Latest News from Rudy Sims

If I Can You Can

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:53:52 EDT

Many, many years ago, when I was only 5 months old, I became paralyzed due to a DPT shot and a doctor who refused to listen to a wise woman, whom I called mama. Over night, I fell into a deep, deep sleep, and did not wake for 10 days. The doctors declared that I would be deaf, dumb and blind, but I fooled them all

Consumers Reports Campaign - Let's All Take Action

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:54:00 EDT

My friend and fellow advocate ethan ellis along with the organization Next Step have started an e-mail campaign to Consumer Reports regarding the need for reviews of equipment for people with disabilities and other health problems. This campaign was started because of a discussion at http://www.disabilityresourceexchange.com/ to read and/or contribute more to the discussion - visit this page - Why is Consumer Reports ignoring us? To participate in the e-mail campaign please visit this page consumer reports campaign at Next Step We can make a difference if we all take action. Thanks to Daniel Reyes for starting the discussion and thanks to ethan ellis as well as the Next Step organization for starting the campaign.

Scientific Advancements Overshadowing Human Values in Regards to People with Disabilities

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:41:00 EDT

…are scientific advancements overshadowing human values in regards to people with disabilities. I would have to say yes, most definitely. From the time I was a small child, until now, I have seen much through these green eyes of mine. That was over a half a century ago, now. I was born perfectly normal, and given my first DPT shot. I reacted with a slight fever, and recovered.

Doggie Vignettes

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:03:24 EDT

This article is mostly made up of short stories told from a service dog's perspective however the last story is told by the service dog's owner (who is a wheelchair user but not blind) Tammy.

Loss and finding the right wheelchair

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:32:00 EDT

...the wheelchair story. My wheelchair has a horribly rough ride, which triggers many spasms and causes me much pain. When they hit, my spasms cause my body to extend and go rigid from chin to toes, to the point that I can’t even breathe. It feels like the life is being crushed out of me. Not pleasant in the least. I spasm so hard that I’ve busted 4 sets of belts (I use both chest and lap belts) in the last 2 years alone. The first 2 sets were the "positioning" belts that are standard on many chairs. Then we upgraded to automotive seat belts that are both thicker and stronger. I’ve since busted 2 sets of those. It takes considerably more to break them, so they do last longer, but they still break. So, I started looking into what could be done to make my chair cause me less spasms

The disabilityresourceexchange.com is now a sponsor of the msbpodcast!

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:59:36 EDT

the msbpodcast is for people with multiple sclerosis

How 1/10th of a Second CAN Change Your Whole Life! (my story) - Part 4

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:13:00 EDT

They also began "classes" to teach me what I needed to know about being a paraplegic. "What’s to know? I thought. That my legs don’t work? Not like I’ll forget that any time soon!" Boy, was I wrong. There is some stuff that you really do need to know!

How 1/10th Of a Second Change Your Whole Life! - Part 5

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:57:00 EDT

After almost a week had passed, they upgraded me to "He might make it, but he’ll probably never wake up". After I started to stir slightly the story changed again to "Don’t expect him to be the Dave you knew" (referring to the brain injury). After 5 weeks of total unconsciousness, I started to come around somewhat. Mentally I was soon all there, I just couldn’t move or communicate in any way. When they noticed that I was responding to simple requests like "squeeze my hand if you can hear me" they started trying to explain to me where I was. They didn’t want me to know too much about just how bad I was though, "they thought it would be best." Like I wouldn’t find out? Thankfully my family was there and would explain things to me so I could begin to try to understand where I was & what was happening to me.

How 1/10th of a second CAN change your whole life! (my story) Part three

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:39:33 EDT

I came home on the 22nd of December. What a Christmas present! As the ambulance ride was rough enough on me, we didn’t do much that day. God it was good to be home though. The following day, they (my family) got me up for my first shower since October, when I went in to the hospital...

How 1/10th of a second CAN change your whole life! (my story) Part two

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:35:26 EDT

Here’s what happened. My medical insurance on my motorcycle paid it’s maximum right up front, no problem. Progressive is awesome! My insurance through work, they balked at some stuff, paid some stuff, and refused some stuff outright, even though my doctors said I had to have it. And then there’s title 19. They will only pay the absolute minimum

How 1/10th of a second CAN change your whole life! (my story)

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:44:52 EDT

My accident was in 04. I started a journal in 05 on the events in my life since then Originally started on 1/ 7/ 2005) My name is David. I was born March 4th. 1962. At the time of my accident I was a 42 year old factory worker. A husband and father to three grown children, the youngest of which was 20 Yrs. Old. I was on bowling league each year. I moonlighted as a D.J. on the weekends, my wife and I owning our own mobile D.J. service. In other words, I was a healthy, active, hard working, somewhat overweight adult. Here’s what happened.

A Case of Mistaken Identity - From PADS Service Dog Breeze's Perspective

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:14:28 EDT

So, if you see a dog wearing a jacket/vest with no harness, it’s likely not a guide dog. Also, if my handler is making eye contact with you while you talk and comments on how stylin’ your boots are, it’s probably safe to assume that she or he is not blind!

Fixer Dad

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:16:27 EDT

A Parent’s Perspective By Conrad van der Kamp Recently I was asked: so what’s the special role of a Dad in the life of a child with CP? What’s the role of a Dad in any child’s life? It’s all aboutproviding, safeguarding, teaching, hugging tightly and encouraging. And it’s also about encouraging from the sidelines and standing back when your child stumbles. It involves making room and letting go.

Inclusion Has Come A Long Way..

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15:15 EDT

I attended an elementary school in BC in the early 1970’s as a ward of the Province. At that time, inclusion meant the public school system, but a separate classroom and curriculum. All the children with a recognizable disability were in the same classroom. At recess we segregated ourselves. It was a BIG deal when early in grade five, I was finally admitted to the “regular” classroom.

Coming & Going..... From PADS Service Dog Breeze's Perspective

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:21:37 EDT

Tammy’s lucky; she does some of her work from home, with me sitting comfortably under her desk, but even so I’m at the office with her several times a month for meetings, and stuff. “Off to work” means going on the train, and that means having other people want to pet me. It can also mean a substantial wait, so it would be nice to have a treat or smoky bone along to gnaw on.

Life's A Breeze

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:19:06 EDT

In the spring of 2007 PADS Service Dog Breeze blew into my life like a hurricane. I should have known something big was up when the voice over the phone asked whether I was sitting down…For those of you who don’t know, I’m a quad – I’m always sitting down! The big news was that I had been matched up with a PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs) dog.

The Priceless Penny

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:39:34 EDT

Isn’t it interesting, that still, in today’s society, we find indentations and grooves chiseled out in our expansive society which tries to prevent and stop our disabled population, our seniors, our financially limited person, and the less affluent from truly surviving, staying a float, or earning a decent living of their own.

Writing for Audacity Magazine

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EDT

It hardly seems possible that I have been writing for Audacity Magazine for well over a year, now. Every article I have written has been a new challenge. Every article, I have written, has been as different as the article before. And every article I write comes from a place of understanding, compassion, and a sincere honesty to enlighten the public.

The Blues: is it in the Disability Community, Too?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:35:01 EDT

Often, the reality of our disabilities can lead to an increased instance of depression.

What Does Bullying and Making Fun of Other’s Got to Do With it?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:35:00 EDT

In my last article, I wrote about people bullying others. Well today, my dear readers, I am going to take this topic a step further. I am going to expand and give more detail about how this thinking applies in other parts of our lives.

About Audacity Magazine

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:32:00 EDT

What does it feel like to give birth to something that no one else has ever conceived of? And what does it feel like to bring to the forefront idea’s that could change disabled men and women’s lives for ever? Well, I’ll tell you. I think it takes a dedicated, in-tune, and highly motivated person to bring ideas to the front- line of society which no one else has had the courage to challenge.

What Does Bullying and Making Fun of Others Got to Do With it?

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:57:00 EDT

This is an article by Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org about bullying and people with disabilities. I have heard a lot of commentary about kids bullying others, and then those same children who could not handle the making fun of any longer; killing themselves or hurting someone. Many people do not know how much that actually happens in the disabled community. But it does. Sometimes its even worse than out in the "regular world." I know this because I lived through it, and experienced it a number of times first hand.

Cerebral Palsy: 10 Years of Chronic Pain and How I am Trying to Help People Now

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:25:00 EDT

This is an article about Rudy Sims's life with a disability and his goals and projects focused on raising disability awareness and helping as many people as possible.

Twitter Profiles That Focus on Health and Disability Information

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:08:00 EDT

Today I am listing a few pages that refer to profiles on twitter that are related to health and/or disability issues.

Michael Jackson's Death from Cardiac Arrest

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EDT

Here is a round up of several new stories about Michael Jackson's health and sudden death

About Disability Resource Exchange Social Network

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EDT

A social network whose main goal is to bring together people with and without disabilities who are interested in discussing disability issues.I created and manage a social network for discussion of disability issues. The website address is: http://www.disabilityresourceexchange.com

Having a Disability Is Just One Aspect Of My Life

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:42:00 EDT

I know that many people with disabilities struggle with how to appropriately deal with their disability. Learning how to deal with it on the one hand and not letting it consumed you on the other.