thewheeldeal0

05/07/2024

It is with profound sadness that I tell you all that my beautiful and courageous daughter Rachel passed away last night . She had been in the hospital for several weeks and fought hard every day to survive but her body just could not do it any more . In keeping with her wishes , she donated her organs so that others might live longer lives . She was an inspiration to not only me , but such a strong advocate for disability rights and an all inclusive society. I hope you , her Instagram followers , learned from her and that she had a positive impact on you or someone you know . She wanted to make the world a better place for all individuals , regardless of what disability they might have . Please carry on her legacy of inclusion and most of all education: EVERY person should be able to enjoy a barrier free life as a basic civil right . Thank you for following her journey. She always appreciated your comments and hoped she helped in some little way . With love, Rachel’s dad

07/01/2024

Here is a blog I wrote for GLIDE FUND, INC. let me know how you have created adaptability in your workplace.

Rachel Bookman of the Glide Fund teaching class using adaptive technology.

07/01/2024

When out shopping and Bloomingdale's has a photo wall that describes you, you take a photo with said wall even if the lighting does you no favors 🤷‍♀️😂

02/01/2024

Good things are coming in 2024!

I’m so excited to have a premier date for “Mark- A Call to Action”. The documentary starring my late brother (and my father pictured above) will premiere in Tokyo on February 24, 25, and 27 with US showings to follow. Yours truly does make an appearance (or two 😉).

Please follow GLIDE FUND, INC. for updates!

Watch the trailer here: https://www.glidefund.org/documentary/

02/01/2024

Multiple technologies made it possible for me to teach in the classroom. Most obviously, my Permobil wheelchair, but parallel parking next to the board to write was a challenge. Instead, I used the Permobil detachable tray on my wheelchair as a teachers podium and the built in usb charger on my wheelchair for my Apple iPad and Apple pencil to write on the board by projecting my screen via Apple TV which admin had installed in my classroom.

I also used a microphone to assist me to project my voice (my classroom had high ceilings) and a laser pointer as a faster and easier way to point to a certain place on the board. I drove myself to work using my adapted BraunAbility Ford Motor Company vehicle and used push buttons for ease of access since I often had a stack full of graded papers (and/or a Dunkin Donuts coffee) in my hands. I had the desks arranged in a U shape so that I could reach every student if they had a question or needed assistance.

I miss teaching, but I miss the connections made with the students and the staff even more. I know McQueen does too. I had a dog bed behind my desk where he would stay. One day he just was staring at the wall and the kids said they thought they “broke McQueen”. It was so funny I’ll never forget it. He always had a few friends in every class who would ask to pet him after the bell rang and if there was time he was always up for a quick pat.

Technology is a wonderful thing and I’m so thankful for the freedom and for the opportunities it has allowed me to experience and enjoy that I would not have been able to otherwise. Technology is making the world more accessible to people with disabilities. I was very lucky to have a supportive admin. Not all teachers (and other professionals) need to be able to “sit, stand, crouch for extended periods of time and be able to lift 50 pounds”. It’s time we revisit these application ‘requirements’ and make the workplace more inclusive for people with disabilities. “To include people with disabilities reported a 90% increase in retention of valued employees and a 72% increase in employee productivity”

01/01/2024

All dolled up for the evening on New Years Eve Eve!! 🪩✨

What did you do to ring in 2024?

21/12/2023

Dad and I used to go to a ball every year around this time. I have so many happy memories...

We stopped going for a variety of reasons.. one of the reasons was the venue wheelchair accessible solution was not ideal.

Since then, we’ve gone to a few similar events elsewhere, but I have not perfected the art of the wheelchair dance..it is a work in progress!

I was never much of a dancer, but I’m all for good food, good music, and good company!

21/12/2023

I saw a post awhile back about a place near me with really cool cocktails. I decided to meet up with a friend there this afternoon and was told by the manager owner (unsure?) that I needed to show my service dog papers.

I explained there is no such thing and that under the ADA he is legally allowed to ask me two questions. 1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? And 2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? I offered this information when he walked me to the door and I said to call the police. He didn’t want to do that and allowed us to sit down.

A year ago, I would’ve cried and left, but I am glad I used this as a teachable moment and stood my ground. We wound up having a fabulous time and enjoying their drinks and food surrounded by a beautiful and trendy aesthetic environment. I (and other people with disabilities) have every right to enjoy restaurants like these just as much as any other paying customer.

I have to say the bartender was fantastic and made extra bubbles and foam messages for us for the ‘gram, and I will definitely be going back in the future despite the little mishap in the beginning…

As we were leaving, the host pulled us aside, apologized, and mentioned he created a text for the future with rules on service dogs from the ADA website. This made me feel good that it was a teachable moment and a resolution was reached that will prevent this from happening here again in the future.

Also, peep me at bar height thanks to !

20/12/2023

I went to Sephora today and came home inspired. I absolutely love Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and decided to do an all Bobbi Brown makeup look using my collection, perfume included! What do you all think?

I had so much fun doing this. I know several people have asked me to film my makeup routine / eyeliner and I am so excited to share with you all soon now that my new makeup mirror has arrived! Thank you Steffi Gonzalez for the recommendation! I love it!! 🤍

05/12/2023

In accordance with the ADA, businesses may only ask two questions about a service dog…

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? (yes/no)

2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

McQueen is a mobility assistance dog trained by Susquehanna Service Dogs and is a part of ADI - Assistance Dogs International We have been partners for over three years now. He is 5 and a half years old and is trained to help me with specialized tasks like bringing me my phone (if I need to call for help), bringing me my medicines, picking up items, opening and closing doors/drawers, turning on and off the lights, assistance with un******ng, and counter transactions (not in this video since we only use this when we go out shopping).

Susquehanna Service Dogs also teaches their dogs positioning cues (ex. heel, place, visit, under, go on through, all the way up) and basic cues (ex. sit, down, stand, stay, come, fix, off, leash, okay, let’s go, leave it). These commands are super important because they make it so I can put on and take off his harness, so he can fix his leash if it gets wrapped around his paw, so he stays under tables during meetings and meals (to protect his feet and tail), and so on…

This video shows many of the ways McQueen helps me in the home, but he does so much more... I will be sure post future videos of how .mcqueen helps me in public as well. As part of Susquehanna Service Dogs and ADI - Assistance Dogs International we have a public access test each year to make sure we are a functioning working team. Stay tuned for future videos about the training and testing processes and about how we work together in public!