Rising From the Ashes

Kevin Saunders, a Paralympian who has done way more than just compete, is passionate about many things, but his most important passion is letting people know what their true capabilities are. Saunders had just graduated from Kansas State University and landed a job as an inspector for the FDA when he was injured at the T5 level in 1981. While on the job in Corpus Christi, Texas, a grain silo exploded, killing 40 people and throwing Saunders 300 feet.

When he awoke and doctors told him he would never walk again, he was shocked. “When the doctors told me that I was a paraplegic, I fell into a massive depression,” he says. “How could I have been hurt? I was 24 years old, newly married and with a baby on the way.”

But slowly Saunders found purpose in life again, and it was through wheelchair racing. He credits one of the greatest wheelchair athletes, Randy Snow, for helping him get there. “I became friends with Randy,” he says, “And we trained together for many years. They both participated in the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, with Saunders winning a bronze in track and field.

Throughout the 1990s, Saunders honed his wheelchair road racing skills. He has competed in over 700 races, many of them marathons. He was also the first person with a disability to serve on the President’s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition, which he did under President George H. W. Bush.

Motivational speaking now is his main passion, one that has taken Saunders all around the world. “I show audiences how to bring out their peak performance,” he says, “focusing on fitness and education. I truly believe that there is no greater satisfaction than helping others climb the ladder of success.”

Learn more at www.kevinsaunders.com.

Stand Out, Be Safe

There is an unfortunately high number of wheelers hit by vehicles each year, and the main reason for this is that wheelchair users are not easily seen by drivers. Safer to Be Seen wants to put an end to this sad state of affairs with its VISIBAG — a high visibility bag for wheelchair users.

The VISIBAG has high-visibility panels and wide reflective strips that are arranged on the bag to make sure you are seen by drivers, no matter the weather or light conditions. Wheelchair users have used reflective tape for years, essentially doing the same thing, but this is a definite upgrade.

The bag measures 18 inches tall and 14 inches wide. For some wheelchair users this may be too large, but the reflectiveness of the bag trumps the size. If you are out on the streets often, this is the bag for you.

Look it up at www.safertobeseen.com.

Ask Before You Jet Set

It may be based in Croatia, but Travabled.com is the latest travel site to give disabled travelers what they have been dreaming of — an online community where you can get trusted travel advice from other disabled travelers. Plenty of accessible U.S. domestic and international traveling advice is available.

Go to www.travabled.com.