Dr. Scott Rains Realizes He Can Be A Ski Instructor Even Though He Can’t Walk

Editor’s Note: The real key to success is taking your disability and turning it into an advantage- it’s about what you can do, not what you cannot do. In the story of Dr. Scott Rains, a consultant on travel and disability, you’ll see that his wheelchair has become his marketing tool. Dr. Rains, “New Mobility” magazine’s Person of the Year, is known worldwide for opening up many countries, businesses and vacation sites to physically challenged individuals and has enabled these places to become more inclusive. Part 3 of a 5 part series.

Scott Rains has always been passionate about travel.

I grew up in Seattle, Washington and spent a lot of time in the mountains hiking, camping and skiing before my injury. When I was 13, I had the opportunity to work at a ranch in Wyoming for two summers, and I enjoyed that a lot. Then my Spanish teacher invited me to join in an exchange student program in Guatemala, because I was doing well in Spanish. I had such a wonderful experience that I went after a scholarship to go to Brazil in 1971, but at the end of that school year, I was paralyzed.

Although I was only 17 when I became paralyzed. I was a teenager who already had traveled a good portion of the world, and then I found myself stuck in a wheelchair. I realized I wouldn’t fulfill my dream of being a ranch hand after I graduated from high school. The Sunday before I went into the hospital for my operation, I was approved as a ski instructor but didn’t learn about that approval until 2 weeks after my operation. I thought then, “Oh, this is great. I can be a ski instructor, but I can’t walk.” When I read the sentence on the letter that said, “By the way, I own a ski school, and I want you to be one of my instructors,” I started laughing hard. I began to think about what I really wanted to do with my life, and what I could do. I had 50% of my body that I couldn’t use, which meant that 50% of the things I wanted to do, I couldn’t do. Next I listed all the things that I could do, and the longer my list got, the more I realized that there were an infinite number of things I could do.

Scott Rains thinks about what he can do, not what he can't do.

I decided, “Ok, even though I’m in a wheelchair, I’m going to live the rest of my life doing the things I can do. Perhaps I‘ll have to do them a little differently, however, I’m not going to worry about the things I can’t do.” I knew I couldn’t be a ski instructor, but I found out I could ride a zipline between one state and another state in Brazil. Since that time, I’ve been on all types of adventures in many other countries and really have enjoyed life.

I decided after my injury that for 10 years I wouldn’t leave this country. I got an undergraduate degree in linguistics. The languages I could speak were Spanish and Portuguese, but I also studied German, Italian and Tamil.

Scott Rains is fluent in several languages. This must make it easy for him to make friends in other countries!

After I got my undergraduate degree, I started a graduate program in linguistics, and I found that there really wasn’t a job that I was likely to get as a linguist. With that much study in language, I could have been a translator for the CIA, but they didn’t have much need for a translator, and traveling for me was difficult. That’s when I decided that I wanted to prove at least to myself that I still could travel. Once I learned there wasn’t a job I wanted to do in linguistics, I decided to stay in this country and work for non-profit organizations. I started my career in New York working for an organization called L’Arche, that helped disabled adults and people with Down Syndrome to live in group homes. I was running a household, cooking, cleaning and helping people get to their jobs. I also did some accounting.

Scott Rains wants an accessible world, where anyone can achieve great things.

I decided to go back to college and went to Santa Clara University for 6 years where I was a campus minister. I was invited to become the director of university ministries at Benedictine University outside of Chicago. Then I worked for a company called SeniorNet that set up free computer centers for senior adults. Most of my work was with technology and working with technology companies. However, while working for all of these different companies, I also started working in the field of travel and instability. Sometimes I’d work full time consulting on this issue, and at other times, I would only work part time. For the last 18 months, I’ve been working for Benetech, a non-profit company that creates accessible books for the people with print disabilities for a project called Bookshare. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working on travel and disability projects.

To learn more about Dr. Scott Rains, visit his blog.

Next: Dr. Scott Rains’ Success In Helping Others  

About the Author: For the last 12 years, John E. Phillips of Vestavia, Alabama, has been a professional blogger for major companies, corporations and tourism associations throughout the nation. During his 24 years as Outdoor Editor for “The Birmingham Post-Herald” newspaper, he published more than 7,000 newspaper columns and sold more than 100,000 of his photos to newspapers, magazines and internet sites. He also hosted a radio show that was syndicated at 27 radio stations; created, wrote and sold a syndicated newspaper column that ran in 38 newspapers for more than a decade; and wrote and sold more than 30 books. Learn more at http://www.nighthawkpublications.com

Wheelchair Athlete Todd Robinson Says You Can Have Kids and Travel with Your Disabilities

Editor’s Note: Paraplegic Athlete Todd Robinson of Alpharetta, Georgia, is a sales representative for At Home Medical, based in Suwanee, Georgia, which specializes in urological products, incontinent supplies, wound-care, ostomy and general medical supplies for patients who are making cash purchases.  As a follow-up to Todd’s interview about his IronMan competition, we also talked with Robinson about some of the concerns that people in wheelchairs have.  Part 4 of a four-part series entitled “The 10 Most-Often Asked Questions about Living with Disabilities”.

Todd Robinson shares his thoughts from the perspective of a wheelchair user.

Question: What would you say to folks who ask about getting married and having kids if they’re in a wheelchair?

Robinson: The answer to this question varies, depending on your disability and your body’s functionality after your injury. In-vitro fertilization is one solution. However, when my wife and I married, she had a 1-1/2-year-old son who’s now my son. We later decided that there were so many kids who needed good homes, and we adopted a little girl. There are all types of options out there for having children.

 The next question inevitably is how to take care of children when you have a disability. I always tell people that they’ll figure it out. I have a friend who’s a quadriplegic. He and his wife have a little girl, and he was concerned about how to hold and change a child without full use of his fingers.

But this guy’s a real hands-on Dad. He’s just figured out a way to do it. He’s learned his limitations and has determined what he needs to do to adapt to take care of his daughter. He wanted so badly to be a dad that he didn’t really care what he had to do to take care of his daughter. He made-up in his mind that he would be hands-on and enjoy every moment with his daughter, and he does.

I was scared to death the first time I held our daughter Lydia, because she was tiny when we brought her home. I was afraid that if she kicked or arched her back, while I was in my chair holding her, she’d throw me off balance.  I made sure I was as stable as I could be, and we never have had an accident.

So, if you have kids, just jump in, and do it. Do all you can, and ask for help if you need it. Enjoy your children. Live life to the fullest and enjoy your family.

Todd believes the key to success in parenting is to actively participate- jump in and do it!

 Question: What should people who use wheelchairs know about traveling?

Robinson: I had a fellow ask what I do about my catheters when I get on an airplane. If you’re going out of the country, I recommend taking all the catheters you’ll need, as well as a prescription for the catheters.

I went to Guatemala once and didn’t have any problem leaving the United States. But on my way back, they asked to see my prescription for my catheters. We didn’t understand each other’s language, so we went round and round for about 45 minutes. They eventually let me on the plane.

To prevent any problems at the airport, carry your prescription with you for your catheters and other supplies you may need. I’ve never had a problem inside this country, but going overseas, you’ll need all your documentation and prescriptions.

Todd doesn't let his disability stop him from going anywhere, and you shouldn't either...especially to the beach!

I’m also often asked how I get on an airplane. Before I get on an airplane, I tell the airlines about my disability, and what I’ll need to get on the airplane. They have straight backboards, wheelchairs and other devices to help you get on and off an airplane. Let them know ahead of time of your departure and return times and your flight numbers. Delta and American Airlines are really good to work with you. I’ve flown with both of them.

Having a disability doesn’t prevent me from flying anywhere in the world, but the secret to being able to travel is to plan ahead. Call the hotels where you’ll be staying, and have your wheelchair measurements on-hand. Then you can tell them your wheelchair or device measurements. Have someone measure the hotel doors to make sure you can get through them, especially out of the country.

I went to a race in Washington,D.C., and I made my hotel reservations two months in advance. I made sure the door going into the bathroom would accommodate my chair, because I would be getting into town at the last minute. When I reached the hotel, they didn’t have the size room I required.

When I asked the desk clerk what happened, he said that the 800-number routes to a switchboard, which didn’t know exactly the size of each room in each hotel. So, I was recommend calling the motel or hotel directly to make your reservations. Don’t just say you want a handicap-accessible room. Make sure they measure the doors.

I’ve found that most places are helpful, if you call in advance and let them know what you need. You can go anywhere you want to go. Just plan ahead, take plenty of supplies, and carry your prescriptions with you.

About the Author: For the last 12 years, John E. Phillips of Vestavia, Alabama, has been a professional blogger for major companies, corporations and tourism associations throughout the nation. During his 24 years as Outdoor Editor for “The Birmingham Post-Herald” newspaper, he published more than 7,000 newspaper columns and sold more than 100,000 of his photos to newspapers, magazines and internet sites. He also hosted a radio show that was syndicated at 27 radio stations; created, wrote and sold a syndicated newspaper column that ran in 38 newspapers for more than a decade; and wrote and sold more than 30 books. Learn more at http://www.nighthawkpublications.com