THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 11, 1995 TAG: 9504110005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
As a wheelchair user, I was interested to see your new column by Alexandria Berger concerning disability issues (Real Life section, April 2). I thought to myself, ``This is great; we now have a forum to spotlight the achievements and concerns of the disabled community in our area.'' But as I read the first paragraph, I began to get a sick feeling. By the time I had trudged through quotes such as ``wheeling quitter,'' ``wheelchairs have no class, stature, money, beauty, power,'' ``it all boils down to visual appearance. Wheelchairs lose,'' I was thoroughly nauseated.
I feel that Berger has, in one fell swoop, destroyed the positive image I have been trying to present since my spinal cord injury in 1990. Every day I strive to be viewed as a strong, attractive, hard-working, independent person who happens to use a wheelchair - not an ``ugly, overpriced, institutional contraption'' as Berger would say.
My chair of choice is a sleek, late model which is hand-crafted of aluminum alloy, custom painted in black, yellow and teal, weighing in at 18 pounds.
I would like to pose a challenge to Ms. Berger and the community. The band that I play guitar for and sing in, Pirate, is listed in Preview almost every week. Pick a date and come out and see if we can change your outlook.
If live music is not your thing, I invite you to come to a Winners on Wheels meeting. I'm co-leader of our local group, working with children with physical disabilities to promote their self-esteem and to push them beyond society's or their own imaginary limits.
Maybe sports would be better? On Memorial Day weekend, we host the 4th Annual Tidewater Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Please don't use phrases like ``wheelchair quitter'' or ``wheelchairs lose'' around this crowd of world-class athletes.
We all face challenges every day - the able-bodied and physically disabled alike. Mental, spiritual and physical well-being are the goals of all people. To reach those goals, we must start from within and share our strengths to help the ones around us.
PAUL McCABE
Norfolk, April 3, 1995 by CNB