-> Thanks for the nice letter. I have a question...are there many
-> people here on the vent list? I would like to hear from all of you.
-> It is nice to see an email list for vent users. I would enjoy
-> hearing from you...
-> Take care....
Hello, Annette! My name is Blane Beckwith. I am forty years
old, and I have been on a ventilator since 1982. I was born with
Muscular Dystrophy (SMA) and have been on a wheelchair since I was four
years old. I stay on my vent all of time, except for a couple of hours
while I am getting showered and dressed. I am very independent and am
able to go all over Berkeley by myself using a power wheelchair with a
ventilator mounted on it. Since I am unable to use my hands, I drive my
wheelchair with a puff 'n sip control. I also use a puff 'n sip
interface and software to type on my PC.
I was born and raised in a very small town in Pennsylvania named
Bear Lake, pop. 300 (give or take a few!). I moved to Berkeley, CA in
1980 because there were so many opportunities and services here for
disabled people that I didn't have in PA.
I am a student at Vista Community College here in Berkeley. I
am an aspiring writer and am studying to become good enough hopefully to
be able to make a living out of it.
I am very politically active as a disability rights advocate. I
have been a member of ADAPT for nearly five years.
Welcome to the list!
Sincerely,
Blane