22 replies to this topic

[rue2you]

A veteran in my town and I are starting a support/activity group in our area. We are over 2 hours away from any large cities that don't offer a whole lot for wheelchair users. So, we are going to get something rural going. We are going to have a website just as a virtual place to check times of meetings and peek some support interest. It is still in the baby stage but you can check it out: http://circleoffriendsohio.weebly.com/ We would like to meet about once a month, eat together, talk, but then have an activity planned for us all to try and do that day. Our goal is to enjoy the fellowship of other chair users but to also encourage one another that there is a LOT of fun living to be done in a chair. I designed the logo so that we can put it on t-shirts, hats, etc.

Here are some areas where I would appreciate your opinions:

1. I have never been part of a group like this so for those of you who have, what is a typical meeting like (format, etc)?
2. If you have ideas about more content on the website
3. Ideas for group activities (softball, field games like shooting, discus throwing, javelin, etc)
4. Any other thoughts or opinions on what you think would make a great group
5. Ideas of how we can work as a group to promote accessibility in our area (I don't understand all the politics of this)

All ideas, opinions and suggestions are open so please bring them on! Thank you!

[goose]

Great idea!!! It's always better when you can have physical contact with people. I've never been involved with such a group but I do know of one in AL. I know they have group outings ex. going to the zoo, baseball games, movies,fishing. I'll try to get in touch with them so that you can compare notes. Good luck!

[Smileyblue]

Brilliant work Alicia!

Best of luck..

(let me put some thought into it, and post again later..) ;-)

[rue2you]

Thank you both!! I look forward to your ideas!

[greybeard]

Good logo Rue. You four and your twelve kids will look grand in your T-shirts and hats. ( I gather there isn't much to do in the evenings in Ohio!! )

[rue2you]

Nope, not just us. Here is who is already lined up: a 30 yr. old female with spinal bifida, a 40 yr. old male with MS, a 40 yr. old male with spinal bifida and his wife who has MS, a 40 yr. old female that is a high level quad from a go-kart accident, a 20 something male para that loves riding his jeeps in the mud, a young teenage girl that is a para because of a 4-wheeler accident, and a 6 yr. old little guy that has spinal bifida.

You know where we have met these people? At our Wal-Mart!! Rick is as outgoing as I am and we have made friendships already with these people. We know there are more because we have seen them but not met them yet. It is a lot for our small agricultural area and there really isn't anything to do without a drive to the big city which is 2 hours away. That is, unless you count driving around and looking at the Amish as exciting. I enjoy it but doesn't really give you an adrenaline rush!

There is a need and we are on it. Sorry GB, but some of us need more to do than read a book!

[wheeliebear75]

greybeard, on 14 August 2011 - 01:56 PM, said:

Good logo Rue. You four and your twelve kids will look grand in your T-shirts and hats. ( I gather there isn't much to do in the evenings in Ohio!! )

They've each got SIX! Cable goes out on a regular basis....obviously!

All joshin' aside....

Its wonderful that you've taken the time to make a support group in your own area.

[greybeard]

Rue, I was joshing about the amount of breeding that seems to be going on in OH, not your support efforts, which are commendable.

[rue2you]

greybeard, on 14 August 2011 - 09:48 PM, said:

Rue, I was joshing about the amount of breeding that seems to be going on in OH, not your support efforts, which are commendable.

I'm teasing you about the books too! My husband LOVES to read and I always tell him that is the "other" woman in his life that I am jealous of!!

Does it help that we really don't have cable? I always wanted a ton of kids...I kind of didn't count on becoming a paraplegic! Oh well....I am raising compassionate citizens for the disabled!

I am so proud of my kids. Even though they are still young, a couple of them have already told me they love to be around disabled people and want to be their friends. I think that is cool!

[wheeliebear75]

It's VERY cool! I wound up being a very VERY LONELY teenager thanks to SCI....it would have been nice to have more kids my own age that weren't "put off" by the chair or crutches.

[coffeecups]

It sounds like you are off to a great start. I know it will be a great encouragement to everyone. And you are doing a great job with your kids.

I live in a fairly big city, but so far I haven't found a SCI support group. Website like apparelyzed are so important, but so are iRL relationships.

[rue2you]

Thank you! I am excited to see where this will all go! Time will tell and I will keep you all updated! Thanks for your support!

[isobar]

The web page looks nice and well put together ........ love that logo !! As far as dealing with inaccessibility issues maybe have members snap a photo with a cell phone or camera whenever they encounter them and discuss it at the next meeting as a group. If further action is needed determine what course of action should be taken. Contact or schedule a meeting with the establishment , disability rights group or the mayor's office. Have a signed petition with a page explaining the problem in detail with clear photos included which ....... speaks volumes. Sometimes just bringing things to someone's attention gets results. What you have decided to do is a good example of people moving forward in a positive way. I wish you much success with your website and the goals you hope to achieve with it.

Edited by isobar, 18 August 2011 - 12:46 PM.

[rue2you]

Thank you Isobar!! That is a wonderful idea and we will do it! I already know of a few places that we will start with!

[isobar]

rue2you, on 18 August 2011 - 02:05 PM, said:

Thank you Isobar!! That is a wonderful idea and we will do it! I already know of a few places that we will start with!

You are welcome sunshine.

[rue2you]

isobar, on 18 August 2011 - 02:27 PM, said:

rue2you, on 18 August 2011 - 02:05 PM, said:

Thank you Isobar!! That is a wonderful idea and we will do it! I already know of a few places that we will start with!

You are welcome sunshine.

Aww.... I liked that.

[mcferguson]

I have been part of a group for about a year and a half. We meet once a month at a community center at lunchtime. Our lunches have been donated each time (dunno how the organizer does it, I am sure he gets lots of "no's"). Usually there is a speaker/presenter who gives info related to disabled living. From the top of my head, we've had a medical supply company, a wheelchair dealer (they also provided free maintenance), a hospital, a gym, an advocacy group, and a state agency. There have been organized outings to Sea World (tickets were donated) and the San Antonio Rodeo. There is also a facebook group (which i really like 'cause I am bad with names). Our meetings generally have about 15-20 minutes of talking, then we eat, then whoever the guest speaker is, then more talking. Meetings are about 2 hours.

[rue2you]

Thank you Michael! Great ideas and I will keep these on my list!

[lifeisgood]

Your comment re: raising compassionate adults" is so great! I have two such adults of my own )

AND it happens to be a fact based on some research study I saw a while back.."Most of these investigations conclude there is average to better-than-average development and functioning among children of disabled parents and found positive outcomes as well: enhanced coping and problem-solving skills; greater acceptance of difference; and, more positive attitudes towards disability (Olkin et al. 2006; Booth and Booth 1997a; Cohen 1998; Preston 1994)."

Your support group sounds like it is off to a great start! One of the things we did at the one I was involved in in Miami was have guest speakers address the group for part of the time together. We learned so much about products, services and life..it made it both educational and supportive _

[rue2you]

lifeisgood, on 22 August 2011 - 11:32 PM, said:

Your comment re: raising compassionate adults" is so great! I have two such adults of my own )

AND it happens to be a fact based on some research study I saw a while back.."Most of these investigations conclude there is average to better-than-average development and functioning among children of disabled parents and found positive outcomes as well: enhanced coping and problem-solving skills; greater acceptance of difference; and, more positive attitudes towards disability (Olkin et al. 2006; Booth and Booth 1997a; Cohen 1998; Preston 1994)."

Your support group sounds like it is off to a great start! One of the things we did at the one I was involved in in Miami was have guest speakers address the group for part of the time together. We learned so much about products, services and life..it made it both educational and supportive _

Thank you for this! Love the study!! I hope that it is right. Thank you for your suggestions!

[wheeliebear75]

Having some FUN though is good too. Club movie nights? If you have a county fair maybe even set up an information booth next year? (With a booth you can both educate the ABs & hook up with some more gimps ) Have some potluck dinner parties somewhere?

(Some of this stuff is actually things we do with our car club [not the booth at the fair] but they're fun & help keep us "bonded" + can be done inside during WEATHER)

[rue2you]

wheeliebear75, on 23 August 2011 - 10:22 AM, said:

Having some FUN though is good too. Club movie nights? If you have a county fair maybe even set up an information booth next year? (With a booth you can both educate the ABs & hook up with some more gimps ) Have some potluck dinner parties somewhere?

(Some of this stuff is actually things we do with our car club [not the booth at the fair] but they're fun & help keep us "bonded" + can be done inside during WEATHER)

Very true! The fair ideas is great and our town loves its county fair!

[tatt00d3]

Nice!! This was a cool thread to find because I was just approached about trying to get a support group together myself. Great ideas from everyone.