It's all coming together...

I listened in to a webinar on advocating through the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation today, and surprisingly enough, they are most concerned about how funding is getting cut AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING....which of course the "normal" person would have no reason to know about this but even scarier, the people that SHOULD know about it, the end users of durable medical equipment don't. Competitive bidding began this year in 9 cities/areas and what happened is that Medicare comes in and gives a few of the many vendors a contract to provide services to person's on Medicare. Many of the larger nationwide companies are able to underbid the local vendors - this affects quality of care - the smaller local vendors KNOW there consumers, stories and struggles. Taking business away from the smaller vendors puts them out of business (sometimes losing 50% of vendors in an area) who will never bounce back. This makes it harder for the consumer to get the right equipment. AND when the consumer does not know about this, it is very difficult to find out who has the contract and many times the suppliers/vendors are not even sure....It's kind of a mess, which is the nicest way to put it! I'm hoping to work with People for Quality Care who is an advocacy group through VGM to spread the word! Please check them out and support them - www.peopleforqualitycare.org

How's this for a title?

I've decided to refocus my speech for nationals - "The Under Recognized Minority - Wheelchair Users: Education, Empowerment and Advocacy". Notice I did not say "confined to a wheelchair".....one of the many interesting things about belonging to a subculture and social media, is that you really get to see what sets people off. Being "confined" is one of them and it bothers me to. I'm not confined to my wheelchair....I can get on my bike, onto a couch, into my car and into a pool if I want to. Many "walkers" see us in our chairs and maybe feel sorry for us or my think "I'm glad I'm not in their shoes" but I've been on both sides....and being in a chair isn't so bad. I get to make really bad puns like "You rock but I roll"....when my mom tripped she said "I can't walk" and I looked at her and said deadpan "Neither can I". Going up hills may be a drag but going down them? WAY more fun than walking! The only 2 times it ever bothers me to be on wheels is when the environment doesn't allow me to do something (hotel rooms are the WORST) or when people look down on me/think I'm not capable. But that's part of my job as an advocate...to educate as many people as possible to show that even though I may be on a chair (aka a "roller) I can do anything I put my mind to !!

First blog as 2011 Ms. Wheelchair Iowa

For anyone who truly knows me, I am NOT the typical pageant contestant and the thought of me in a tiara has made many of my friends laugh to the point of tears. Although being in the Ms. Wheelchair Iowa competition was completely "outside of my box", I am very proud to hold the title. It is like all the learning about wheelchair evaluation, approval (or denial), coverage and policies has all come together in a way I can spread the education to many others....hopefully to empower them and give each person a voice. I'm hoping to use this blog to document my adventures in the next year. Wish me luck!