PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: A Plug for Higher Education

I used my column last month to thank our retiring executive director, as well as two board members who also retired from service. This month I’m pleased to officially welcome three new board members: Denise A. Mc Quade, Donna L. Messinger, and Laura G. Schwanger.

Denise Mc Quade has a long history with our organization, having participated in civil rights issues alongside our in-house advocates since the early 1970s. Denise was one of the first people we signed up as a member on the day we officially became United Spinal and expanded our mission. It’s an honor to have Denise on our board of directors because she has truly been part of our team for many years, though unofficially.

Donna Messinger has also been involved in issues affecting women with disabilities, peer mentoring, and advocacy for many years. One issue close to Donna’s heart is finding affordable and reliable home health attendants. Donna believes that sharing experiences and ideas is very important because it helps people with disabilities understand that they can lead a normal life and they are not alone. We look forward to working with Donna on these and other concerns. Laura Schwanger is known to many of you as a star wheelchair athlete, ambassador for United Spinal and, until recently, regional administrator of United Spinal’s Philadelphia office. Laura served on our board of directors from 1998 to 1999, prior to joining our staff. She recently resigned her position at United Spinal to pursue other personal endeavors. We are extremely pleased that Laura has agreed to continue her service to United Spinal in the capacity of board member.

Since this issue of Action is dedicated to education, I would like to add a plug for pursuing higher education. Education in any shape or form makes life easier through greater vocational opportunities and an enhanced ability to participate in life in general. As a result of our civil rights victories over the years, there are increasingly greater numbers of students with disabilities in our educational systems.

When students with disabilities attend “mainstream” schools everyone benefits. The students receive the same quality education as everyone else, and the able-bodied understand that ability comes in all forms. It’s heartening to roll into a school and see both students and teachers in wheelchairs. One of my close friends is a high school math teacher and he constantly regales me with stories of how students (and parents) are a little apprehensive of his chair on the first day, but they quickly get past the questions and realize they can play the same pranks as they would with any other teacher. With us, however, they’ve got a new one: they can let the air out of our tires.

Pursuing an education has a “snowball effect” that benefits both the disabled community and society at large. We are all familiar with the (albeit overused) phrase, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” But it’s is worth repeating, and remembering, in the context of our members.

Be well. Be as active as you can be.

Clair Russell Hesselton, PhD
President