Rights of Passage

The recent success of Paralympians like Egypt's Heba Said Ahmed offer a good moment to recognize Chicago's own.

Photo: NYTimes.com

On October 3rd, The New York Times printed a Saturday Profile of a young Egyptian champion of the Paralympic Games that brought joy to my heart – and tears to my eyes at times. She has brought honor to her country – and herself -- with determination and hard work. While she was in grade school her father, a government worker, carried her to the fifth floor; if he was sick, she did not go to school that day. She did not have a wheelchair until she was in sixth grade – nor physical therapy until she was a teenager; in college she learned to use crutches. Although I have only read about her triumphs, she strikes me as an amazingly positive young woman, fit to be a role model for anyone.

Here are some excerpts from Heba Ahmed’s Saturday Profile by Michael Slackman (You can browse the Times' archive of Paralympic stories here. -Ed.).

"Ms. Heba Ahmed, who had polio as a child, won a gold medal in power lifting during the Paralympic Games in Beijing. She broke a world record in her 181-pound weight class, too, lifting 341 pounds. A few days earlier she was being lauded as an Egyptian Hercules. … It is hard to overstate how different Ms. Ahmed is from many of those around her. It is all about attitude. Egypt is filled with people who face adversity, most often a function of poverty and systemic indifference. It is a class-based society with an unwritten contract that many people believe condemns them to live as they were born, poor and marginalized. There is a pervasive feeling of impotence, a collective belief that fighting back is futile. …

"But Ms. Ahmed never refers to fate; she talks about choices. She does not talk about obstacles; she talks about challenges. …."I think there has to be a bit of struggle in your life," she said. "It strengthens you. It builds character." …

"During the Olympic Games, which preceded the Paralympics in China, Egypt did poorly, earning just one bronze medal. But in the Paralympics, Egypt earned 12 medals, including four golds. 'Face savers,' read the headline on Al Ahram Weekly, an English-language newspaper. It was an extraordinary achievement coming from a country where physical disabilities are largely seen as props for street begging. …'I feel very satisfied with my sports achievements,' Ms. Ahmed said, indicating that she is ready for marriage and the next steps in her drive to defy expectations and build a full life. "I want to have children and raise them well," she said. "I want them to be champions, too." …

"I don’t consider Heba to be handicapped," said Aly Hassan el-Saadani, head coach of the national weight lifting team. … Ms. Ahmed won two African titles. She won a world championship. She won a gold medal during the Paralympics in Athens four years ago, and set a world record in the process. Then she went up a weight class, won a gold in Beijing and set a world record in that weight class, too.…

"In Egypt, crossing the street or getting on the sidewalk for a handicapped person can be a real challenge," Mr. Saadani said. "In other countries there are ramps, there are ways for them to get on buses. None of this is available here. They used to come to practice standing up in the bus because there were no seats for them. They are the best of what we have here in Egypt."…

After the stellar showing in Beijing, there was hope that even people with physical limitations could be accepted as heroes. The athletes were greeted by Egypt’s first lady, Suzanne Mubarak, and the president’s son Gamal. They were also promised cash rewards for their victories. But then it was back home to Zagazig, and a return to indifference. …

"We are hoping through sports to begin to change people’s attitudes," Ms. Ahmed said one day as she went to pay a visit to her first gym."

A look at Chicago's Own Paralympians

Ms Ahmed inspired me to do a little research about past champs from Chicago. Our city has its share of Paralympic champions as well.

Since 1988 the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) has sponsored 53 athletes competing at the Paralympics:

• Seoul 1988 (1 athlete, 1 sport, 0 medals)
• Barcelona 1992 (8 athletes, 5 sports, 3 medals)
• Atlanta 1996 (14 athletes, 9 sports, 7 medals)
• Sydney 2000 (7 athletes, 4 sports, 2 medals)
• Salt Lake City 2002 (9 athletes, 2 sports, 3 medals)
• Athens 2004 (7 athletes, 3 sports, 3 medals)
• Torino 2006 (4 athletes, 2 sports, 4 medals)
• Beijing 2008 (3 athletes, 3 sports, 1 medal).

The Racer

In February 2006 RIC announced the receipt of a grant from the U.S. Paralympics to be designated as the U.S. Paralympic Midwest Training Center - an effort to drive participation in sports for kids with disabilities and fuel the future of the U.S. Paralympic team. Linda Mastandrea, an attorney who uses a wheelchair, was hired as its Director. As the press release states:

"In 1996, she was a Gold and Silver Medalist in wheelchair track at the U.S. Paralympics where she also set a world record in the 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter races. She has won 15 gold and 5 silver medals in international competitions and was the first disabled athlete to serve on the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors."

She stopped competing in 1999 to pursue her law career and her goal to assist people with disabilities who have experienced discrimination.

The Swimmer

Jason Wening, the clinical research director in an Oak Park orthotics practice, is a five-time Paralympic Gold medalist (plus one Bronze medal) before retiring after the Sydney Games in 2000. He still holds three Paralympic world records, in the 800- and 1500- meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley.

The Cyclist

Greta Neimanas, a young Chicagoan, was born with her left arm missing below the elbow. Almost since birth she has benefited from the care and expertise of Rehab Institute of Chicago’s prosthetic team and, with this assistance, has gone on to represent the US in the Beijing Paralympic as a member of the cycling team. Her first Paralympic experience was in Athens where she observed the proceedings. She had won the trip in an essay contest sponsored by RIC with her winning essay, "What Ability Means to Me". After only four years experience as a cyclist, she won a gold medal in Beijing.

According to the RIC website, "In January 2008 the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Wirtz Sports Program was named by the United States Olympic Committee as a Paralympic Sports Club. As a Paralympic Sport Club, RIC Sports' Paralympic Services is comprised of three components: 1) Adaptive military program for wounded veterans, 2) Paralympic Academy for children, and 3) Athlete development."

Three cheers and a standing ovation for these amazing athletes – and for the foresight of RIC in sponsoring them since 1988! We admire their hard work and the successes they have achieved. And we applaud RIC for their belief in the abilities of people with physical differences and the support and training they have always provided them. And imagine what Heba Ahmed would think!

Related Bookmarks

• More about Chicago cyclist Greta Neimanas
• Rundown of Wheelchair Track Athletes from U of I Urbana
• News: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Ice Sled Hockey Team Competes In Japan
• RIC Sends Six to 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing
• Homepage for RIC Paralympic Services
• RIC Sports Paralympic History
• Greta Neimanas' Patient Story
• International Paralympic Committee Home Page

State Street is going through a construction effort in order to make the sidewalks more accessible for those with disabilities.

The City of Chicago should be commended for its recent efforts to improve the sidewalks on State Street, a major retailing center for the City. However, in creating sidewalk ramps and warning devices for those with impaired vision, we are going to have to go through some temporary pain.

Here is a recent release from the Mayor’s Office for people with disabilities. Be patient while the construction is being done, knowing that not only will this help make life easier for those with differing abilities, but it will also help the retailers on State Street through increased pedestrian traffic and increased revenues as well.

Message from the Chicago Department of Transportation:

STATE STREET ADA SIDEWALK WORK - LAKE STREET TO VAN BUREN STREET
Starting in late September, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin a project to improve the sidewalks along State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street. The work entails the installation of sidewalk corners that meet the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The new corners will feature wheelchair-accessible ramps and detectible warning surfaces for the visually impaired. The work also entails repaving the intersection of each cross street along State Street.  

Pedestrian Impacts

During construction all sidewalks will remain open. Pedestrians will be directed to temporary sidewalks in areas where work is occurring.

Traffic Impacts

In construction areas, one lane of traffic will be closed. All intersections will remain open to traffic in all directions. Some left turns from State Street will be temporarily prohibited.

Building Impacts

Access will be maintained to all buildings along State Street.

CTA Impacts

Some CTA bus stops will be temporarily relocated nearby. Red Line subway access is not affected.

PROJECT SCHEDULE
Late September to Mid-November: Van Buren to Adams
Mid-October to late November: Monroe to Lake
All work is scheduled to be complete by the end of November, weather permitting.
For more information, call (312) 744-3600, e-mail cdotnews@cityofchicago.org or visit www.cityofchicago.org/transportation

Those with disabilities can often teach those of us without physical impairments lessons about slowing down and not taking life for granted. This thought occurred to me as I was shopping at my local grocery store a couple of days ago. A team leader from a local disabilities charity was bringing a group of disabled adults through the store. Five adults with impairments pushed their carts quietly as they carefully checked their shopping lists.

I marveled at how involved the participants with disabilities became in their task, and how much they enjoyed it. In an effort to veer around the group with my cart, I accidentally tapped a customer's cart in the crowded freezer section. The woman, who did not have disabilities, looked at me with an annoyed look on her face as if to non-verbally say: "Why don't you watch where you are going?"

Meanwhile the coordinator leading the adults with disabilities witnessing "the sneer" apologized to me for possibly causing a problem. I told her not to worry about it, and then a few in her group looked up at me and smiled. I left thinking about the way I sometimes rush through my ordinary tasks in life, forgetting how I take my ability to "get things done" for granted. The more I get done the seemingly faster I go, frequently forgetting that sometimes it's just nice to be out there doing those ordinary jobs. I now have an intention of slowing down and smiling a little more while I am out there in the world.

Recently I received news from my tree-climbing daughter that a friend, whom I had watched climb on Sunday in the International Society of Arborists (ISA) international competition in St Louis, had fallen and broken his back and crushed his heel when his rope failed while foot-locking up the rope.

My daughter is an international women's champion arborist and her friend has been a volunteer trainer, live-wire cheerleader and official at international gatherings for all the years she has competed in the ISA.

After the initial shock of the news, I began to think of his forever-changed life: from a professional arborist who spent his days climbing trees and training new recruits in the intricacies of rope safety when foot-locking -- to yet another para learning the intricacies of safe street travel and the hazards of inconsistent curb cuts that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (standards for which are referred to as ADAAG).

All the things I have learned in 40-plus years of walking behind or beside my youngest daughter, he will have to learn from experience: expect the unexpected, do not assume the ramp is accessible, look across the street to the next ramp, know that most people do not understand "ADA accessible" or "wheelchair accessible" - at least not as specifically as is necessary for access. He must learn that, when he hears "Oh yes, we have customers in wheelchairs," it does not mean the premises are actually accessible. So we all come to rely on each other - have you actually been there? Do you know someone who has been there recently - and understands the ADA? Just getting from point A to point B becomes a daily challenge.

A successful lawsuit against the City of Chicago, launched in October 2005 by the Council for Disability Rights and settled in 2007, should go a long way toward guaranteeing predictably safe curb cuts in our fair city -- and we can only hope and pray that its influence will spread far beyond. One of the greatest hazards in daily life for folks in wheelchairs - or with other mobility problems - is the inconsistent accessibility of the public environment. Every day decisions must be made about accessible paths of travel - to lunch, to a new appointment, to a new store location, to any place you have not been recently.

Thanks to a remarkable federal judge -- who spent a very hot summer afternoon in 2006 on Chicago sidewalks with CDOT (Chicago Dept. of Transportation) crew, engineers, lawyers from both sides, people in wheelchairs, and two City Commissioners (DOT and Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities) -- access to the public environment will become a smoother, more reliably accessible roll. The CDOT now understands the subtle geometric complexity involved in assuring that each curb ramp is in compliance with the ADA standards, however unusual the geometry of the sidewalk, curb, and street may be and they have actually devised more than one standard ramp. They have also added a condition to City contracts that requires the contractors to correct ramps that are not compliant with the ADA. They have also extensively trained their own engineers and roadwork staff in the finer points of access and slope management.

For more information, go to www.disabilityrights.org and link to information about the lawsuit and contact information about the attorney. If you know of a specific site in Chicago that is difficult to navigate and seems to be out of compliance, please call 311 and report the specific location. Be sure the operator uses the correct questionnaire about the ADA ramps/curbs. Also, you can make the call anonymously - whether or not you need access - ANYONE can report a bad ramp. If you can, please also send an email to cdr@disabilityrights.org. Thanks for being part of the solution.