December 11th-13th Moving forward in Stem Cells at UC Irvine

The Research for Cure team went to Irvine to celebrate the start of clinical trials in sub-acute spinal cord injuries. This was a magical evening and the next day we shopped until we dropped and went out to dinner with Karen Miner and friends and toured the lab the following day.

December 6th A Workshop on Disability at Solano Community College

Today, I spoke at Solano Community College on advocacy for people with disabilities. I was a part of Annie's presentation from Opportunity House which is a women's homeless shelter. The group as well as the class will all become great social workers and I look forward to working with them at Independent Living Resource in Solano County. I had a wonderful time and the students went away with a great understanding of a day in my shoes with no task one can't overcome.

Solano Transportation Meeting December 4th

Tonight, our community was heard on behalf of people with disabilities at the Solano Transportation Meeting in Fairfield. I and the In-home Support Service Advisory Committee as well as other county agencies spoke up of the ongoing issues of public transportation including the window time of pickup for Para Transit. I do believe our voices made quite an impact to the City Council. Thank you all that attend this meeting! Our voices were heard in behalf of people with disabilities.

The New Ms Wheelchair America 2008

Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2007, 2nd Runner Up Ms. Wheelchair America 2008
Kristen McCosh, "Leading By Example"
Boston, MA, United States
Kristen was chosen as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2007. A gifted speaker and writer, she is currently finishing a Women's Fiction novel series featuring women with disabilities as heroines. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and has studied toward her MPH at Boston University School of Public Health. Kristen is employed as the Editor In Chief of "Solutions" e-magazine, published by Hire Disability Solutions, LLC - www.hireds.com. She also works as an Early Intervention Program Consultant with newly-injured SCI patients at Spaulding Rehab Hospital. Kristen sustained a C6 spinal cord injury (SCI) in a diving accident at the age of 15. She lives in Boston and Falmouth, Cape Cod, with her husband.

http://mswheelchairmass07.blogspot.com/ http://www.mswheelchairamerica08.blogspot.com/

Alana Wallace say's Goodbye

November 22nd Ms Wheelchair America 2008 Alana Wallace has resigned because of philosophical differences with MWA about how best to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. Alana Wallace is a great advocate and I wish her well in everything she does in life.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I have been working hard at work and very busy with bringing awareness to the accomplishments of people with disabilities but during my month off I wanted to take a moment to bring thanks to all the wonderful people that I have met through my reign as Ms Wheelchair California. I have made such lasting friendships for years to come and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of everyone's lives. Next month will be busy and I will keep you all updated on appearances.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Susan Rotchy
Ms Wheelchair California 2007

October 20th Ability to Compete Together Games

23rd Annual *ACT* Ability to Compete Together games
Blaze Sports Sacramento
Sponsored by City of Sacramento Access Leisure

ACT Games Mission Statement
"Challenge Me, I Will Succeed" The A.C.T. Games contribute to the physical social and psychological development of children, youth and teens with physical disabilities. The A.C.T. Games provides many opportunities for growth. Each athlete is given the opportunity to improve physical fitness, learn new skills, experiment with challenging new sports equipment, express courage and make new friends.

I was honored with the "Honorary Games Director" for A.C.T. Games
Thank you! "Access Leisure" for the plaque and reminding me of "Why! I entered the Ms Wheelchair pageant." I had the most wonderful time to be a part of the children's experience of their year and being reminded of the impact that I make on everyone that I meet.

October 19th Disability Awareness

Today Independent Living Resource Center in Contra Costa county celebrated Disability Awareness month. We had a barbecue and invited several county guest to celebrate the accomplishments of people with disabilities and to bring awareness to the barriers one has with disabilities. We had a great afternoon!

October 12th Hawaii at the Hilton

The Fairfield Suisun Community Action Council Presents an Indooor Luau & Fudraising Event at the Hilton Garden Inn on October 12th. Community Action Council is a nonprofit that provides Basic Needs and Safety Net Services directly to the public, that is emergency-food, clothes, rental assistance, employment services, life-skills classes, literacy sessions and homeless prevention services all free of charge. Their client base is the working poor, low-income, senior citizens, disabled, and homeless population living in and around the Fairfield/ Suisun area. Their website is http://www.fairfieldcac.org/ check out their next event.

October 5th-7th Yountville Days Parade and Festival

I had the honor of riding in the Yountville Days Parade that honors are Veterans. The parade started at the Nelson Holderman Hospital (Home for are Vets) through the town of Yountville. Yountville is located in the beautiful wine country in the Napa Valley.
Yountville is located in the heart of Napa Valley the premier world famous wine growing region of Northern California, just off of Highway 29.
In 1999 the area around Yountville was approved an American Vitacultural Area (AVA), a unique area for growing grapes. Its boundaries were primarily established by those of the other existing or proposed AVA's in the large Napa Valley AVA-Oak Knoll district on the south, Oakville on the north, Stags Leap district on the east, and Mount Veeder on the west. The Town of Yountville takes its name from George C. Yount (its founding father), who had a large land grant in the Napa Valley and who was the first to plant grapes there. The Yountville AVA is warmer than the Carneros AVA, but cooler than areas to the west and north of it. The area encompasses about 8,260 acres with not quite half of that planted to vineyards. Chardonnay is the dominant of varietals, especially in vineyards to the south where it's coolest. Merlot and Cabernet Franc do well here, as does Cabernet Sauvignon in the AVA's northern portion.
Visitors will enjoy its small town atmosphere, renowned work-class restaurants, luxury hotels and inns, premium wineries and shopping. http://www.townofyountville.com/index.html

North Bay Stand Down October 2 - 4

Veterans and a Community Helping Veterans
"A hand up, not a hand out!"
All veterans in need, and their families, are welcome!

What is Stand Down?
Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings; California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA), United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security benefits counseling; and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.

Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between CDVA Veterans Services Division district offices (Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego), the VA, the California Employment Development Department, California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless, including the members of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies.

The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by Vietnam Veterans of San Diego. Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless veterans, reaching more than 200,000 veterans and their family members nationwide between 1994-2000. http://www.northbaystanddown.org/

I have participated in the past few years at the North Bay Stand Down as a Benefits Specialist. Thank you! Everyone for helping out!

September 15th Granting a Wish

This evening I witnessed a wish for Muffin Latham a 71 year old senior that requested a wish to hit a pitched baseball. Twilight Wish is a foundation founded in 2003 in Bucks County, PA, Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their mission is to enrich the lives of elders that have served others. Through wish granting and group celebrations, they give our seniors unexpected "thank yous" for time devoted unselfishly to their families' welfare, charitable organizations, and the communities they all share. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special event organizers, and in numerous other functions. To learn more about Twilight Wish please visit their website http://www.twilightwishfoundation.org/

Afterwards I watched the children play baseball and cheered them on at the River Cats Independence Field. Children, Adults With Disabilities Have Their Own ‘Field of Dreams’ River Cats Independence Field is now Open With Kids Playing Baseball, Some for the First Time WHAT: A “field of dreams” for thousands of people with disabilities in the Sacramento region featuring the inaugural first pitches and many more being thrown and caught by the stars themselves – children with disabilities.

River Cats Independence Field is surfaced with a rubberized, track-like material that makes it easily navigable for individuals in wheelchairs and walkers. This is believed to be the only baseball field for people with disabilities in the nation that features the rubberized surface throughout the infield and outfield and is the size of a regular 200-foot Little League diamond.

WHO: • Mike Ubaldi, chair of River Cats Independence Field Advisory Committee. • Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and City Council Member Bonnie Pannell. • Art Savage, CEO of the Sacramento River Cats Triple-A baseball team, which made River Cats Independence Field its “legacy project” as the host of the 2005 Triple-A All-Star Game in July. •

The real stars: Dozens of children and adults with disabilities, many of whom couldn’t play baseball before because regular playing surfaces were too hard to navigate and often too dangerous for play. WHERE: Samuel Pannell Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento. Fields are located adjacent to the center at Meadowview Road and 24th Street.

Read more about the playing field
http://movemedia.org/IndependenceField/IMPROVEMENTS/IF_IMPROVMENTS.html

September 9th A Dinner Fundraiser for Joni and Friends

Tonight I attended a fundraiser event given by Shannon and Dakota Coe on behalf of “Joni and Friends”. This dinner was a 10-course meal and all the money raised this evening will support a team of professionals along with funding to bring people with disabilities the wheelchairs they need to Cuba. Shannon will be going to Cuba October 26th-November 4th to deliver the wheelchairs to the recipients, making sure each recipient has a wheelchair that fits their disability and need.

September 6th USA Tennis Tourment at Donner Lake

View this article http://www.sierrasun.com/article/200770906023

Athletes compete in Truckee on way to Beijing

Tournament draws wheelchair tennis players from around world

By Greyson HowardSierra Sun, ghoward@sierrasun.comSeptember 6, 2007

World-class wheelchair tennis is rolling into Truckee this weekend.Starting today (Friday) and running through Sunday, the 22nd annual Tahoe Donner International Wheelchair Tennis Sectional Championship will be held at the Tahoe Donner Club. Athletes will vie for points toward the U.S. Open Championship in San Diego, and the Paralympic Games in Beijing.“It’s a pretty incredible event,” said tournament director Robbie McClendon. “They are tremendous athletes.”McClendon said about 60 athletes will compete, arriving in Truckee from all over the world. Competitors will include residents of Canada, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Germany Chile, Mexico, Japan, Australia and South Korea.The tournament’s founder, Bonni Sue Hickson, said this year’s tourney has attracted a record number of open-class women players. McClendon attributed the sport’s draw to how well tennis lends itself to athletes in wheelchairs.“Wheelchair tennis is a pretty large sport; you don’t really see wheelchair baseball,” McClendon said. “It’s a great sport for them because they can basically play as normally as an able player could.”Good fitHickson agreed that tennis is a better fit for athletes in wheelchairs than other sports.“It’s one of the fastest-growing sports; it’s not like you need a team like in basketball,” she said, adding that being in a wheelchair adds to the sport. “It’s like two sports in one; you get the maneuvering in the chair, and the game and skill of the sport.”Athletes use special, quick-turning wheelchairs, and a two-bounce rule allows them more time to get to the ball, McClendon said.Eric “Dyno” Daniels was a Truckee-Tahoe resident from 1989 to 1995, when he was paralyzed in an accident. He lived in the area again from 1997 to 2000, and will be among this year’s competitors.Part of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, Daniels says he was frustrated when he tried adaptive skiing, but found a new niche in wheelchair tennis, winning the U.S. Open in both singles and doubles in 2003.

August 29th A day with the staff at the Oakland A's Game

I am the Program Manager at Independent Living Resource in Fairfield . Today all the offices met for a day of fun and relaxation and to cheer for the Oakland A's.

Independent living Resource is a non-profit organization serving Contra Costa and Solano counties (California), under consumer direction. Our mission is to empower people with disabilities to: Control their own lives. Provide advocacy and support for individuals with disabilities to live independently. Create an accessible community free of physical and attitudinal barriers. Visit are site http://ilrcoco-sol.org/default.aspx

Special photo's of my family and friends

Family photo Alex(18) to the left of me and Gary my husband with my son Joey(15) at the right. In the other photo's is Michelle and Stephanie taken the day of the benefit.

August 26th A Benefit for Research for Cure

Karen Miner, Dr. Hans Keirstead, Fran Lopes and Susan Rotchy presenting the check to the Reeve-Irvine Research Center.


Research for Cure is a nonprofit tax exempt organization whose mission is to raise funds for scientific research to cure neurological diseases. All net monies raised at this time benefit the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. The center named after Christopher Reeve and Joan Irvine is part of the University of California, Irvine. The Reeve-Irvine Research Center is on the forefront of the latest in cures for spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and many of other neurological conditions.
The Research for Cure Team is staffed with a growing number of volunteers. A majority of the volunteers are wheelchair warriors and their family and friends. Research for Cure does not pay salaries or rent space everyone works out of their homes. Our expenses are limited to the cost of putting on our fundraising events. We raise funds by holding golf tournaments, dinner/dance and bringing a speaker from the Reeve-Irvine Research Center to the events. Research for Cure brings knowledge not just to the injured but to the whole family and gives hope to find cures to lessen the health risks we all endure from our injuries. Research for Cure has raised over 300,000 dollars for the Reeve-Irvine Research Center in the past seven years please check out our website to see when clinical trials will be beginning. It really is a “Rat Race!” http://www.researchforcure.org/index.htm

Reeve-Irvine Research Center website http://www.reeve.uci.edu/

August 25th The Night before my benefit Research for Cure

Michelle, Ellenie, Stephanie and Susan

This night was very special I had three great friends one flew in from Florida and another traveled 2 hours to come to my benefit on August 26th. This evening we went out to dinner to unwind and afterwards we relaxed on our sailboat. You ask yourself how did I get on the boat since I am paralyzed hmmm? My husband carried me on the boat which was not an easy task I might be light but the boat does rock. In this photo I am sitting with all my friends in the cabin it was a great evening.

August 22nd A Fundraiser at the River Cats Game

This evening I spent it with Leisure Access which is a program that provides activities for people with disabilities.

August 22nd A day at the Capitol

Today we are advocating at the state capitol for AB1113 (Brownley) Extends and increases eligibility for the Medi-Cal California Working Disabled Program which is supported by AARP. The Governor even came out of his office to support are cause. I was on the front lines to take a great photo of Arnold our California Governor.

August 18th Evening Banquet

Evening Banquet supporting the USA Wheelchair Tournament

I just wanted to let everyone know the USA Tournament this past weekend in Napa was fun and there is a great article on line and with a slide show of the event. The wheelchair tennis players are having a couple more events that are coming up. One is at Standford and at Donner next month. We need to show our support to all these great players and cheer them on. We really need to bring awareness to the achievements of people with disabilities and programs that are available.

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/08/19/sports/local/doc46c7e9c269673268314003.txt

August 18th USA Wheelchair Tennis Tour

Morning of the Registration for the USA Wheelchair Tennis Tournment

Great turn out! Let's thank the "Napa Spinal Cord Injury Network"

Big thanks to Jeff and Lynn

August 17th Napa Spinal Cord Injury Network

Last Chance to buy a raffle ticket from the Napa Spinal Cord Injury Network to win a Classic 1981 Mercedes Bez 380 SL Convertible the drawing will be held on September 2nd at the Symphony on the River in Napa.

August 10th Fundraiser

Fundraiser at the River Walk in Napa
Napa Spinal Cord Injury Network

Their mission statement Empowering persons with spinal cord injuries through peer support, advocacy, and education to maintain health and independence, to achieve the highest quality of life.

Services that they offer are Information, Education, Resources and Referral. Their focus is on the return to family and the community through group discussion on the anxiety of being discharged, as well as the expectations that one may face living with a spinal cord injury.

The Peer Support Group meet the last Friday of every month from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. At the Community Outreach and Educational Center
3448 Villa Lane, suite 102
Napa, CA 94588