TZUTC: -0400   
   MSGID: 70.abled@1:275/100 251a81b9   
   REPLY: 3.fido-abled@1:153/757.2 2513bd48   
   PID: Synchronet 3.14a-Win32  Dec 31 2006 MSC 1200   
   TID: SBBSecho 2.11-Win32 r1.182 Dec 31 2006 MSC 1200   
     Re: Re: Greetings   
     By: George Pope to Carol Shenkenberger on Wed May 26 2021 10:37 am   
      
    >  > I am disabled with spinal issues.  Progressive Degenerative Disc Disease.   
    >  > Every year, I lose a little bit more mobility. I got damaged in a speed   
    > boat   
    >  > attack in the Gulf but already had issues.   
    >    
    > Ouch! You had your lifejacket on?   
    >    
    >  > I sumetimes have to use a wheelchair such as the long lines to get my   
    > Covid   
    >  > shots (limited standing capability at 15 minutes pretty much).  I   
    > sometimes   
    >  > use a cane.  I was blessed with extremely high pain tolerance so it works   
    >  > out with 7 herniated discs.   
    >    
    > I'm not much for standing long either, so I appreciate having my powerchair   
    > when out in the community (shopping, etc); Typically I'll ber in line for a   
    > cashier & some older gent(or lady) will offer to let me go first. Io reply,   
    > "Thank you, but you go ahead. I'm sitting down so it's easier for me!" (I   
    > well recall prior to my chair being in line with a cane & the pain & concern   
    > I'd suddenly drop.)   
    >    
    > I have an exploded disc myself (a family thing, it seems); a local   
    > chiropracter offered to fix it, after a free assessment for his spinal   
    > decompression service, but at $8K (not covered by my government health   
    > insurance, probably because chiropracters are butchers &/or tend to be   
    > chronically needed for life once you begin)   
    >    
    > I'm on Gabapentin to stop the nerve pain & neuropathy in my legs.   
    >    
    >  > Yes, I work.  Did 26 years Navy then 10 years military contractor and now   
    >  > Government Civilian (GS).   
    >    
    > Pre speedboat incident?   
    >    
    >  > ADANET founding member, I was the technical advisor.  (American Disabilit   
    >  > Network).   
    >    
    > I have begun reading the ADA, to prepare for advising on the recently passed   
    > Accessible Canada Act.   
    >    
    > Only one problem with your ADA - cedrtain less than ethical lawyers use it.   
    >    
    > I Cali, they use Google Earth to identify hotels with swimming pools, then   
    > hire a person in a wheelchair to go to the hotel to stay & file a suit for   
    > non-compliance for inaccessible pool (most are, apparently)   
    >    
    > We don't leave room for that, but we do have the ability to fine a non-   
    > compliant federally regulated player (e.g airline) up to $250,000/day until   
    > the problem is resolved.   
    >    
    > It;s still quite new, so it remains to be sesen how well it was set up.  The   
    > person in charge is focusing first on ensuring equal employment   
    > opportunities, regardless of ability barriers.   
    >    
    > I'm spending most of my t ime working with local government & non-profits to   
    > ensure true inclusion for all, regardless of age, disability, &/or poverty.   
    > My pet foci are housing & employment.   
    >    
    > I don't get dirtectly paid for this, but I do receive provincial(equiv to   
    > your state jurisdiction) disability benefits & I consider his my pay that I   
    > work in the community to justify. I'm looking for a paid career, hopefully i   
    > community service, as I've built a strong personal network of decison makers   
    > & advocates.   
    >    
    > Had my shot(Pfizer) a couple weeks ago -- no line, the nurse came to my home   
    >    
    > Nice to meet you *bow*   
    >    
    > Whereabouts are you? I'm an hour north of Seattle, WA, in Vancouver, BC,   
    > Canada. . . (home of the shameful 2010 NHL riot & 2010 winter olympics)   
    >    
    > What do you do for fun/laughs?   
    >    
    >    
    > Your friend,   
    >    
    > <+]:{)}   
    > Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM   
      
   Hi George, sorry for the bad quoting.   
      
   My back was having issues before the speed boat. That just made it worse.   
      
   I am well south of you in Virginia Beach.  Probaby 4,000 miles SE of you.    
   Might be more.   
      
   For laughs, I mostly garden (container type), watch youtube, and am engadged in   
   local issues and helping others out.  I adopt older medical issue dogs and cats   
   that no one else will.   
      
   Once I retire, I may go back to being foster-meowmie for cats.     
      
     xxcarol   
   --- SBBSecho 2.11-Win32   
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