have found a solution! and yes, it is *tech* related.

Here goes:

Every permanently disabled person uses a placard, and thus has a record with the State of California. We can use a similar identifier linked to our SSN that will state "yes, this individiual has a permanent disability." If you have a permanent disabled parking placard, then you qualify.
Ticket venues like Ticketmaster, Tickets.com, StubHub will have access to this database. on their websites, there will be a "disability" section where you can use your SSN to verify your disability status. then, you can purchase tix right off the website, just like everyone else.

that's not really hard at all. the main obstacle i see is that banks use your SSN, but people might not be comfortable with businesses using it.

if this won't work, then why can't ticket agencies just let you purchase tix on their websites? they never bother *verifying* any disability anyway. WTF!

i hope this clears up soon. http://www.ada.gov/ticketmaster.htm

Update: *just found something juicy*

http://www.ada.gov/ticketmaster.htm

This agreement was reached back in 2005, with 6 month check-ins proposed and supposed enforcement if TicketMaster didn't hold its end of the bargain. We still cannot purchase tix on the TicketMaster website! This is over 3 years after the "agreement."

hmmmm more on this soon...

Sunday Stroll - Garland Ranch

2009-04-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

Golden Poppy @garland ranch

Today was a warm, sunny Sunday, so my familia and I decided to go for a stroll in Garland Ranch, which I had never been to before. It's in Carmel Valley, about 35 minutes from Salinas. A not-so-hidden treasure right in my backyard, really.

Rolling around the flat 1-2 mile loops in Garland Ranch was indeed a workout, yet it was just as refreshing and revitalizing. The sun heated my skin as if in approval. The slight breeze cooled the perspiration on my forehead. It was as if Nature was embracing me.

The loops offered me a sidetrack into steep, inclined trails, but I could not fathom how I could climb that. My options were limited, but Garland Ranch offered enough flat trails for me to wander for a few miles. I wonder if there are some flatter trails that I can wander deep into the green. For now, I stuck to the paved, gravel or dirt paths. Maybe next time I'll wander.

Garland Ranch also offers several group hikes. One of note was the *Stargazing* hike - they encouraged you to bring a blanket! oooh sounds wonderful!

Thank God for such a green gift in my backyard!

***Sidebar: Equipment Check***
Last year I bought Kenda off-road tires for my wheelchair - totally worth it. I recommend off-road tires to Primo's flat tires because you are *never* in a flat surface unless you live in a basketball court. Sidewalks have bumps, restaurants have tile... the list goes on. You name it, and it's not smooth. Knobby tires also are set to one on the left, and one on the right; you can't switch them. The reason is cuz the tread-triangles must point forward; this really does make a difference when you are on an incline - the tread actually helps you climb! I luv it.

Get the knobby tires.

Seattle FC knows how to promote a charity (take note LA Galaxy)

2009-04-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge soccer fan, and an even bigger fan of celebrities/athletes doing the right thing the right way. Seattle FC is competing against a few other teams to see who will raise the most money for a UN charity that fights Malaria in Africa (they setup these nets with insecticide that kills damn mosquitoes that spread the disease).

The Sounders goal is $20,000; LA Galaxy's goal is $9,000. Galaxy - what a great example of selling yourself short! The Sounders have already reached the $9,000 mark, btw. Let's add that the Sounders have a lil' infomercial about donating to this charity after *every single video* they have! The Galaxy - you can barely find the link to their charity page. Go figure.

Seattle player Nyassi was infected with Malaria when he was a teen in Gambia. He is going around Seattle with the Head Coach Sigi promoting this charity. Too many athletes/sports teams/celebrities just do half-asses charity work. Seattle actually bothered to make the video infomercial, and they send one of their starting players and their head coach around town to promote this. Seattle is a true example of putting your money where your mouth is. I, for one, like to support a team who performs well on and off the field. That's why I'm a Sounders Fan!

NothingButNets will send you 2 emails:

tax receipt
a thank you e-mail below.

Dear Leonardo Camargo,

Thanks for doing your part to support the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign by sponsoring Seattle Sounders FC.

Your gift of $50.00 on Apr 5, 2009 11:47 PM is greatly appreciated!

As you read this, a mother and her children are being given a mosquito net. An aid worker is showing them how to hang the net over their bed.

Tonight, she and her children will sleep safely under this net. Later-perhaps tonight, maybe in a week-a malarial mosquito will enter their hut, intent on feeding. It will buzz around the room as they sleep, and they'll be unaware of the killer lurking nearby. As it approaches the family, it will seek rest on the net hanging conveniently close to their bed. But this will be the last act it makes before it's crippled, forever incapacitated by the insecticide embedded in this protective bed cover.

You've just protected someone from malaria. You've sent a net and saved a life. For that we want to say thank you.

An electronic tax receipt for your donation will be sent to you separately by email.

If you would like to join the Nothing But Nets NET-Raiser Team, click on the link below to register today!

https://secure.mynothingbutnets.net/registrant/StartUp.aspx?EID=8292&Lang=en-CA

Thanks again for your support!

Took me less than 60 seconds to make the donation. You can do it, too, by clicking here. Of course, MLS sweetens the deal with throwing your name in a raffle to win 2 tix to the MLS All-Star game at Rio Tinto stadium in Utah.

Down with Malaria!

soccer nostalgia

2009-04-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

The Soccer Project from Rebekah Fergusson on Vimeo. (found vid on The Offside Rules blog)

soccer at its purest form is the pick-up game.

i can enjoy soccer on TV and not get emotional at all. but when i see a pick-up game, whether in a video or especially at a park as I drive by, it hits me *hard* ... i get put into a trance of nostalgia and sadness. it's very hard to explain. i sorta freeze, my breath slows down, my eyes open wide, and my body lightens up, muscles relax, my chin drops, i slouch in my wheelchair, and i absorb the beautiful scene

bittersweet

i'm happy. cuz i truly know what that beauty feels like.
sad, cuz i cannot experience that beauty first hand anymore.

bathroom tech (first video)

2009-04-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Tornado!

drive thru meds

2009-03-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

Drive thru Pharmacies rock! major props to Walgreens for having these in several cities in Monterey County

the way i see it, you're right on!

2009-03-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Starbuck's does it right! In spite of or perhaps because of its ubiquitous presence. Why can't local mom and pop shops do the same? Think about it. Sure we all want to support local business. But they aren't reliable. Bathrooms inaccessible. Tables too low. Doors hard to open. But big biz is reliable. Why can't small biz do the same?

table for none

2009-03-27T22:03:00.001-07:00

ok my small business restaurant friends out there - this table *doesn't* work for me.

it looks great, sure, I'll give ya that. But imagine you scoot your chair back until knees are not under the table anymore. that's what i have to do to use this table.i can't. and i've tried to turn sideways but that doesn't work either. the table is too low so it scrapes my knees to put it under.

not good. i would've stayed longer to order dessert and all, but i was so uncomfy i'd rather be home, so i left.

home improvement of self

2009-03-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

i had these adorable photos of my nephew + nieces that I just had to put on the wall, as my dresser had no more real estate. i dusted off the unused picture frames that were leaning against my dresser, unused, for six months. to hell with procrastination! And I set to work.

there's a sense of empowerment hammering a nail into your bedroom wall. maybe it's the sense of ownership (heck ya this is my room) or customization (pictures on a sky blue textured-white wall - it's like the photos are floating). i'm sure that's part of it, but the best part is that it's fulfilling.

wheelchair riders like me have so many things done for us that it sure is great to do something for oneself. it could be as small as putting up photos on the wall (which i did today) or installing your home theater system (which i did last month), or fixing up your car (which one of my fellow hospital-buddies does all the time). Some projects ya just can't do, of course. like i can't change a light bulb. i tried moving up the ladder, but i couldn't get too high without losing balance. Just do something.

we're climbing a few more steps towards independence.

soon enough, we'll get there. some of us get there quickly, and for others it takes a bit longer. neither is wrong. we all climb at our own pace. the thing is to keep climbing, and to know when you are going too fast and need to slow down.

So i encourage you, dearest reader, plunge yourself into a weekend home improvement project!

100th tweet!

2009-03-17T17:17:00.001-07:00

celebrating my 100 tweets!

TSA responded!

2009-03-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

typical response... see my previous post on this issue.

"kellymae81 has left a new comment on the post "Why We Do What We Do: Screening People in Wheelch...":

This is in response to Leonardo's comment...

1. We do check under the seat
2. We do check the back seat cushion
3. We do check the side guards...if these things are not being done at the airport you are going thru, I would complain b/c they are simply not doing their job; it doesn't mean these procedures are not in place. This is a huge problem.
4. There isn't going to be roll thru detector that can detect the metal in prohibited items and not the metal in the chair, thats impossible.

Also, the newer alternative to pat downs at some airports is the millimeter wave portals and we have to have a standing view of the individual, so that wont work either. So, unfortunately, we have to stay with the current procedures for wheelchair screening and its passenger. I wish as much as the passengers that there was an easier way. We hate patting you down just as much as you hate it.

SDF TSO"

Actually, why can't they have a plastic chair that the person transfers to, like the one in X-Men? I'd like that. "Life imitating art" - right? It would totally work!

Shows some effort on their part - it's called innovation and responding to the needs of your stakeholders!

to dream

2009-03-16T18:33:00.001-07:00

I've got an urge to run down the hill and jump into the ocean... one day either the urge will swallow me up like a riptide or i will live my dream

tire tracks

2009-03-16T14:33:00.001-07:00

Sucks but i gotta roll over clean floor. Don't get mad buddy

tsk tsk TSA

2009-03-13T21:25:00.001-07:00

Don't make Zupan mad - you *don't want to get him mad!

last week i wrote a post on the uncomfortable security search at airports. but i still have no received word from TSA about any changes or progress in this area... guess i got my hopes too high... but no giving up yet!

Why i'm not sleeping in tomorrow

2009-03-13T20:11:00.001-07:00

For Good Reason

Ti's new website

2009-03-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Ti wheelchairs are commonly known as "the Mercedes Benz of wheelchairs."

I have one (like in the photo below just with an extra bar in the frame). It's badass. Well, I have two. The 2nd one sold me to was an older model than the previous one, which is because the dealer was a jackass and swindled me. That's a story for another day.
For now, let's check out how sweet the Ti site is. They finally got rid of the Flash site which sucked; now I can link to the different pages. From the e-newsletter:

""Our online visitors will now experience a more vibrant and seamless view of TiLite and all of our online resources," said David Lippes, TiLite’s Chairman and CEO."

A few highlights (in no particular order):

Ok so I'm on the main page checking out the photo slideshow. Then one photo clicks and I get stoked - I see Zupan! woo hoo! I wanted to jump out of my seat and cheer!

Ok so he doesn't have a blog or testimonial or anything on there (that I've found yet), but his picture is there! And that's enough for me!

In plain English:

"Zupan is da shit!"

Oh, and the rest of the site is decent. Ah, one day I will meet Zupan...

Big Pharm's White Paper

2009-03-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

The equivalent of a white paper. Pharmaceutical company sends doctors an educational piece like this thus demonstrating their expertise and, more importantly, establishing credibility with patients.

Benefits for Californians 101

2009-03-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

This gets the first Badass Award for being so darn useful and easy-to-use! I'm stoked about this resource, and you should be too. If you're like me and have two conditions met:

are disabled
live in California

...then you must bookmark this site!

It's got info on Health Coverage, Your Rights (COBRA), Income Support (like SDI), Lifestyle (like Newly Diagnosed wtf do i do now?!), and my favorite feature, the Calculators.

Benefits Planning Calculators include:

This is the stuff that makes me stoked about living in Cali, and in the USA for that matter. I'd like to think my taxes are going to something badass like this.

Thank Yous go to the following fantastic organizations:

*whew* That's a mouthful. But you can bet your bottom (tax) dollar that I won't hold back my thank-yous if organizations like these keep producing badass resources like this!

I'm happy now! Cheers!

the bar is set low for ada compliance

2009-03-10T16:19:00.001-07:00

0310091617.jpg, originally uploaded by dasalsakid.

how can this bar be useful for the disabled? I have no idea.

biggest rainbow i've seen in years!

2009-03-09T23:55:00.001-07:00

0303091729.jpg, originally uploaded by dasalsakid.

a whole lot bigger as i drove closer - i'm talkin gigantic! like i could almost see Lucky and the pot o' gold!

@marina state beach

2009-03-09T09:34:00.001-07:00

ROHO is SOOOO GOOD!

2009-03-08T23:12:00.000-07:00

ROHO is badass. I'm more impressed with them now that they are educating their customers as well as developing great products. I've used their cushion ever since I've been in a wheelchair and *NEVER* had a pressure sore. [The only pressure sore I got was from being sick in bed and in inclined position, so it was never due to the seat cushion].

Here's something I just learned about from ROHO's website:

"The ROHO Institute
continues The ROHO Group's strong tradition of education and training with expanded resources for both the prescriber and provider.
Advance your base of knowledge with the latest online CEU programs, case studies and other valuable tools."

Here are the links:

I've never attended these seminars or taken any courses. If anyone has, please send me an email and let me know if it was beneficial.

ROHO is without a doubt one of the best companies I've come across since acquiring my SCI. Now if they would just have a blog to interact more with their stakeholders like me...

The Fabulous (and Free) Full-Body Massage at the Airport

2009-03-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

3/17/09 Update: They responded! See the post here.
3/13/09 Update: One week later and still no word from TSA. But I'm not giving this one up!

TSA explains on their blog why they like to feel us up. Wheelchairs are chick-magnets you know. Except of course, it's old dudes with hair in their ears talking to you in a thick foreign accent groping your body as you stare at the clock hoping your flight doesn't board without you. So much for being a chick-magnet.

You've seen it. You're waiting in the ever-so-distant back of the line, where you can barely see the TSA screening area without squinting. Then here I come, some dude in a wheelchair, and I cut right to the front of the line.

"Lucky bastard."

They push me to a different line away from the crowd. I wait as they yell "MALE ASSIST NEEDED!" about 4 or 5 times in a thick foreign accent. Meanwhile, you halve the distance to the screening area.

Then some old guy comes over with latex gloves on, appearing to be very much less enthusiastic than I am about what's gonna happen.

"Follow me. Do you want to do this in private?"

"No, here's fine." Damn. Why couldn't I get a hot TSA babe? Is there a hot TSA babe? Too bad Virgin Airlines doesn't run this TSA crap (click photo for the video).

"I'm going to pat you down with the back of my hand. Please let me know if there are any sensitive areas I should be aware of."

How about my pride? I'm checking the clock. People are zipping through the metal detector while I'm stuck here waiting. I might miss my flight.

You run through the metal detector, put your shoes on, get your stuff, and you're walking out to your flight gate while I'm still getting patted down.

I take off my shoes as he continues to pat me down all the way to my toes. He grabs what looks like a Oxy-pad and wipes it all around my chair. Then he puts it in a machine, comes back a few seconds later and announces to me "You're good to go."

Ah, freedom!

I'm def not a lucky bastard - unless by "lucky" you mean a hairy old man touching you in front of everyone, taking forever so that you're almost late for your flight.

HOW IT CAN BE BETTER

What they could do to improve this stinky ol' process is have some kind of detector where the wheelchair can roll through. Like an X-ray kind a thing that doesn't get blocked by titanium or aluminum.

This would improve security, too. For instance, in the pat down the TSA agent feels the cushion with his hands. There still could be things hidden inside the air cells of the cushion (see photo).

Also, I don't feel confident that the TSA agents searches wheelchairs thoroughly:

What about under the seat?
What about the seat-back-cushion?
What about the side guards?

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't want the process to be longer than it already is. I just see how the current process fails on two major points:

Security.
Passenger comfort and dignity.

If they can develop a roll-through detector that can be more secure, then this quicker, less humiliating process will help retain the dignity of disabled wheelchair passengers like me. That, and get some tips from Richard Branson and hire some fit TSA agents.

Hopefully someone at TSA is listening.

Clothes make the man

2009-03-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." Mark Twain

LegaWear is a Swedish clothing company that designs apparel for the disabled. The site says, "All clothes will be sewn after your measurements."

I wonder if this really would be any different other than buying a suit and getting a really good tailor...

i slay thee, dragon!

2009-03-07T14:43:00.001-08:00

My sword to slay the UTI dragon infecting me

Free to Ride

2009-02-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

My Hand Controls Rock!
*Push-IN* for brake
*Pull-down counter-clockwise* for gas (steady, it's sensitive!)

Installed in 2004, my MPS Monarch 1A Hand Controls are sturdy and reliable. No issues whatsoever. The installer had used MPS for 30 years (?), and stuck with that brand because it has the least, if any, problems. I can't offer you much more on this manufacturer cuz I can't find their website. Sure-Grip Hand Controls has a nifty website, but I have not heard much regarding user-feedback. Again, when I asked the installer about this brand he said he'd only go with the reliable MPS Monarch.

2009-02-18T16:48:00.000-08:00

how is the one on the right more accessible? I can't scoot my MANUAL chair under it. what about motorized chairs that are higher than mine? Is it me or is this a major mistake? Perhaps a band-aid to the handicap problem.

too small

2009-02-17T19:49:00.000-08:00

toilet seat not long enough. Needs to be U shaped

beautiful beach, but no access (very bad!)

2009-02-17T01:20:00.001-08:00

There's no way for me to roll onto this beach. the only path that was available was a short 20 yard path that ran parallel to the beach, and seems like it was just for photos...? Even then, 10 yards up the path a sign read "no access" because they were planting something special.

I'd like to go fly a kite on the beach like the man in the middle of this photo is doing. Isn't this beach "public access?" Does that include parapalegics? anyone in a wheelchair?

Now I've heard of beach wheelchairs. I've used one before. It's impossible to use alone - you need someone to push you. So much for independence. Nearby Monterey Bay Kayaks proudly bought one (1) (uno) of those overpriced rinky-dink wheelchairs (good for them!) - but Monterey is another 10 minute *drive* away. And what of all the other beaches in the county? Can I not use them?

there's more to beach access than providing two handicap parking spots.

good experience: hotel

2009-02-17T01:05:00.001-08:00

the first thing I do upon entering a hotel room is check out the bathroom. I glance at the toilet and whip open the shower curtains. The best hotels are determined by the quality of their shower experience - not their beds, their tvs and appliances, no no no - the *showers*! Give me a luxurious shower that exceeds my every need and I will be one happy camper!

Here's a nifty shower head I was happy to use at Adelaide Inn in Paso Robles. It's shaped like a snake that you can adjust to point in the right direction. It is solidly built. I was very pleased with this device!

Most shower heads in handicap accessible bathrooms are hand-held. These are merely ok. It is a great inconvenience to me to have only one hand free. Also, I like the feeling of the shower running down on me, not water shooting directly at my eye level. This snake-shower-head provided this. Suffice to say I took my *power*hour*shower* in luxury (read: "hour" as in one-hour-long!).

Another sweet point: a *cushioned* fold down bench!

*Bravo* Adelaide Inn!

it's 'lights out' for the ignorant

2009-02-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

The picture, borrowed from jessamyn via Flickr, says it all. All the bathroom stalls are ajar, except for the one at the end - the only handicapped stall. Yes, that's the gracious one for people in wheelchairs. The one for those who simply can't make it into any other stall, or any urinal, for that matter. Out of 10 stalls, we have 1. Just 1.

So you can imagine my frustration as I enter a seemingly empty bathroom with the only occupied stall being the handicapped stall.

It happens all the time.

The anger would boil to my head. -Able bodied- people could use any stall on any floor, whereas those confined to wheelchairs have only one shot. We can't use urinals. We risk getting UTIs if we don't stay on schedule. Oh, the reasons go on and on. Well how about that it's JUST PLAIN RUDE!

After dealing with this too many times, I had enough. I had to do something. And I did. I began a revolution - just a ripple in the pond now - but oh, what a ripple!

Spring 2005. I was working in San Jose at a tiny publication company of just under 11 employees. We occupied one suite in a 3 story building, shared with Kaiser Permanente. The floor was constantly busy with traffic in KP's offices. So, on a day when I drank too many Kiwi-Strawberry Snapples, I had to rush to the bathroom, hoping to avoid the peak hour traffic. Lo and behold, someone was occupying my only hope - I saw two brown loafers scoffing at me.
That's it! I refuse to take it. I'm not gonna let this keep happening to me, to us. I need to stop it. I have to do something. They need to learn. And they need to learn NOW.

So I flipped off the light switch.

"Hey! er- ugh - What's going on?" yelped an all-too familiar voice.

I zipped back to my office as fast as I could. A few minutes later, as I nervously typed customer records into the database, I saw two brown loafers awkwardly enter the office, then quickly passed into the office at the end of our suite with the nameplate "CEO" on the door.

The voice was that of my boss. I flipped off the lights on my boss!

Oops.

Serves him right.

THE REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!

Why the Name "United I Stand"

2009-02-14T23:36:00.000-08:00

Prepare for the adventures of your not-so-average people. We are the wheelchair-bound. That is the only difference, and yet, for many of us, that makes all the difference - for better or worse. One thing is for sure: we all have stories to tell.

We wanted to say so much, but for courtesy, chivalry, political correctness, we could not. Until now. This blog will be the soapbox for those untold stories of embarrassment, shock, excitement, and pure joy, with a few laughs along the way. Some of these stories are from the author himself, others were told to him. All of them will be written from first person point of view. Now, there's more to this than it seems. By being told in first person, this blog is assuming that we are united in our stories. We are united in our struggles. We are united in our joy, our sadness, our frustration. And because we are united as such, we acknowledge:

We are not alone.
We are empowered because we stand together.

Notice how it says "stand." We stand together. "United I Stand" is the name of my blog because I stand with you. I am declaring that I am united in your struggle and together we shall stand victorious. Sure, I cannot fully understand your pain because each of us has a different story. Of course, the details are different - and that is what this is for - to share our different stories and unite our voices.

"United I Stand" also is empowering to me because it signifies independence. I do not need someone else to support me. I can stand on my own.

Stand in the literal sense is actually weaker than what is meant here. Because we are people who cannot stand, it empowers the word even more. We, then, are stronger because we stand together. Stand - in the true sense of the word.

Say it with me:

"United I Stand!"

Dear Leonardo, Thank you for contacting us regarding order number 15-48869/NCA. For general admission event, each venue handles the accessible needs differently. Regretfully, all the information they have provided us with is that they will assist you when you arrive. They have not provided us with a phone number as well. Thank you for using Ticketmaster, where we continually strive to provide World Class Service to every customer, every day! We really appreciate your business, and hope we were able to resolve any problems or answer any questions you had. Please reply to this email if we may be of further assistance. Sincerely, Barbara_ZYS753 Ticketmaster.com Customer Support
Customer (Ticketmaster Customer)	05/28/2009 05:33 PM EDT
Thank you. "Accommodations will be made for specific needs by the venue staff upon arrival." What kind of accommodations will I need? I ride in a manual wheelchair. is there a roped off section? Regards, Leonardo

United I Stand

festival on my birthday weekend! come out if ur in SoCal!

my response to Yelp removing my review

my complaint against a business that wont take wheelchair guests was rejected

I need a Hero

follow the (new) leader

Best Halloween Costumes are From Your Childhood

My letter to Charlie Davies

Now Showing: Accessible Movie Theaters!!!

Century Cinemas at Del Monte Center

Long distance love

unemployment and its distortion of my self worth

downsized_0828091702.jpg

Free

ADA logo can be a sign of false hope

ADA awareness - Almost there, but not quite

you are never alone

how this blog began (thanks Tony Pierce!)

My Yelp Review of Monterey Crepe Company

today my dog ran away and i couldn't do anything about it

If I were in San Diego

Pumpin' up this summer!

Abilities Expo: The Fashion Show

Wheelchair LAX in a Dolce & Gabanna shirt

of tickets and such pt II

DYK: ADA Parking Perks

brief vent

DYK: Disability Income and SDI

DYK: If you live in USA you must go to a *Conference*!

Medical Conferences

DYK: Did You Know series

H2 for me n you

fashionable gear

of tickets and tomfoolery

Sunday Stroll - Garland Ranch

Seattle FC knows how to promote a charity (take note LA Galaxy)

soccer nostalgia

bathroom tech (first video)

drive thru meds

the way i see it, you're right on!

table for none

home improvement of self

100th tweet!

TSA responded!

to dream

tire tracks

*tsk* *tsk* TSA

Why i'm not sleeping in tomorrow

Ti's new website

Big Pharm's White Paper

Benefits for Californians 101

the bar is set low for ada compliance

biggest rainbow i've seen in years!

@marina state beach

ROHO is SOOOO GOOD!

The Fabulous (and Free) Full-Body Massage at the Airport

Clothes make the man

i slay thee, dragon!

Free to Ride

too small

beautiful beach, but no access (very bad!)

good experience: hotel

it's 'lights out' for the ignorant

Why the Name "United I Stand"

DYK: If you live in USA you must go to a Conference!

tsk tsk TSA