Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!712!631!Greg.See-Kee
From: Greg.See-Kee@f631.n712.z3.fidonet.org (Greg See-Kee)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Independence
Message-ID: <12065@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 25 May 90 03:59:35 GMT
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 CS>  part of a message where you were saying
 CS>  how the people who helped you made you feel like an imposition 
 CS>  (is that word right?) and how you decided to be independent or 
 CS>  die trying.  I would like to hear more about this.

 CS>  I was 17 I had a car accident which left me a C4-C5 quadriplegic, 
 CS>  and I sure as hell would like to be
 CS>  independent.  I just don't know where to start.

I assume that you had the usual rehabilitation tests - on you
aptitude or suitability for different jobs.  What did these say?

Are you into gadgets, people or languages, or what?

Also, it helps to know what "role-models" you have seen.  So if
your uncle/ father /brother etc are into whatever jobs, that
gives everyone just a little more information about what you
might see for yourself.

Another thing I'd like to know, is What do you see for yourself?
Wife, 2 kids, large house, etc?

There are some people in this conference who believe that you are
because you DECIDED to be that way.   I firmly believe that the
environment makes you, and the environment also holds the key to
your future.

For example, we rarely have quadriplegics being created in car
accidents in Australia.  The reason is, that all over Australia,
all passengers (even babies) must have a seat-belt on themselves
when travelling in a car.

So instead of quads, Australia now has an avalanche of
head-injured (& brain damaged) people like myself.   But then
again, if it was not for Australia's laws, normally I would have
DIED.  Instead, I'm now living, but with brain damage.

--
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