I devote my time and direction to my community to make sure the half-billion men, women and children in the world who are unable to participate fully in life because of physical or mental disability have the same opportunities that each of you has. We have to raise the expectation level that people with disabilities have of themselves and that others have of them, so that they can be contributors to the economy and productive members of society. These great people behind me are reminders for us all it's not about the disability, it's the ability. The choices we make today will affect the growth of the Internet. Without standards, we will continue to create imbalance shutting out people and groups who have much to offer.
Companies continue to spend millions of dollars building Web sites that are inaccessible.
I silently struggled with why I should live. I suddenly needed people around the clock to assist me. I could no longer wipe a piece of lint off my shirt, pick up a child, light a candle, dance, take my shoes off, hold a glass of water, take a drive by myself, walk down a beach, practice my favorite skiing jump, run to get the phone, wash my hair. Everything changed, and I needed to start over, to redefine myself. After my accident, I was in rehab for five months, my mom at my side.