20 years ago, in 1999, I was introduced to the Children's Lightning Wheels by one of my physical therapists who's also one of the assistant coaches. I participated in the sports of track & field, table tennis, and archery (even fencing for a couple years).
Joining the team was one of the best things that I could've done. Over the years, I've met many great people (teammates, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, competitors, and many more). I've also competed at 12 National Junior Disability Championships (New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, Missouri, and Iowa) as a member of the Lightning Wheels.
As a member of the Lightning Wheels, I learned about independence, confidence, teamwork, friendship, sportsmanship, and so much more. I've also became stronger while taking part in the gym program and different practices. They have helped me strengthen my core muscles, as well as my other muscles.
I aged out of the Lightning Wheels in 2015 but still compete as an adult adaptive athlete. I decided to no longer do track (since track and I had our differences lol) but still do field events (shot put, discus, and javelin), table tennis, and archery.
Even though I aged out from the Lightning Wheels, I still help out with the team from time-to-time whether it's archery or if I'm at their track & field practices. I also help out whenever and wherever I can at sports meets (timing track events, helping the coaches with heat sheets, answer any questions members of the team have, etc.).
Adaptive sports has taught me a lot over the years and I wouldn't change a thing. I've made life-long friendships. I have a different point-of-view than many do. It's given me many opportunities that I definitely wouldn't have if I was never introduce to sports in 1999.
I always say that I know who I would be or where I would be if it wasn't for being a part of the Children's Lightning Wheels and adaptive sports. I still believe that til this day.
There is so much more that I can say about my 20 years of adaptive sports but instead of writing it all down here, I will be doing a video for my YouTube channel so STAY TUNED!
I think it's time to start talking about #InclusiveBitmojis again! If you don't know what I'm talking about - here is some background:
#InclusiveBitmojis started about six months ago when I was planning to update my Bitmoji. And I did. I changed out of the winter clothes and into summer clothes. BUT there was something missing that I should've really noticed earlier (I think I did but didn't think too much of it at the time) and that was a wheelchair! I searched & searched the whole Bitmoji app for it, and there was nothing which got me thinking...
Bitmoji really need to add disability options and I'm not just talking about wheelchairs, I'm talking about all different kinds of options like prosthetics, orthotics, breathing tubes, canes, and more. So I had a thought of doing a video for my YouTube channel:
THEN, I also started a change.org petition to raise even more awareness towards getting Inclusive Bitmojis and hopefully to get a response from Bitmoji themselves.
After posting the video and petition, I received some feedback. I believe I had about 50-100 signatures after a few days but to me, it still wasn't enough feedback. This is an important topic and needs more push towards it.
SO I took it to Instagram and posted the following picture with more info about the reasoning behind the importance of wanting Inclusive Bitmojis (diversity being the main reason):
That's basically the main point of my Instagram post because it does. We see talks about representation mattering when it comes to other minority groups but there's never a huge talk when it comes to the disabled community (remember my Oscars' controversy post).
BUT anyways back to the Instagram post. After I posted it, I started getting more feedback and even more signatures towards the petition. AND it wasn't all me as it took one more person to see the post for it to really start reaching more people and that was one of my former teachers who helped a lot with the campaign, as well as one of my friends who too would like to see himself represented in his Bitmoji.
Ever since the initial Instagram post, we have done more videos - a PSA on Facebook & Instagram and a couple update videos on my YouTube page.
With all this push, the petition now has 1,600 signatures and I'm ecstatic about it! We even received a couple responses from Bitmoji on Twitter. The first response was a generic one (similar to one they've been giving for the past three years to others who have asked):
That was definitely a generic answer and they say they're "actively working" on it but they've been saying that for almost three years now and haven't shown any movement of having disability options for Bitmoji. So we kept at it and tweeting #InclusiveBitmojis, and after (I believe) a week, they responded again with a more real answer:
It's still NOT a great answer but it's a better one than their previous answer. But I still have a question: Is it really that hard? I mean...you have cars, you have lounge chairs (and other kinds of chairs), and more. It's not like we're asking for every sticker in the app.
We know some of the disability options won't work for some of the stickers. We just want to be able to see that we're included and that there are options & stickers for us. I no longer use the stickers where my Bitmoji is standing because I feel it truly wouldn't represent me if she's standing and I'm not.
It's time, Bitmoji! Even if is just one option...for now. Show us that you are serious about adding disability options. And remember, it's not just wheelchairs we want - we want ALL disabilities to be represented.
Now - the reason why I'm writing this post is to bring the #InclusiveBitmojis campaign back to life because it has slowed down over the last couple months and we need to pick it back up! Bitmoji hasn't shared any new disability options yet and I feel we should remind them that we are still waiting for those options.
As I'm writing this post, the petition has 1,607 signatures and I would LOVE that number to go up. So if you haven't signed the petition yet, please do so and if you have signed it, SHARE it everywhere you can: Bitmoji Needs Disability Options Petition
Along with sharing the petition, you can share this blog post or any of the videos that we have posted. There are a couple videos on Twitter, a couple on my YouTube channel, and Instagram. And don't forget to use the tag #InclusiveBitmojis in your posts. Also tweet Bitmoji on Twitter using #InclusiveBitmojis!
As most of you know, I have a spinal cord injury and became a wheelchair user due to complications in major surgeries. Well guess what? It's September! And September is National Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Awareness Month! :)
At first, I had no idea that there was a National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month until a few years ago and the color for the awareness is lime green (check out the ribbon above). I was happy to find out that SCI had an awareness month because it should be celebrated and help raise awareness towards spinal cord injuries.
There's an average of 17,000 new SCI each year and no, they aren't all from accidents (something many believe to be the case). Having an awareness month brings different kinds of awareness towards SCI: different kinds of causes of SCI, the aftermath of a SCI, finding out cures, and more.
Every year, I can't wait for September because that's when I post throughout the month different pictures for SCI awareness month. Here is a picture of one:
During this month, many think back and wonder the 'what ifs' and the hopes of a cure so they can have the life they once knew upon a time back while others take this month as a reflection & celebrate their SCI. I am one of the ones that celebrate my spinal cord injury.
I always say without the SCI and becoming a paraplegic, I wouldn't be who I am today. I wouldn't have participated in adaptive sports. I wouldn't have the friends I have today. And I wouldn't have the kind of view of the world I have today. It helped shape me to the person I am and I wouldn't change a thing.
I always look forward to September and hope that there will be more awareness towards future National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Months. If you would like to learn more about spinal cord injuries, you can click on the following links:
I will close this post by sharing the video I posted on my YouTube channel where I spoke about National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. You can watch it below:
