2007 Newsletters
Report Card on No Barriers: "This Festival Changed My Life."
Jul 8th, 2007
More than 600 attendees -- participants, scientists, technologists, exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers from nearly every state in America and a dozen other countries -- journeyed to Squaw Valley USA last week for the 5-day NO BARRIERS FESTIVAL 2007 which many say changed their lives. - Will Krogman from Fresno, CA, a below-the-knee amputee as a result of a logging accident in 2002, participated in the mobility clinic, tested a Segway, hiked with Leki poles, rode a recumbent bike for the first time, interacted with scientists and spent time on the high ropes course. He said the FESTIVAL changed his life and gave him new motivation to discover all the possible things he can still experience. In his words, "NO BARRIERS FESTIVAL 2007 was life changing." - Dr. Aimee Arnoldussen, a scientist from Wicab, Inc. in Middleton, WI, worked with blind and visually impaired participants to recognize objects, movements and colors through touch-like stimulation to the tongue provided by a camera capturing the desired view. One of her volunteers was Erik, who was able to "see" different playing cards, to recognize the number of fingers his wife Ellie held up in front of him, and to reach out and pick up objects from the table. "The BrainPort teaches users to see in a whole new way," Aimee commented, "They use the senses they have instead of those they don’t have." - Paraplegic Rory McCarthy of Maine unveiled his invention, a lightweight. eye-catching vehicle that transforms a low-slung, gear-driven handcycle to a raised, shortened, modified wheelchair. "I designed what I call the ‘Morphing Handcycle’ for wheelchair users who want to travel and leave their wheelchairs at home. While the big wheelchair companies have made great progress, sometimes it’s the creativity of the end user like me that comes up with the best inventions." Rory has handcycled around the world as part of a World T.E.A.M. Sports adventure. - Former British Army soldier Andy Campbell just recently discovered adaptive rock climbing. He practiced with the Climber, a rope-ascending wheeled mechanism which allowed him and many others with very limited lower extremity mobility to reach the upper elevations quicker and more safely. Campbell is an experience paraplegic paraglider and the FESTIVAL has fueled his passion for outdoor adventure. Andy will soon embark with other No Barriers participants on an epic journey, exploring the Canadian Rockies using adaptive techniques presented at the FESTIVAL. - At the Evening Speakers Series, Army Major David Rozelle spoke about his intense rehabilitation at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center after losing a leg in a roadside bombing in Iraq and his success at the Hawaii Ironman World Triathlon Championship. He is presently working with other disabled personnel who have suffered similar injuries on the battlefields. He was the first troop commander to return to active duty with the same combat unit in recent history. "My story simply shows how passion and determination can overcome disability." - Paraplegic Karen Drake, a business owner and adventurer from Inverness, Scotland, has handcycled across the Tien Shan and Karakoram mountains of Central Asia, sea kayaked the 1200-mile length of the Canada-Alaska coastline, and skied across the 600-kilometer Greenland ice cap: "I found the diversity of the No Barriers Festival to be fascinating. Having the chance to interact with people of all disabilities was a new and memorable experience. At home, there are clinics specific to a certain sport or technology, but nothing to bring it all together like No Barriers." - Darol Kubacz, a paraplegic Army veteran, displayed the extreme modifications he made to a One-Off handcycle for his recent attempt to summit Kilimanjaro using only arm power. A woman in her late 40’s with Cerebral Palsy, who has never been hiking with her family, tested the innovative handcycle/climber. After reaching the high point of the trail 30 minutes later, she proclaimed, "WOW, I can’t believe I did this.....and that it's is possible for me to hike and explore with my family!" She dropped Darol a note: "Darol, thank you for sharing this mountain bliss with me. I loved it. I am so committed to being in the thick of things and not doing life from a distance. No Barriers was my chance to do that." - Twenty Wounded Warriors including amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan worked towards their SCUBA certifications in the massive portable pool erected by DEMA and The SCUBA Tour. These veterans attended NO BARRIERS FESTIVAL 2007 through a partnership with DSUSA, AIG and The Wounded Warriors Project. - Rob Kimbrough, a bilateral amputee who lost his legs to a flesh-eating virus, experimented with different climbing feet, and climbed with Erik the first day. There were a host of other fascinating participants who brought their own ideas, talents, dreams, accomplishments and creations to NO BARRIERS FESTIVAL 2007. Many came expecting to learn and be inspired, but those who came primarily to teach and do the inspiring left with an equally renewed spirit for innovation and discovery. Planning for the next No Barriers festival is already underway. Participants of every type are telling us they want to be involved and know of people they want to attend. Even at this very early date, we welcome formal expressions of interest and support from individuals and organizations. We owe a great thanks to our major corporate sponsors -- Wells Fargo, Lumber Liquidators, Verizon Wireless and NIKE -- along with a host of other companies, non-profits and people who serve the disabled community. The FESTIVAL was life changing !!!!!Report Card on No Barriers: "This Festival Changed My Life."
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