So you were probably just like me a couple of weeks ago. It seemed as if I couldn’t pull myself away from the TV. Michael Phelps’ quest for 8 gold medals (among other mesmerizing story lines) completely dominated my life for two weeks.

But now with a much smaller portion of the world watching, China has kicked off another Olympic games. It’s time for the paralympians to take center stage. Once every four years, I become completely inspired by what can be accomplished by those who have suffered significant disabilities.

A one-legged Chinese athlete climbed a 40-meter rope using only his bare hands to light the Olympic torch to begin the Paralympic Games. Afterward he said, “When I climbed up the rope, I knew that the whole world was watching and I wasn’t alone. It was a journey to show the indomitable spirit of mankind, and I want to send the message to the world.”

And what about Oscar Pistorius of South Africa. He was turning in sprint times earlier this year that forced track and field’s world governing body to rule whether he could compete in the non-disabled Olympics. You see, Oscar was born without bones in his lower legs. In the end, they banned him. They considered his prosthetics an unfair advantage. Seriously. I’m not making this up. (You can read about it here: www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/sports/othersports/15runner.html.)

I hope that I can follow the Paralympics a little on the internet. It certainly doesn’t get the coverage of the regular Olympics. And I hope to find a few new heroes. Heroes in wheelchairs.

As a casualty of the downturn in the economy, my wife and I find ourselves moving out of our home into a “pre-fabbed” home. That’s just a nice way to say trailer home. We’ve picked the place out and it’s in a very nice “neighborhood.” We’ll be moving in next week. But here’s the catch. It doesn’t have a wheelchair ramp for my power scooter.

With my knee so bad and my legs so weak, I can’t get up and down those stairs every day. So I need some help building a wheelchair ramp. Does anyone know where I might find plans to add a wheelchair ramp to a “pre-fabbed” home with a porch? Any help would be very greatly appreciated.

A cruise can be a wonderful, relaxing vacation. Seeing the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean or the spectacular landscape of Alaska’s coast can be exhilarating. However, if you are a wheelchair traveler, there are some things you should know.

First, you must inquire about documentation you need to provide to ensure you get a wheelchair accessible room. If you simply ask for one, you are not guaranteed to get one. Next, realize that quarters are tight on a ship. The elevators and hallways can provide challenges‹not that you won¹t fit. But sometimes people have to make accommodations for you and that may make you uncomfortable.

The biggest obstacle for those in wheelchairs is often the port excursions.
Depending on where you cruise, there aren¹t necessarily accessibility laws.
It can even be a challenge to find wheelchair transportation. If you can, take a folding chair to be as flexible as possible.