Renee Rosensteel Photo, Video in Pittsburgh PA

Posts Tagged ‘disabilities’

Clif Page said it, “It’s the least we can do…” to give a little time to photograph soldiers participating in the 31st wheelchair games. It was both inspiring and humbling. I was inspired by the group’s gestalt: Still soldiers. No whining. I was humbled by their willingness to participate, to get in the game, despite missing limbs, age, and lots of issues that weren’t so apparent. They got in. They played. The thing that was happily missing from these games was the voracious need to conquer. People were trying darn hard, but it seemed to be a more internal contest rather than proving something against another person. It was a complicated and affirming dance.

Wheelchair Veterans Games – Images by Renee Rosensteel

I did a short piece for the Keystone Edge on technology that helps people with disabilities to communicate. The company, Dynavox, makes devices that uses head movement so that even if a person has no hand function, they can get their ideas out.
The thing that got me about this process was the unexpected complexity of what Sarah, the woman using the device, said. The way she put her words together was more like a writer and less like the casual sloppy conversation that we so often take for granted. Here’s to tech opening the doors and the people who have the inspiration and drive to go through them.