Every Sunday night Andrew, my husband and I gather our supplies; a big bowl of popcorn, a box of tissues and pen and paper for accessibility design notes. All of this is in preparation for our favorite show, Extreme Home Makeover. No other show has done more to shed a positive and productive light on so many different kinds of disabilities and medical conditions; ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, blindness, cancer, muscular dystrophy, spina fida and the list goes on.
We love this show and last night's episode did not disappoint us. The Akers family, of Westchester, Ohio, have three children. A son, who has Chrohn's disease and two daughters with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which can be very painful. The two girls both use wheelchairs. This family is a true inspiration in perseverance and fortitude. In particular, 8 -year -old Brooke Akers, had this to say, "If you always look at the bright side, it can change your life." Now, that is an attitude for all of us to emulate.
In my last blog entry, I told you about Judy Winter author, speaker, photographer and advocate for people with disabilities. She is also a BIG Extreme Home Makeover fan for much of the same reasons that I am. Check out Judy's personal photographs on her Winter Ramblings blog from an EHM build near her home in Michigan this week. She really picks up on the spirit and energy of the design team and everyone else involved in the build.
And if you are still in need of an inspiring pick-me-up, check out what twelve-year-old John Thomas Robertson is doing for kids in need. This cool kid, who is a train lover and believes that ALL people should be able to enjoy the historic trains in his hometown, wants to make the trains wheelchair accessible for his friends with disabilities. He will now get his chance with the help of Ty Pennington and the EHM crew. Enjoy and get inspired!
