Posts Tagged ‘electric wheelchair’

Robo-linebacker

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Robo-linebacker

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Growing up in Port Elgin, there weren’t a lot of accessible sports opportunities for Jeff. While youth with disabilities who live in bigger cities, like London, have several options for adapted team sports, those fortunate enough to live in the rural world with few peers in wheelchairs are largely limited to individual sports like wheelchair racing or swimming. Given his lack of physical strength, most individual sports were out of the question for Jeff, leaving him out of luck. Being the loving (and abusive) sister that she is, Trish wouldn’t let Jeff sit at the sidelines and feel sorry for himself, often involving him in unorganized team sports like street hockey. As it turns out, Jeff and Trish soon discovered there were certain advantages to having a big clunky wheelchair. Sure, Jeff wasn’t going to be winning the scoring race, but given that his scooter filled almost the entire net he was a born goaltender. Good luck scoring on that goalie, kiddies.

Sometimes it’s not what you cannot do, but what you can do…when competing against children in a 400lbs electric wheelchair…

Also if you didn’t understand the punch line, check this video out here, specifically around the 2:20 mark.

Robo-linebacker

Growing up in Port Elgin, there weren’t a lot of accessible sports opportunities for Jeff. While youth with disabilities who live in bigger cities, like London, have several options for adapted team sports, those fortunate enough to live in the rural world with few peers in wheelchairs are largely limited to individual sports like wheelchair…

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About the Creators

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Clara pointing a water pistol at Jeff, who is holding a sign that reads "Dear Mrs Preston, Send Money!"

About Jeff Preston (writer, web designer, photographer)

Clara claims this is going to take hours to write, so I’m going to prove her wrong and do it in years instead. There’s not much to say about me, I was born and raised in Port Elgin, Ontario and was lured to the big city lights of London Ontario in 2002 to attend the University of Western Ontario. I’m a bit of a trouble maker who has a big mouth, and as such, have spent much of the last 20 years advocating for people with disabilities across the province. One of my biggest recent achievements was driving my electric wheelchair from London to Ottawa in 2008 to raise awareness for the lack of accessible transportation in Ontario. When I’m not stirring up a ruckus, I also play electric wheelchair hockey and watch far too many movies. Oh and I’m doing a Doctorate in Media Studies at UWO–huzzah for books!

About Clara Madrenas (writer, artist)

I make the pictures. With a pen and some paint and, sometimes, a tablet.

Are you guys dating?
Jeff: You bet.
Clara: Only because he’s richer than I am.

Dedications/Acknowledgements
Jeff: I guess my parents deserve a nod here, they’ve been pretty super (except for that time my mom grounded me). A big dedication to my sister, who beat the normal into me. A shout out to some very special professors at UWO (you know who you are). And finally, to all the criggas out there just doin’ what they do. Oh, also this joint goes out to Beverly Cleary. Respect.

Clara: My family, my friends…? Also Central Secondary School, which LPSS is based on. Also Jeff…I’m a fan of Jeff.

Jeff pointing something out in the distance while holding Clara. It's a cute pic, seriously.

About Jeff Preston (writer, web designer, photographer) Clara claims this is going to take hours to write, so I’m going to prove her wrong and do it in years instead. There’s not much to say about me, I was born and raised in Port Elgin, Ontario and was lured to the big city lights of…

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