[ANNagain]

A TED Talk by Sue Austin about how other peoples view of you changes what you think of you and how she changed that.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sue_austin_...heelchair.html

Worth talking about.

ANN

[SallyC]

OMG Ann, that was amazing and it was like I was right there,
taking the journey with her. It's even better if you hit the full
screen button....WOW and WOW!!!

Thanks for making my day with this..

[Kitty]

That really was amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[Debbie D]

Thanks for sharing this...I have joined a meetup group that discusses TED videos and this is one that I will definitely bring up! Wondrous!!

[ANNagain]

I'm wondering about her question re: how other peoples view of you changes what you think of you.

Are you seen as "other" or "less than?"

Aside for Sally: there is a commercial underwater chair in the works. See:
http://www.wearefreewheeling.org.uk/...news?item=1789

ANN

[SallyC]

That is a good question Ann. I think when I was a young Wife and
Mother, yes it affected me. I hated when I had to carry a cane, just
so people wouldn't think I was drunk. I was thought of as an old lady,
by small children. But it was better than being thought of as a drunk.

As I grew older with MS, I still wanted people to think of me as able,
just slightly handicapped. Made me mad when peeps thought I
wasn't, felt sorry for me or thought they knew that I could get
better, if I just tried harder..

Now, however, I'm old enough, that I just don't shiv a git what
others think or how they define me.. That's why you guys are
just about my only friends now.

[ANNagain]

Sally, thank you.

For me, not being in a chair, it has been different than what Sue Austin experienced. I have mostly fought for people to "see" and know that I DO have a disability despite looking able.

When I was in a scooter some years ago and for about a year, the thing I remember most is that it seemed to make people kinder and helpful.

ANN

[EddieF]

Wow thank you! I waterproofed spare chair a few yrs ago & built ramp with my father for pool. 20 more laps i'll have 3,000 for 2013.
I'm paralyzed from chest down since 1989. Broke neck/sliced cord at C7.

[AynaDee]

^That's for posting such an awesomely inspirational clip!

She reminded me of a mermaid! She is definitely a beautiful soul. I feel I learned alot from that video. So THANK YOU so much for posting this!