Community assistance greatly appreciated

At one time in my life I was traveling to foreign countries, climbing the Great Wall of China, taking a camera safari in Kenya, living in Saudi Arabia and visiting the Taj Mahal (the expectation exceeded the reality).

Today, because of a disability that affects my mobility, I am pretty much limited to staying around the Spokane area. But I consider myself fortunate, as one of more than 50 million people in this country with a disability, for a number of reasons. A primary one is that I live in Spokane.

Spokane is a good city even with all the problems we have. I have always been proud to call it my hometown, which I have done for more than 60 years. In many ways it has more going for it than meets the eye of a visitor. When I left Spokane in 1980 to work in Saudi Arabia I knew then that I would return someday to make my home here. And after stops in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska, the Maldive Islands, Alexandria, Va., and Toppenish, Wash., I am at home in Spokane and plan to stay.

My disability is basically caused by what is termed a dandy-walker cyst at the base of my brain coupled with scoliosis. The problems affect my walking, causing me to fall at times and also prevent me from fully raising my arms. It is not a thing of beauty to see me walk with a cane, but I usually get to my destination slowly but surely. One person who was working around my home referred to me as hobbling. But even with such a situation life can be very good in Spokane.

I consider the medical facilities to be outstanding. My personal physician and the neurological specialist I see are top-notch. I have used the facilities at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute for therapy, and it is an excellent facility with a very caring staff.

Once I fell in my home and had to call 911 for assistance. The response was very prompt, and the service provided was professional in every sense of the word. Another time I fell as I was walking into a downtown restaurant. A policewoman was leaving at the time and she administered aid until the ambulance arrived. I did not get her name but wrote a letter to Police Chief Roger Bragdon describing the situation and expressing my appreciation. He responded that he was able to identify her and put my letter in her file. We have outstanding police and fire departments that are performing admirably.

There are many community situations with which people with disabilities can get involved. I was a finalist for the open position on the City Council for District 2 last year and have served on the city’s internal audit committee. I also applied to be appointed to the street bond commission. And I was recently contacted about serving on the state psychology board. Many disabled people have much to offer, and organizations should take advantage of such offers.

When I served as an officer in the Air Force, I spent two years at Amarillo Air Force Base in the Texas panhandle. I found the people very friendly and enjoyed their “hurry back” when you left. The people of Spokane for the most part are just as friendly, but they manifest it in a somewhat different manner. People are constantly opening doors and expressing other signs of kindness. Because of my condition I have a problem at the grocery store reaching items on the top shelves, such as cranberries. When I cannot knock the item down, I request assistance from another shopper in the aisle. And he or she always responds with immediate help and usually a smile.

The transit service is not perfect, but it does provide a vital and sometimes the only such service for disabled citizens.

The community college system here in Spokane offers many good courses and programs that the disabled can participate in. I have taken advantage of some of the courses including a writing course I am enrolled in and have enjoyed and appreciated them. Also. as a retired certified public accountant who keeps my license current, I take courses from a number of sources for my CPE requirements.

So we, the disabled in Spokane, have much to appreciate and be thankful for. And it is important that we express our appreciation when we receive assistance. We cannot say a sincere “thank you” too many times.