at the age of 15 my sister and I were going out to collect paper money on a
going out to collect paper money on a
going out to collect paper money on a bicycle built for two and you can
bicycle built for two and you can
bicycle built for two and you can imagine myself as a young fifteen year
imagine myself as a young fifteen year
imagine myself as a young fifteen year old and the pictures I was active I was
old and the pictures I was active I was
old and the pictures I was active I was healthy carefree looking forward to a
healthy carefree looking forward to a
healthy carefree looking forward to a future as possibly a phys ed teacher or
future as possibly a phys ed teacher or
future as possibly a phys ed teacher or a radio broadcaster I wasn’t sure but in
a radio broadcaster I wasn’t sure but in
a radio broadcaster I wasn’t sure but in a split second a very split second my
a split second a very split second my
a split second a very split second my life and the people’s life around me
life and the people’s life around me
life and the people’s life around me changed forever one evening in October
changed forever one evening in October
changed forever one evening in October when my sis as I said my sister and I
when my sis as I said my sister and I
when my sis as I said my sister and I were going on a bicycle built for two we
were going on a bicycle built for two we
were going on a bicycle built for two we were heading down the hill and
were heading down the hill and
were heading down the hill and unfortunately halfway down the hill we
unfortunately halfway down the hill we
unfortunately halfway down the hill we lost the brakes on their bike my bike
lost the brakes on their bike my bike
lost the brakes on their bike my bike and I was driving and fortunately I was
and I was driving and fortunately I was
and I was driving and fortunately I was able to swerve to miss from hitting a
able to swerve to miss from hitting a
able to swerve to miss from hitting a car but unfortunately that night my life
car but unfortunately that night my life
car but unfortunately that night my life would change forever as my bike went
would change forever as my bike went
would change forever as my bike went headfirst into the ditch and in an
headfirst into the ditch and in an
headfirst into the ditch and in an instant my neck was broken and I
instant my neck was broken and I
instant my neck was broken and I suffered a spinal cord injury all of a
suffered a spinal cord injury all of a
suffered a spinal cord injury all of a sudden my life would have changed
sudden my life would have changed
sudden my life would have changed forever changed her lever forever I had
forever changed her lever forever I had
forever changed her lever forever I had no movement in my arms or my legs I had
no movement in my arms or my legs I had
no movement in my arms or my legs I had no sensitivity below my chest just
no sensitivity below my chest just
no sensitivity below my chest just imagine what I could do to a 15 year old
imagine what I could do to a 15 year old
imagine what I could do to a 15 year old boy but I don’t want to talk about the
boy but I don’t want to talk about the
boy but I don’t want to talk about the bad things or the negative things today
bad things or the negative things today
bad things or the negative things today I want to talk about the positive things
I want to talk about the positive things
I want to talk about the positive things I mean you think being in a wheelchair
I mean you think being in a wheelchair
I mean you think being in a wheelchair or needing to use the wheelchair is all
or needing to use the wheelchair is all
or needing to use the wheelchair is all bad but it’s not all bad I mean I don’t
bad but it’s not all bad I mean I don’t
bad but it’s not all bad I mean I don’t have to wait in the lines at Disney
have to wait in the lines at Disney
have to wait in the lines at Disney World and I get great parking as you can
World and I get great parking as you can
World and I get great parking as you can imagine that at such a young age I had
imagine that at such a young age I had
imagine that at such a young age I had to come over overcome many barriers
to come over overcome many barriers
to come over overcome many barriers being paralyzed and having to change the
being paralyzed and having to change the
being paralyzed and having to change the way I do a lot of things within my life
my very first boat with really the
my very first boat with really the medical system was that the after I
medical system was that the after I
medical system was that the after I having my accident
having my accident
having my accident having to go through some of the
having to go through some of the
having to go through some of the challenges of the rehabilitation process
challenges of the rehabilitation process
challenges of the rehabilitation process with that type of diagnosis I had to
with that type of diagnosis I had to
with that type of diagnosis I had to learn many new things how to live my
learn many new things how to live my
learn many new things how to live my life differently I had to deal with
life differently I had to deal with
life differently I had to deal with learning how to use a wheelchair you
learning how to use a wheelchair you
learning how to use a wheelchair you learning how to use different technology
learning how to use different technology
learning how to use different technology like voice recognition software to allow
like voice recognition software to allow
like voice recognition software to allow me to be able to live a normal and
me to be able to live a normal and
me to be able to live a normal and independent life getting back into the
independent life getting back into the
independent life getting back into the community moving back home to where my
community moving back home to where my
community moving back home to where my family was probably my rock and my
family was probably my rock and my
family was probably my rock and my support so having that change in my life
support so having that change in my life
support so having that change in my life was a big big step for me luckily I was
was a big big step for me luckily I was
was a big big step for me luckily I was able to have very good support around me
able to have very good support around me
able to have very good support around me and I was able to as dektor Dexter’s had
and I was able to as dektor Dexter’s had
and I was able to as dektor Dexter’s had persevere and move forward I was very
persevere and move forward I was very
persevere and move forward I was very lucky my parents and my family were very
lucky my parents and my family were very
lucky my parents and my family were very advocates for me well here in Halifax my
advocates for me well here in Halifax my
advocates for me well here in Halifax my mom advocating me for to be able to go
mom advocating me for to be able to go
mom advocating me for to be able to go to Universal and had a successful three
to Universal and had a successful three
to Universal and had a successful three years there and was able to figure out
years there and was able to figure out
years there and was able to figure out who I was and where I wanted to go the
who I was and where I wanted to go the
who I was and where I wanted to go the next part of my adventure took me to st.
next part of my adventure took me to st.
next part of my adventure took me to st. Mary’s University where I decided to
Mary’s University where I decided to
Mary’s University where I decided to study at post-secondary now I know I’m
study at post-secondary now I know I’m
study at post-secondary now I know I’m here at Dowell and all that stuff but I
here at Dowell and all that stuff but I
here at Dowell and all that stuff but I mean at that time st. Mary’s one was one
mean at that time st. Mary’s one was one
mean at that time st. Mary’s one was one of the only educational institutes that
of the only educational institutes that
of the only educational institutes that really could support someone with the
really could support someone with the
really could support someone with the requirements I need the accessibility
requirements I need the accessibility
requirements I need the accessibility was top in the province there was a
was top in the province there was a
was top in the province there was a support center there for persons with
support center there for persons with
support center there for persons with disabilities that could provide me the
disabilities that could provide me the
disabilities that could provide me the supports I need it to be successful so I
supports I need it to be successful so I
supports I need it to be successful so I ventured into a Bachelor of Commerce
ventured into a Bachelor of Commerce
ventured into a Bachelor of Commerce degree and majored in small business
degree and majored in small business
degree and majored in small business management and after those five years of
management and after those five years of
management and after those five years of studying I became I was able to graduate
studying I became I was able to graduate
studying I became I was able to graduate and really at that time to sign him what
and really at that time to sign him what
and really at that time to sign him what I wanted to do with the rest of my life
I wanted to do with the rest of my life
I wanted to do with the rest of my life I mean I had a business degree in small
I mean I had a business degree in small
I mean I had a business degree in small business management I wanted to own my
business management I wanted to own my
business management I wanted to own my own business I think if there’s any
own business I think if there’s any
own business I think if there’s any bankers in the
bankers in the
bankers in the they’re a 23 year old guy just finishing
they’re a 23 year old guy just finishing
they’re a 23 year old guy just finishing University asking for a million dollars
University asking for a million dollars
University asking for a million dollars to start a business didn’t go too well
to start a business didn’t go too well
to start a business didn’t go too well but I didn’t let that let me down I
but I didn’t let that let me down I
but I didn’t let that let me down I really pushed forward and tried to stay
really pushed forward and tried to stay
really pushed forward and tried to stay positive and luckily I was very
positive and luckily I was very
positive and luckily I was very fortunate in providing and someone
fortunate in providing and someone
fortunate in providing and someone provided me an opportunity the same
provided me an opportunity the same
provided me an opportunity the same organization that provided me the
organization that provided me the
organization that provided me the supports and disabilities or supports
supports and disabilities or supports
supports and disabilities or supports and services that I needed to be
and services that I needed to be
and services that I needed to be successful at post-secondary that
successful at post-secondary that
successful at post-secondary that government agency gave me a chance they
government agency gave me a chance they
government agency gave me a chance they hired me as a summer program coordinator
hired me as a summer program coordinator
hired me as a summer program coordinator for a wage subsidy for persons with
for a wage subsidy for persons with
for a wage subsidy for persons with disabilities and the ability to get that
disabilities and the ability to get that
disabilities and the ability to get that experience and move forward has been
experience and move forward has been
experience and move forward has been just unbelievable and to this day I
just unbelievable and to this day I
just unbelievable and to this day I still Mable after thirteen years later
still Mable after thirteen years later
still Mable after thirteen years later to say that I’m still working there and
to say that I’m still working there and
to say that I’m still working there and still helping with supports for students
still helping with supports for students
still helping with supports for students with disabilities who decide to study
with disabilities who decide to study
with disabilities who decide to study with post-secondary and currently we
with post-secondary and currently we
with post-secondary and currently we have almost 2,000 students with various
have almost 2,000 students with various
have almost 2,000 students with various disabilities all across the province and
disabilities all across the province and
disabilities all across the province and across this country out there learning
across this country out there learning
across this country out there learning the skills so that they can be
the skills so that they can be
the skills so that they can be employable and it allows me every day I
employable and it allows me every day I
employable and it allows me every day I feel positive and feel confident that I
feel positive and feel confident that I
feel positive and feel confident that I have a say or a help from my own
have a say or a help from my own
have a say or a help from my own personal experiences in the my
personal experiences in the my
personal experiences in the my employment experience to help them be
employment experience to help them be
employment experience to help them be successful now all of these things that
successful now all of these things that
successful now all of these things that I’ve been talking about my have been
I’ve been talking about my have been
I’ve been talking about my have been really stepping stones to where I am
really stepping stones to where I am
really stepping stones to where I am today because of the opportunities and
today because of the opportunities and
today because of the opportunities and the supports and services that were in
the supports and services that were in
the supports and services that were in place for myself has opened doors in so
place for myself has opened doors in so
place for myself has opened doors in so many ways where I could never imagined I
many ways where I could never imagined I
many ways where I could never imagined I kind of often joke with my friends and
kind of often joke with my friends and
kind of often joke with my friends and family that I feel reborn that this is
family that I feel reborn that this is
family that I feel reborn that this is was meant to be for me and I can’t
was meant to be for me and I can’t
was meant to be for me and I can’t imagine going any other way the
imagine going any other way the
imagine going any other way the opportunities of traveling have been
opportunities of traveling have been
opportunities of traveling have been amazing for me I’ve traveled all over
amazing for me I’ve traveled all over
amazing for me I’ve traveled all over the world and get to experience so many
the world and get to experience so many
the world and get to experience so many different places and be able to meet so
different places and be able to meet so
different places and be able to meet so many different people who I can let them
many different people who I can let them
many different people who I can let them know that persons with disabilities can
know that persons with disabilities can
know that persons with disabilities can still do things we can still move
still do things we can still move
still do things we can still move forward and travel and do the fun things
forward and travel and do the fun things
forward and travel and do the fun things that we want to do if the opportunities
that we want to do if the opportunities
that we want to do if the opportunities are put in place
are put in place
are put in place in 2006 I ventured my experience in the
in 2006 I ventured my experience in the
in 2006 I ventured my experience in the world of sailing you can see in the
world of sailing you can see in the
world of sailing you can see in the picture there that was my first event I
picture there that was my first event I
picture there that was my first event I had never sailed before in my entire
had never sailed before in my entire
had never sailed before in my entire life
life
life but a friend of mine Paul tinguely who’s
but a friend of mine Paul tinguely who’s
but a friend of mine Paul tinguely who’s a gold medalist sailor said you should
a gold medalist sailor said you should
a gold medalist sailor said you should go to Vancouver and try this you’ll
go to Vancouver and try this you’ll
go to Vancouver and try this you’ll enjoy it so I took the fleep of faith
enjoy it so I took the fleep of faith
enjoy it so I took the fleep of faith and trusted in other people and honestly
and trusted in other people and honestly
and trusted in other people and honestly to God and it changed my life to this
to God and it changed my life to this
to God and it changed my life to this day I’m now the president of se label
day I’m now the president of se label
day I’m now the president of se label Association a nonprofit organization
Association a nonprofit organization
Association a nonprofit organization that provides supports and services for
that provides supports and services for
that provides supports and services for persons with disabilities who want to be
persons with disabilities who want to be
persons with disabilities who want to be able to go sailing who wants that
able to go sailing who wants that
able to go sailing who wants that opportunity that support and that has
opportunity that support and that has
opportunity that support and that has been a whole nother chapter in my life
been a whole nother chapter in my life
been a whole nother chapter in my life and you can see not only did I enjoy the
and you can see not only did I enjoy the
and you can see not only did I enjoy the recreation part of saying I got
recreation part of saying I got
recreation part of saying I got competitive really competitive to the
competitive really competitive to the
competitive really competitive to the point that I bought my own sailboat now
point that I bought my own sailboat now
point that I bought my own sailboat now you could say it was a midlife crisis
you could say it was a midlife crisis
you could say it was a midlife crisis but I purchased my own sailboat you can
but I purchased my own sailboat you can
but I purchased my own sailboat you can see in some of the pictures there I’ve
see in some of the pictures there I’ve
see in some of the pictures there I’ve had the vent the opportunity to sail
had the vent the opportunity to sail
had the vent the opportunity to sail across Canada round to compete on a
across Canada round to compete on a
across Canada round to compete on a national level and those opportunities
national level and those opportunities
national level and those opportunities of meeting people and doing those things
of meeting people and doing those things
of meeting people and doing those things have opened vast possibilities for me
have opened vast possibilities for me
have opened vast possibilities for me and I really think the futures further
and I really think the futures further
and I really think the futures further on I’ve gone skiing downhill skiing I
on I’ve gone skiing downhill skiing I
on I’ve gone skiing downhill skiing I mean any type adventures that I could
mean any type adventures that I could
mean any type adventures that I could possibly do or properties that are out
possibly do or properties that are out
possibly do or properties that are out there I’m willing to give them a try to
there I’m willing to give them a try to
there I’m willing to give them a try to see to make sure that I can live life to
see to make sure that I can live life to
see to make sure that I can live life to my fullest now a lot of the things that
my fullest now a lot of the things that
my fullest now a lot of the things that I talk about in my talk really wouldn’t
I talk about in my talk really wouldn’t
I talk about in my talk really wouldn’t be possible without accessibility and I
be possible without accessibility and I
be possible without accessibility and I really want to focus on accessibility
really want to focus on accessibility
really want to focus on accessibility and inclusion in my talk and how
and inclusion in my talk and how
and inclusion in my talk and how important it is not just for persons
important it is not just for persons
important it is not just for persons with disabilities but for the community
with disabilities but for the community
with disabilities but for the community in the world at whole it opens
in the world at whole it opens
in the world at whole it opens opportunities I talked about my
opportunities I talked about my
opportunities I talked about my educational opportunities that it opened
educational opportunities that it opened
educational opportunities that it opened up my employment opportunities and some
up my employment opportunities and some
up my employment opportunities and some of the recreation and leisure events
of the recreation and leisure events
of the recreation and leisure events that I’ve been able to do those
that I’ve been able to do those
that I’ve been able to do those opportunities wouldn’t have been
opportunities wouldn’t have been
opportunities wouldn’t have been possible unless I had an accessible
possible unless I had an accessible
possible unless I had an accessible environment to do those in
environment to do those in
environment to do those in I was able to get on an airplane unless
I was able to get on an airplane unless
I was able to get on an airplane unless I was able to get on a ride at
I was able to get on a ride at
I was able to get on a ride at Disneyworld get on a go-cart any of
Disneyworld get on a go-cart any of
Disneyworld get on a go-cart any of those things that are possible and are
those things that are possible and are
those things that are possible and are available to me have just to vastly
available to me have just to vastly
available to me have just to vastly improve the experiences it with me we
improve the experiences it with me we
improve the experiences it with me we talk about universal design and maybe
talk about universal design and maybe
talk about universal design and maybe even though I heard the term but
even though I heard the term but
even though I heard the term but universal design is making a world
universal design is making a world
universal design is making a world that’s universal that works for
that’s universal that works for
that’s universal that works for everybody with all abilities or all or
everybody with all abilities or all or
everybody with all abilities or all or whatever requirements one might need and
whatever requirements one might need and
whatever requirements one might need and when we help everyone we make our world
when we help everyone we make our world
when we help everyone we make our world more accessible to everyone I feel it’s
more accessible to everyone I feel it’s
more accessible to everyone I feel it’s a win-win and I can be a personal
a win-win and I can be a personal
a win-win and I can be a personal experience and show that through
experience and show that through
experience and show that through personal experience and perseverance
personal experience and perseverance
personal experience and perseverance that it can help it improves the quality
that it can help it improves the quality
that it can help it improves the quality of life in so many different ways
of life in so many different ways
of life in so many different ways improves my self-confidence my
improves my self-confidence my
improves my self-confidence my self-esteem my health is better I’m more
self-esteem my health is better I’m more
self-esteem my health is better I’m more healthy I’m able to be active and out in
healthy I’m able to be active and out in
healthy I’m able to be active and out in the community but most important I think
the community but most important I think
the community but most important I think and what it really feels for me is it
and what it really feels for me is it
and what it really feels for me is it allows me to live independently and I
allows me to live independently and I
allows me to live independently and I can’t stress how much that independence
can’t stress how much that independence
can’t stress how much that independence means to an individual you’ll never know
means to an individual you’ll never know
means to an individual you’ll never know until it’s taken away from you how much
until it’s taken away from you how much
until it’s taken away from you how much someone independence means to their life
someone independence means to their life
someone independence means to their life and because I have all these things in
and because I have all these things in
and because I have all these things in place I can live on my own independently
place I can live on my own independently
place I can live on my own independently I can travel independently to the places
I can travel independently to the places
I can travel independently to the places that I want to travel I can meet the
that I want to travel I can meet the
that I want to travel I can meet the people I want to meet I can do the
people I want to meet I can do the
people I want to meet I can do the things I want to do and those
things I want to do and those
things I want to do and those experiences have just fulfilled my life
experiences have just fulfilled my life
experiences have just fulfilled my life so much you can see in the sailing
so much you can see in the sailing
so much you can see in the sailing pictures there I mean I’ve been able to
pictures there I mean I’ve been able to
pictures there I mean I’ve been able to do some amazing things in that sailboat
do some amazing things in that sailboat
do some amazing things in that sailboat and I always tell people that for me
and I always tell people that for me
and I always tell people that for me being in that sailboat controlling where
being in that sailboat controlling where
being in that sailboat controlling where I’m sailing that sailboat is really the
I’m sailing that sailboat is really the
I’m sailing that sailboat is really the only other time other than in my
only other time other than in my
only other time other than in my wheelchair that I really have control of
wheelchair that I really have control of
wheelchair that I really have control of where I’m going or where I want to move
where I’m going or where I want to move
where I’m going or where I want to move to and that feeling is empowering and I
to and that feeling is empowering and I
to and that feeling is empowering and I think if if you were able to experience
think if if you were able to experience
think if if you were able to experience what that’s like you can really
what that’s like you can really
what that’s like you can really understand what I mean
understand what I mean
understand what I mean but I want to finish off talking about
but I want to finish off talking about
but I want to finish off talking about some of the importance of accessibility
some of the importance of accessibility
some of the importance of accessibility the biggest thing that we have to
the biggest thing that we have to
the biggest thing that we have to overcome I think and
overcome I think and
overcome I think and I say this wholeheartedly is changing
I say this wholeheartedly is changing
I say this wholeheartedly is changing attitudes I think that’s what TED Talks
attitudes I think that’s what TED Talks
attitudes I think that’s what TED Talks are all about it’s an attitudinal change
are all about it’s an attitudinal change
are all about it’s an attitudinal change in our environment in our communities
in our environment in our communities
in our environment in our communities that has to happen for all this to be
that has to happen for all this to be
that has to happen for all this to be put in place
put in place
put in place yeah it’s helped me but there’s many
yeah it’s helped me but there’s many
yeah it’s helped me but there’s many individuals out there that need that
individuals out there that need that
individuals out there that need that help need that push need that support
help need that push need that support
help need that push need that support and once we start changing attitudes and
and once we start changing attitudes and
and once we start changing attitudes and people’s perceptions on how people do
people’s perceptions on how people do
people’s perceptions on how people do things differently our communities our
things differently our communities our
things differently our communities our towns our cities our world will be a
towns our cities our world will be a
towns our cities our world will be a better place for everybody and that’s
better place for everybody and that’s
better place for everybody and that’s really what I want to continue push
really what I want to continue push
really what I want to continue push forward to and change that knowledge
forward to and change that knowledge
forward to and change that knowledge that this world can be accessible to
that this world can be accessible to
that this world can be accessible to everyone if we all put our collective
everyone if we all put our collective
everyone if we all put our collective thoughts and ideas together to make it
thoughts and ideas together to make it
thoughts and ideas together to make it happen so thank you very much for
happen so thank you very much for
happen so thank you very much for listening to
”
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