Readers of this blog know I have a wheelchair that does things other chairs won’t. It can raise me up on two wheels to the height of a standing person, allow me to climb stairs, and more. But this post isn’t about the iBot. This post is about semantics, the interesting kind (yes, such a …
It’s always great fun, and one of the highlights of our year, to make our annual trek to watch the Patriots play football at Gillette Stadium. But our experience this time was unusually memorable, for a couple of reasons. I’ve mentioned many times before how fortunate I am to have Kim as my wife, best friend, and primary …
Continue reading “The View from My Wheelchair: Gillette Stadium (part 1 of 3)”
For over two years I’ve been perpetrating a fraud by posing as a full-time wheelchair user. It’s a big, fat lie, and I need to come clean. Since July of 2008 I’ve been an iBot user, but only in the past couple of weeks have I actually become a wheelchair user, and then only part-time. …
Continue reading “I've Been Faking the Whole Wheelchair Thing”
Yeah, you read that right. This subject is better suited for a PhD dissertation, but instead I’ll tackle it in a single blog post. On Saturday night Kim and I went out to dinner with our friends Deb and Steve at the Snow Squall, a local bar and restaurant that we absolutely love. I made …
Continue reading “The Social Psychology Implications of iBot Stair Climbing”
“Does Mitch’s left hand not work anymore?” our friend Amy whispered to Kim as we left the restaurant last weekend in Bangor. “Why? Did he say something to you?” Kim responded. “No, but I noticed that he didn’t move it at all during dinner.” “Yeah, he can’t do much with that hand anymore.” “Are you …
There are many approaches to solving disability problems in human beings. In the case of multiple sclerosis, for example, here are just a few of the strategies currently being employed: Many researchers are pursuing pharmacological solutions such as disease modifying treatments focused on the body’s immune response. Some researchers are considering drugs that will have …
It’s that time of the year again. Each January I take a moment to assess what I’ve gained and lost in the past year, and what changes may await me in the coming year. As you know, I try to strike a balance. I don’t sugarcoat my condition, but neither do I wallow in self-pity. …
This picture shows Bill Clinton and Dean Kamen in the office of the president. Kamen is on his iBot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The story of the iBot is a potentially heartbreaking one. This exceptional wheelchair, which can climb stairs, navigate difficult terrain in four-wheel-drive mode, and elevate its user up to eye level with standing …
I’m an engineer, not an author. I know great writing, and this is not that. I do feel that I have a compelling story to share, however, and I’ve been told that my writing helps some people work through their own challenges. My goal is to get this message out in a form that is …
Vacations come at a relatively high price for disabled people. I’m not referring only to dollars and cents. We also must deal with the considerable effort and even risk involved in leaving our safe havens and modifying the routines that we have so carefully crafted to get through each day. Despite the challenges, we decided …