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Daman Wandke Daman tried ETC’s Adventure Maker Chair during our Whitewater Rafting Session on the Truckee River at No Barriers USA 2017 Summit. He shares: “My name is Daman Wandke, I have Cerebral Palsy and I am the CEO/Founder of AbiliTrek, a hotel booking website for people with disabilities. Prior to starting my own company, I did IT accessibility consulting at SSB BART Group.? I am a national disability advocate and currently serve on two nonprofit board of directors: The Northwest Access Fund and PolicyWorks. I attended my first No Barriers Summer in Winter Park, CO in 2011.? I was hooked!? Since then, I have only missed one Summit.? I love outdoor activities and No Barriers gives me access to a wide range of adaptive activities to challenge myself. I went rafting at two other No Barriers Summits and really liked it!?I love being on the water!?The first two times I rafted I was sitting in the middle of the back of the raft and it was hard to see. The?Adventure?Maker?Chair made my rafting experience so much more fun!? I was up higher in the boat and in the front of the raft.? This allowed me to see much better and more fully experience the rapids. My favorite memory is going over the dam!” David GomezDavid tried out ETC’s Adventure Maker Chair during our Whitewater Rafting Session on the Truckee River at No Barriers USA 2017 Summit. He shares:?“I am 30 years old. I am from Ecuador and I travel a lot, mostly for fun and adventure. I like pop music, sci-fi books, technology. I must confess I'm a little geeky about some stuff (like Harry Potter, Pokemon and Game of Thrones). I have spina bifida and use a wheelchair. I have an independent life. My parents encouraged us—my two older brothers and me—to do everything at young age--like how to cook, clean the house, make money, and be the best we can personally and professionally. So I earned a bachelor at?physics and mathematics; engineering degree, with high honors; and an MBA at Business Intelligence for IT. But I had never gone rafting before joining ETC’s Whitewater Rafting?session at No Barriers Summit! I felt a mix of fear and craziness (mostly fear!) joining the session. At the same time, it sounded like true fun--definitely more fun than just swimming in the pool. And I had two goals in mind: First, I wanted to conquer my own fear.? Second, I wanted to teach people that if I can it, they can, too. Also, I tend to do things that people say to me I cannot do—things people say are ‘too difficult,’ ‘too risky’ or ‘too crazy’ for someone in a wheelchair. Mental barriers are the most difficult to overcome. The Adventure Maker Chair felt somehow comfortable, considering that I was doing (to my standards) an extreme sport! As I can’t walk, the Adventure Maker provided great accommodation. The position and height of the chair gave me an almost 360 degree view. Also being in the center of the raft helped a lot to have a nice balance and control--therefore, less stress on my back and arms.?And the most amazing thing was my crew team. I'm from a place where you don't find very often this kindness and awareness.?This adventure would not be possible without the help and commitment of the volunteers at ETC.?It was awesome! At the beginning?I was afraid, it seemed dangerous and only a madman would do it. But once I was at the boat, it made me feel fearless, like superman—alive! And?that's why I need to do it again.? Thank you for this life changing experience, thank you for helping me to reach my summit.”?David Gomez works in a mobile telecommunications company. In his free time he works with the NGO, Rotary International, bringing access to healthcare and wheelchairs to those who can’t afford them.?Sam BermanSam Berman tried the Adventure Maker Chair during ETC’s Adaptive Sea Kayaking Session at No Barriers Summit. He shares:?“I work as an accessibility consultant for a company called Equal Entry. We do web accessibility audits, produce educational materials, and conduct accessibility training?for corporations and governments. My hobbies include technology, music, and creative writing. I came to the No Barriers Summit to challenge myself mentally and physically, and to network with other people who work in the tech and social sectors. I had gone kayaking once when I was a teenager. I enjoyed it a lot and wanted to try it again. But I have difficulty gripping with my right hand and limited strength so paddling has always been a challenge for me. I have cerebral palsy. I am ambulatory but have limited motor skills and strength on the right side of my body. The AdventureMaker chair allowed me to customize the support so there was more on the right side of my body than the left side, aiding me in comfortably sitting upright. And all the guides were extremely friendly and supportive. I had great conversations with the staff and other participants. It was tranquil and relaxing on the lake, which I didn't expect.”?Meanwhile - and on a personal note - I am usually working from our office at Fort Mason but had the chance with No Barriers to join ETC's Sea Kayak program on the water. From this vantagepoint, I met participants with a range of disabilities who had selected ETC's Adaptive Sea Kayaking session as the place and time to take on a barrier--and find a new or expanded sense of freedom and possibility to get out into nature. The AdventureMaker chair became part of that possibility. There are no words to describe the joy on the face of young woman who joined her mother in a triple kayak to glide across the crystalline waters of Lake Tahoe toward a horizon of snowcapped peaks. For her, trunk stability and comfort were crucial - The AdventureMaker helped bring that about.?I want to add my appreciation to Oren's-- to you and your team for all you have done to help with production of the AdventureMaker Chair.”Maria Victoria “Vicky”?and Lauren?Opipari? ETC Adaptive Sea Kayaking session at No Barriers USA Summit, 2017Vicky and her daughter Lauren joined ETC’s Adaptive Sea Kayaking session at No Barriers Summit and Lauren tried the AdventureMaker Chair in a sea kayak. They provided this feedback on the experience. They share:?“Lauren is almost 23 years old. She loves going on trips and being outdoors.?She has cerebral palsy and uses a power wheelchair and AAC (Alternative, Augmentative Communication) Device.? She's very outgoing and loves to meet new people and spend time with her friends. She's also active with myTeam Triumph - Rocky Mountain Chapter doing 5K, Half Marathons and Triathlon races. I work as a Realtor and love to go on road trips - especially with Lauren.?I enjoy the outdoors as well, but I’m not a thrill-seeker like Lauren!"?"My daughter, Lauren, loves all kinds of adventures so when we learned about No Barriers Summit online, we decided it was something we should attend so we can experience different adventures together along with our other friends from Colorado. We both love being on the water and we wanted to see what type of adaptive equipment would be provided.?We have kayaked once before at a friend’s lake. We used pillows to prop up Lauren on the kayak with us which worked out ok but wasn't really a great solution. In attending ETC’s Adaptive Sea Kayaking session at No Barriers Summit, we were hoping to find a way for Lauren to comfortably sit in the kayak since she is not able to sit on her own.?Lauren said she was really comfortable sitting in the AdventureMaker Chair and she was able to enjoy kayaking on Lake Tahoe.? She loved being able to dip her hand in the water too. I felt that she was in the kayak securely and safely. The Adventuremaker kept her sitting up comfortably and safely to be able to enjoy the ride and get her hand in the water too - which she loved.?We had so much fun that day.? It was amazing to be able to kayak in such a beautiful setting.?We were surprised by how many volunteers there were and how accommodating everyone was.?Thank you for a great experience. Lauren and I had such a wonderful, fun time, and we really enjoyed meeting you and everyone! Lauren really wants to have more adventures with ETC!" ................
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