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Annie – What’s the best advice you have for others in your situation?

Annie – What’s the best advice you have for others in your situation?

More Videos by Annie
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Make sure you find a bicycle shop because it saves you so much money compared to using durable medical equipment vendors and time. Make sure you know how your insurance works, and know what you can write off and can’t—because like I always ge... Show More

Make sure you find a bicycle shop because it saves you so much money compared to using durable medical equipment vendors and time. Make sure you know how your insurance works, and know what you can write off and can’t—because like I always get all my tax money back and I make good money, so they take a decent amount, but I know what I can write off. That’s really important. Be as independent as you can be and ask for help when you need it. Don’t believe people when they tell you how impressive you are. I mean, if they’re doctors, or your rehab folks or whomever you’re making great strides, of course. But like in real life, it’s real life, and you’re just going through out your day, and you got dressed and got in your car just like everybody else got dressed and got in their car. So, don’t let that go to your head because that’s the other thing you hear all the time. “Oh, you’re so impressive. Oh, I could never do that.” Like, it’s… no, you need to get in the car, you get in the car. It’s pretty big basic. Be aware of para devotees. Just know what they are, I am not going to form your own opinions, but be aware of them. Don’t plan your day based on accessibility everywhere. If you want to try a new restaurant, go try a new restaurant. If you, you know, show up somewhere and they don’t have handicap parking or they have got steps, ask someone for help if you really want to do it. Like, you won’t be the first person carried in and out of a bar. It’ll be fine. If you want to do it, do it. Don’t plan everything around making sure things are accessible. A vacation? Absolutely. When you’re talking about days on end, you need to know that you can get in through a bathroom door and have a place to bathe. But, like in real life, if it’s for a meal or something, just go and try to do it.

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Annie – What’s the best advice you have for others in your situation?

Annie

Injured in 1998 at age 12, paraplegic
More Videos by Annie
Transcriptadd

Make sure you find a bicycle shop because it saves you so much money compared to using durable medical equipment vendors and time. Make sure you know how your insurance works, and know what you can write off and can’t—because like I always get all my tax money back and I make good money, so they take a decent amount, but I know what I can write off. That’s really important. Be as independent as you can be and ask for help when you need it. Don’t believe people when they tell you how impressive you are. I mean, if they’re doctors, or your rehab folks or whomever you’re making great strides, of course. But like in real life, it’s real life, and you’re just going through out your day, and you got dressed and got in your car just like everybody else got dressed and got in their car. So, don’t let that go to your head because that’s the other thing you hear all the time. “Oh, you’re so impressive. Oh, I could never do that.” Like, it’s… no, you need to get in the car, you get in the car. It’s pretty big basic. Be aware of para devotees. Just know what they are, I am not going to form your own opinions, but be aware of them. Don’t plan your day based on accessibility everywhere. If you want to try a new restaurant, go try a new restaurant. If you, you know, show up somewhere and they don’t have handicap parking or they have got steps, ask someone for help if you really want to do it. Like, you won’t be the first person carried in and out of a bar. It’ll be fine. If you want to do it, do it. Don’t plan everything around making sure things are accessible. A vacation? Absolutely. When you’re talking about days on end, you need to know that you can get in through a bathroom door and have a place to bathe. But, like in real life, if it’s for a meal or something, just go and try to do it.

Annie – What’s the best advice you have for others in your situation?
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