ThinkGimp Goes to NCIIA!!!

so this past weekend i had the pleasure of going down to dc for the NCIIA conference. if you want a brief summary plus links on what nciia is/why we were there check out RIT's innovation center site.

for me, this was unique as it was the first non science academic conference that i attended.  in some ways i was very disappointed.  there seemed a real reluctance from those who were faculty/staff at different institutions to really say what was wrong with their individual institutions as far as enabling students to go on these entrepreneurship ventures, to get a patent etc.

no system is perfect (except close to perfect is MIT but that was their goal from the time the first brick was laid.  be not only a think tank of sorts but be supportive of students' ideas/projects) so if the conference was meant to encourage that, then it failed. 

also i was disappointed about the quality of some of the speakers.  one being a high school girl who all she could talk about what was why she liked limpets and sounded to vapid.  it was like getting a lecture from miley syrus.

great. 

i was impressed with the open minds exhibit.  each team knew their project well, could deliver concise informative answers.  i was super impressed with the student from john's hopkins that created a diagnostic pen kit for pregnant mothers in 3rd world countries.  and apparently i am not the only one as  they won the competition!!

the feedback to my research is still strong and positive so this is encouraging me to move forward and complete this and get this work done.

again the lack of ppl with disabilities was glaring.  there was one professor who was in a chair and he studies biomechanics but his feedback and willingness to really speak up on what exactly people should do to change the current system was lacking. 

touring dc was great! i cant get enough of museums and the fact that you can just walk in! and that as a tax payer we OWN THAT!!! soooo coool!!!!

goofing around and just exploring is something that i rarely get to do with friends and professors.

and we had some awesome bbq!!! yum. ribs. i could eat them all day long!

as far as how to bring science and technology to the gimp masses i have two very important events coming up!  one is barcamp. on 16 april 2011.  what's barcamp? according to the site it's "an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from attendees." so i'll be hosting an AssistTech talk on how we can further technology to help those who are disabled.

the second event is some real synergy between my platform from ms wheelchair ny--bringing science to the disabled community and helping to inspire some would be disabled scientists--and my chemistry fraternity, Alpha Chi Sigma: Bet Sigma chapter, and the Center for Disability Rights is a three part series of teaching/sharing science with their consumers.  this will be happening on 09 april, 16 april,  23 april from 12 to 2pm. 

the crowning of a new page in life!

so it's been a loong harsh winter! but some awesome things have been going on these past few weeks so sorry for all the posts!!


the new ms wheelchair ny 2011 is..... MOI! LOL!
it all started when ms wheelchair ny 2010, michelle fridley, approached me at the rochester national spinal cord injury's annual get together.  she was sneaky ((haha) and had my friends rope me into it. it's all good though!  so due to some personal tragedies i thought i was going to be unable to do it but michelle, as effervescent as always, encouraged me to continue.


so, 18 march my dear friend eliza and i went to albany (i drove!!!) to attend the pageant.  it was my first time driving that distance and i think i did a pretty good job!

we stayed at an extended stay marriot thanks to eliza's bf's mother and it was a really nice room with dual temperature controls for the living area as well as the bedroom.  it had a mini kitchen with fridge, dishwasher, stove and sink with pots, pans, plates and cups!


19 march was the actual event and i was impressed with what my competitor debbie had accomplished! i feel my advocacy work is just beginning, there is a lot to accomplish and do but i think this just marks a turning point in my life to accomplish those goals.

i truly feel my work and involvement in research conferences and  alpha chi sigma helped me answer the judges' questions effectively.  RIT and my mentors try to emphasize public speaking and going to conferences and telling others about your work in a short amount of time and get those ideas across clearly and effectively is a skill that i am glad i have developed.


when they announced i was the winner i was in a state of shock. no way! especially when i feel most times i am just a nerd in a wheelchair who doesnt have as much advocacy experience as the others.  but that will change in time and i hope to do some good with this title and change perspectives on those who are disabled in getting an education and particularly opening opportunities in the field of science!

Just 2 Minutes

many people rationalize it. they say to themselves "oh, i'll only be a few minutes" or "i've never seen a person in a wheelchair using it!" or maybe they think that it isn't fair for handicap parking to be closer to entrances than other parking.

for whatever reason, people do it all the time. as a person in a wheelchair who now drives it is a constant source of frustration.  i'm often late to class as handicap spots are taken up by persons with no tag.  or even worse some selfish jerk has decided to park on the hash lines in the NO PARKING zone next to my vehicle!  i was once stuck in the cold rain for over an hour waiting for this girl to move her car.  she received a ticket and had the audacity to complain!

to combat this insensitivity our friends in quebec have posted an amazing psa.  watch it. learn from it and hope that it can change perspectives.

All Wet

Ever go outside in your chair when it's raining?  tired of the all encompassing sexless poncho that makes you look like the rolling hairless version of cousin it?  ever ask why the umbrella holders on the market are for the push handles of the chair but not on  place where a person can independently use it?

well we did and created an awesome solution using pvc piping and also asked the question of how many home depot workers does it take to build an umbrella holder?

different shapes of pvc pipes were used to create an L shape to go across the lap of the user.  pipe ties were used to secure the umbrella to the holder.




but how do you attach it the the chair?  andrew solved this by cutting a section out of the side of the pipe that clamps onto the wheelchair with relative ease.  it is also easy to detach.








the final(ish) project!  some tweaking still needs to be done but the result works fairly well.  we lowered the umbrella to reduce the likelihood of the umbrella turning into a sail and there needs to be a more secure system to tighten the umbrella to the holder.  the holder also is easier to attach if you are sitting in front of the chair ( i do it before i transfer in from my car).  but all and all it was a great success!  thanks home depot!






in case you were wondering...  it took five employees to help!