Headliners - lives of several disabled persons - Brief Article

Accent on Living, Spring, 2000

Ryan Baker, 27, who is very sports oriented, said the weather in Steamboat, CO is not a problem for him because he knows what to expect and he's always prepared for it. Ryan was injured nine years ago in a car accident when he was moving to Steamboat from San Diego, CA. His family had vacationed there, loved it and decided to move there. He finished high school in San Diego and was on his way to Steamboat when both he and the driver of the car in which he was a passenger fell asleep.

Ryan used to surf when he lived in California. Now, he said his two loves are skiing and tennis. He travels around the country competing in tennis matches and last year, he and his partner won the "A" Doubles. He volunteers with the disabled ski program in Steamboat and has also started an ice hockey team.

Ryan met his girlfriend, Caroline Lalive, who is a member of the U.S. Olympic ski team, several years ago. While they have talked of marriage, it is on the back burner because of their schedules. Ryan takes correspondence courses and works at the Rockies Resort.

Laura McGreevy, 21, was involved in gymnastics for ten years. Three years ago she broke her back in an accident on the uneven bars and started using a wheelchair. Now Laura is very involved in wheelchair basketball and said, "I can keep up with my friends." She also enjoys swimming at her home in Sarasota, FL where she lives independently. Laura is also attending Manatee Community College.

Rebecca Blue

For the fourth consecutive year, 19-year-old Mandy Van Benthuysend of San Diego will serve as National Youth Chairperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Mandy is a sophomore at Arizona State University in Tempe, majoring in broadcasting and planning a career as a television reporter. Mandy has limb-girdle MD, that affects the muscles of the shoulders, lower trunk and upper legs. She uses a wheelchair or motorized scooter part time. She is also affected by juvenile arthritis. She began volunteering for MDA when she was eight years old. As MDA's youth chairperson, her role involves attending national conventions of youth groups, speaking, writing and giving media interviews about volunteering and fundraising and hosting a youth segment on the national broadcast of the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

Scott Tolend, 27, of Long Beach, CA, builds websites, sails, rides and lobbies despite having cerebral palsy. He lives independently in a second story, wheelchair accessible apartment by using a wheelchair and a walker. A member of the San Bernardino Historical Society, he plans undertaking the training to fire and operate its Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 steam locomotive.

"I am an active organizational member of California for Disability Rights," states Scott. As second vice president, he influenced the passage of a state law which requires service stations to provide assistance to people with disabilities.

Marjorie Thayne