more about Rudy Sims the founder of this site

 

About me

I am currently 30 years old I have a disability called cerebral palsy and I am in a wheelchair I was born with cerebral palsy and I have had three operations to try and manage it.  My last operation went badly and I experienced very severe postoperative chronic pain for 10 years.  In 2006 in what I believe is largely a miracle in combination with the right medication the pain has gone away for the most part.

A little bit about my educational history

I started out in kindergarten in a special school for disabled children I was then invited to enter my local public school system around first-grade I was the first person in a wheelchair to be part of my local school system.  Around the time I entered middle school my local school system thought that I should go back  to a school for disabled children my local school system did not want to make the necessary accommodations (an elevator in the schools and a personal aide to help me with things like going to the bathroom and taking notes) but my parents and I fought to keep me in the public school system and I eventually graduated from my local high school and received a presidential scholarship from Ramapo College in Mahwah New Jersey I chose to go there because of their very accessible campus.  Unfortunately I had to withdraw from college after two years due to the severe pain I mentioned earlier.

A little bit about my history with technology and the Internet

I have been using computers all my life my first computer was called the PET here is a link to the Wikipedia article on it my dad worked for digital equipment Corporation and he taught me all about technology and computers I've been on the Internet since the early 90s before there was a World Wide Web my first Internet service was MCI. I created my first personal website in 1995 it was called Rudyspace  and it was on America Online's free webspace.  My current site today is called
http://www.copingwithdisability.com/ it's all about how to effectively cope with a disability it also features disability news and information about assistive technology

I have created my own social network using a service called ning.com the social network is devoted to disability issues and bringing disabled people together with the nondisabled. The address is http://www.disabilityresourceexchange.com/

I also just recently created a blog that chronicles my research about blogging and search engine optimization http://www.researchabouthowtoblog.com/ there is not much there yet but I am working on articles to posts on this site

I use a program called Dragon NaturallySpeaking to do my writing its voice dictation software I talk and it types what I say.
I also use an assistive technology program called Zoom text the program is a screen magnifier and screen reader I use it to revise my writing and do most of my reading on the Internet

My goals

- To create a successful business from my websites and help other people with disabilities and health problems
- to eventually obtain my Ph.D. in clinical psychology and write a book sometime in the future

I am a very happy person now that I am not in severe pain all the time the only thing missing in my life is a partner I am currently actively looking for one.  I have found it very hard to find open minded people who are willing to give me a chance.

Comments

[Bonnie Sayers]

Nice bio on yourself. You have achieved a lot and good luck with that Ph.D and also the book. I have joined several sites on ning and confused by the whole thing. I wish they had a directory so I could move from one to another and find them all listed.

[Thomas (The Autism Experience)]

Rudy,

What an awesome story. You are a true inspiration, and I know you will achieve all your goals. I'm glad I've hooked up with you via Twitter and Plurk.

Thomas

[Jan Tallent]

Hello, Rudy. This is jantd from twitter. I love reading your happy and positive tweets and find a lot of the information that you share with us to be quite interesting and uplifting. May God continue to bless you and improve your health and keep you as pain free as possible and good luck on finding THE mate who is totally THE ONE
for YOU!

Jan :-)

[Angela Dobbins]

Hi, Rudy!

What an awesome bio! I am impressed with what you have accomplished, and inspired, as well. I have a disorder called Fibromyalgia, along with Myofascial Pain Complex and multiple sensitivities. FM is a nervous system disorder which is accompanied by various symptoms which wax and wane. The most significant of those are widespread pain and fatigue. I am happy to hear that you are no longer in constant severe pain like so many years before. Chronic pain can be so debilitating... I'm sorry you had to go through all that, Rudy. But I am thankful for the modern advances in medicine we have been blessed with today and that your pain is much less now. :)

I hope and pray for you all the best in acquiring your PhD and in finding a life partner. You are a wonderful inspiration, my friend and I thank you for sharing your story! I have included your RSS feed on my page in the Sunroom by Rest Ministies, another network on Ning.com. It is geared toward those affected by chronic illness and pain. You have a lot of great information which I know is beneficial and of great help to many. I hope, if it is God's will, we might one day work together. In the meantime, I pray for you God's blessings, strength and guidance as you continue to do what you are passionate about.

Blessings to you, my friend-
Angela

Angela Dobbins
True Life Family Ministries
http://www.tlfm.org

[Lisa Emrich]

Hi Rudy,
Good luck with your endeavors. I found your site by mention of Multiple Sclerosis. You've done a great job collecting sources here and will certainly check in again on you.
Lisa

[Ann Logsdon]

Hello Rudy,

You are such an inspiration. You've accomplished so much in your life despite the difficulty. You're a role model for people with and without disabilities.

Ann

[Akrista]

Hi Rudy,
I just found your website and was truly inspired by your story. Your determination to reach your goals and dreams in spite of your disability is awesome.

Thanks for all you do,
Akrista
Life in Spite of MS - www.life-in-spite-of-ms.com

[Todd Gettings]

Hello,
Inspirational and educational articles for people with physical disabilities are at my web-site:

http://mysite.verizon.net/reszcnrl/

I am a man who's been physically disabled for twenty years, almost. I hope to help persons with their over-all attitude about having a disability, and I want to share that seeingly impossible obstacles CAN be accomplished through determination and hard work.
Would you please post a hyper-link to my website on your own site? Many, many people could be helped. That is my goal. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Todd A. Gettings

[Pamela Shields, Administrator Shield of Courage Home]

"Happy Friday" Rudy
I was most impressed with your drive and skill to pursue your dreams!!! Keep dreaming because your 'Dreams' will keep you out of the pits in life. I have owned and operated a home based business for 25 years caring for persons who have been labeled as mentally retarded and there have been challenges with this service and personal care I have extended to our clients which have rally become my family. Now many of them have began to age and this creates another level of care for them along with the fact of providing the quality of life they need and deservse in their final years. Let's stay in touch there is more I would like to share about my personal drive as well as my personal sacfrice for people with disabilities.
GOD bless you!! Pamela Shields (Ohio)