I learned how to cook, do laundry and clean house among other father’s duties all from a manual wheelchair. In 1990 my coworker sponsored a benefit dance and was able to raise enough money so I could attend University of Washington disabled driving school and a donation from a nonprofit helped me with a down payment for a van. Then there was a challenge of driving from a manual chair. I overcome the challenges and receive my driver’s license and my son can tell a few stories about some wild rides. Getting through this was one more step towards independence.
In 1994 I hurt my shoulder and was no longer able to push my chair with any efficiency and switch to an electric chair for the first time. At first I was against it but after it opened up so many more doors and things that I could do independently.
I worked for the Boeing Company for 11 and half years and I decided I was tired of the cold and rain and updated my resume and place it on the web. I received several offers right away and one was from a computing outsourcing company in Scottsdale Arizona. I turned them down three times but each time they came back with a better offer and finally I could not refuse. So in June 1999 I packed up and had a friend ride with me to Arizona and then I flew them back home. I did not know anybody in Arizona and I was living in the extended stay hotel that my new company had provided. After two months I purchase a home in Cave Creek Arizona. I stopped using a personal care services and hired my first live in attendant. Through the course of the next 4+ years I was challenged by hiring different attendance which is a whole story in itself. In July 2004 I hired a Japanese woman the same age as me as an attendant. We had the same interest and got along great and October 8, 2004 we got married and we are still together today.
I have now been working for the computer outsourcing company for 18+ years I’ve survived through management buyouts, acquisitions and new management. Today my title is Senior Service Engineer for Enterprise Applications. In 2013 I received Inspiring Excellence award for my efforts for streamlining the on boarding of new customers.
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