The Penn State Alumni AssociationWhat’s been happening: My Life As a Person with Disabilities: A Nutshell. I entered the world of persons with disabilities when I was 18 years old and attending Pennsylvania State University in October 1957. I was injured on a trampoline and introduced to quadriplegia. I must admit that prior to my injury I had no knowledge of the world of disabilities. I had no idea it was such a problem-solving process. The world was the same but I was different. It was an opportunity to evaluate everything I had ever known. Following surgery and medical treatment at Danville Hospital in Pennsylvania, I did my rehabilitation at the Institute of Medical and Physical Rehabilitation in New York City. That year trampoline competition was removed from the NCAA and the Olympics. Student accident insurance was also initiated in postsecondary institutions. Trampolines have since found their way back. It was not the fault of the trampoline. I made a mistake. My hometown was Philadelphia and I returned to the suburbs following my rehabilitation the summer of 1958. The year I spent at the Institute was extraordinarily enlightening and one I would not trade for anything. I met one of the most formidable mentors of my life. I also had the opportunity to meet many well-known celebrities and politicians. It was a growth experience. At the age of 18 almost all experiences are growth experiences regardless of who you are or where you are, however, I consider this to have been an extraordinary opportunity. I had a life of some celebrity of my own for a short while. The idea of a long future was not very real to me. I spent |