STRUGGLING WITH SERENDIPITY
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Photos
  • Press and News
  • Resources

a big impact

6/28/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
(This blog tells my family's story. To see more, click "blog" at the top of this webpage.)

​
The highlight of Beth’s summer: the Youth Leadership Forum of the Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities. Students with a disability in their junior year of high school had applied to attend as delegates. Five days without parents would be a first for Beth and others, with personal care assistants available for those who needed help.
           
I dropped Beth off at a fancy hotel in Columbus. I kept my phone charged and the gas tank filled, available at a moments notice. I could hardly wait to pick her up, even though she called every day and sounded happy on the phone. I kept busy, painting a bedroom with John. Maria and I went shopping and to Taco Bell in between her jobs. I met an old friend for breakfast. John and I spent a leisurely day in Findlay. We shopped, held hands at a movie, and ordered ginger chicken at our favorite restaurant. Still, I thought about Beth often. I worried that she would be reluctant to request help and get frustrated. I was right about asking for help, but wrong about her response.
 
Driving home with me to Tiffin, Beth said, “It was the best week of my life!” I smiled, glad to hear it but hoping many others would be even better.
           
The first night of the forum, she asked for help to get up on the higher hotel mattress. The other days, she figured out how to do it herself. She set her alarm early and worked to shower and dress completely on her own, allowing for extra minutes to zip zippers and button buttons. Proud that she could. After difficult but independent transfers, she even un-bunched her jeans by herself.
             
Introduced to disability issues past and present, large and small, Beth learned about the fight for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The speakers discussed stereotypes and why many people with a disability did not have a job. Advocates talked about limiting Ohio’s handicapped parking permits to those who needed them the most. One session explored ramifications of denied access and how to work for change. Information mixed with social events.
           
“The staff was great and there were a number of outstanding speakers,” Beth said. “The event had a big impact on my life my first year as a delegate.”
           
The forum anchored Beth to others with a disability. She met delegates, staff, and speakers with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, quadriplegia, dwarfism, learning issues, mental illness, and brain injuries. Some were blind or deaf. She accepted an invitation to report on the Youth Leadership Forum at the annual meeting of the Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities.
 
“The Ohio forum proved to me that the disability community is widely diverse and vitally important.”

Next destination of a non-stop summer: Edmonton, Alberta!

4 Comments
Micki Huysken
6/30/2017 09:08:10 am

an inspiring story of a girl on a mission to overcome barriers.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe link
7/1/2017 03:34:14 pm

Exactly, Micki! ...And learning along the way about community and connections!

Reply
Carrie
7/27/2017 10:59:25 am

I admire Beth. I admire her strength and mental toughness. I admire her courage. She is obviously brilliant (takes after her long lost Aunt Carrie ok ok its from her Mom... haha!) I am joyful for the JOY that she experienced in Columbus. Self-assuredness and independence most often comes by trial and error. Beth's courage is unwavering. I look forward to seeing her continue to complete goals that some only dream of. ♡

Reply
Cindy Kolbe
7/29/2017 08:13:20 pm

Hi, Carrie! My favorite song is from the musical Wicked. I love 'For Good,' with the idea that we all influence each other. So yes, Beth's Aunt Carrie played a role! ;-) Plus a lot of trial and error, and the courage to keep trying. Thanks for following!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Cindy Kolbe

    Sign up for my Just Keep Swimming Newsletter by typing your email address in the box. Thanks!

    * indicates required

    Categories

    All
    Accident
    Adventure
    Anxiety
    Career
    Caregiving
    Chronic Pain
    College
    Counseling
    Depression
    Driving
    Fear
    Floating
    Friends
    Goals
    Graduation
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Group Home
    Guilt
    Harvard
    High School
    High School Swim Team
    Holidays
    Independence
    Injury
    Intensive Care
    Internship
    Job
    Moving
    Occupational Therapy
    Optimism
    Paralympics
    Paralympic Swim Team
    Perspective
    Physical Therapy
    Published Articles
    Rehab
    Road Trip
    Serendipity
    Spinal Cord Injury
    Sports
    Stanford
    Support
    Surgery
    Swim Club Team
    Swim Meet
    Swimming
    Travels
    Video
    Volunteering
    Writing

    Picture

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Photos
  • Press and News
  • Resources