Handicapped

[John Cox]

I am a certified car nut! So needless to say, when I became paralyzed from the mid section down in August of 2009 I got very depressed. I am now up and getting around a little now, but not very well. The doctor told me I would never walk again. So I started watching vehicle repair videos on YouTube. Eric’s videos were the best ones for me. They made me feel like I was right there in the shop with him. Eric gave me motivation (along with my family) to get up and get dirty once again. I can’t do as much as I used to but I have managed to build 3 engines for various things since then in my wheelchair! I just want to thank Eric for keeping my dreams alive! I’d love to hear about other people who are handicap and still living the dream.

Topic

[Javier Garcia Jr]

I personally can not relate, but don’t let that get you down.

There’s a guy at a local shop who’s paralyzed from the waist down and modified himself a first generation camaro. It’s fully functional, and even has it’s own ramp similar to what I see in E-class ford vans.

You can do whatever you want given practice. Heck I’ve watched someone cut and eat food with no thumbs, and a few fingers missing as well.

[Frank Gonzalez]

I have a brother who was shot in the spine and paralyzed from his mid chest down in 1994. He has an extended cab Chevy Colorado that is equipped with hand controls. I’ve tried driving it with the hand controls, NO!!! He opens the drivers door and drivers side rear door, hops in, folds his chair and puts it in the area behind his seat. He has gone on roller coasters, sky diving, boogie boarding and has dived off of diving boards. Don’t tell him NO. He doesn’t know much about cars and call me to repair his truck or wife’s car and will give me a hand repairing them or for advise on repairs. He bought a new house and the home builder worked with him to make it easier for him to get around in it like tile flooring throughout, wider doors and barrier free showers. Their is some adjusting to do at first for your family and friends but it becomes second nature after a while.

[Daniel Weith]

I can relate to how you feel, although not in a chair I do have Peripheral Neuropathy and can understand how you feel. It is not about what you cannot do, but what you can do. I grew up in a DIY household so working on your own car was just how things were done starting at about 5 years old helping my father anyway I could.

For me there is no better form of therapy than working on my car or doing small customizations to better serve my needs.

Now why a guy with a disability cannot drive a Camaro I will never understand. I am a big kid, 6-3 and the big doors do make it easier for me to enter and exit the vehicle. Oh, and it looks good, handles great, and I love fast cars.

[Javier Garcia Jr]

[quote=”BigDanIL279″ post=150605]

Now why a guy with a disability cannot drive a Camaro I will never understand. I am a big kid, 6-3 and the big doors do make it easier for me to enter and exit the vehicle. Oh, and it looks good, handles great, and I love fast cars.[/quote]

Maybe I worded myself wrong. It’s just most people who are wheelchair bound realistically are going to have a tough time using something like a super low sport coupe as their daily driver, and for this gentlemen show signs of server muscle atrophy. I’m simply dumbfounded that he’s found a way to make such an inconvenient car work for him daily. I mean I have nothing hindering me, but Jesus Christ getting in and out of a camaro is no easy task 😛

[Daniel Weith]

[quote=”Gucci Mane” post=150808][quote=”BigDanIL279″ post=150605]

Now why a guy with a disability cannot drive a Camaro I will never understand. I am a big kid, 6-3 and the big doors do make it easier for me to enter and exit the vehicle. Oh, and it looks good, handles great, and I love fast cars.[/quote]

Maybe I worded myself wrong. It’s just most people who are wheelchair bound realistically are going to have a tough time using something like a super low sport coupe as their daily driver, and for this gentlemen show signs of server muscle atrophy. I’m simply dumbfounded that he’s found a way to make such an inconvenient car work for him daily. I mean I have nothing hindering me, but Jesus Christ getting in and out of a camaro is no easy task :P[/quote]

You are exactly correct it is no easy task to pull and push myself up out of the Camaro and I am thankful every time I can accomplish enter/exit my vehicle. It keeps reminding me everyday the physical demands I must place upon myself to not lose more strength and balance than I already have. I have fallen trying to get out of my car, so I take my time and pick myself up off the ground and keep going. Is there a day I can see myself in a chair? I hope not, but if I do a least I know it was not without a fight and I attempted to push myself everyday to prevent the disease from winning.

There is the old saying “You should not judge a man until you have walked in his shoes” and I would not wish that upon anyone; Peripheral Neuropathy is a slow, painful and evil condition I would never wish anyone to experience.

[Erin]

Handicap or not, a person still has a life to live.
From the stories I have seen and heard, it seems when people lose abilities, they are MORE motivated to make the most of life. Maybe they appreciate life more at that point. They stop taking everything for granted.

I am guessing this – if someone does have more difficulty doing things, they probably choose their activities more wisely than the rest of us who mostly bumble through life wasting time on pointless stuff.

I once saw something on TV or maybe the web about a blind man who worked helping restore classic cars. He said “I cannot sit around feeling sorry for myself, I have a life to live.”

[Author]

Replies