1 00:00:02,183 --> 00:00:04,766 (folksy music) 2 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:48,283 - Gene and Dave Show. 3 00:00:49,350 --> 00:00:51,970 The following program may contain strong language 4 00:00:51,970 --> 00:00:55,550 and brief nudity, but don't get your hopes up. 5 00:00:55,550 --> 00:00:58,583 After all, this is public access TV. 6 00:00:58,583 --> 00:01:01,250 (rooster crows) 7 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:03,870 This program was made possible 8 00:01:03,870 --> 00:01:07,200 from the support of VSA Texas. 9 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,713 - And Amerigroup. 10 00:01:10,091 --> 00:01:11,880 (faintly speaking) 11 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:13,700 - I'm Gene. - And I'm Dave. 12 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:14,533 - And we're the. 13 00:01:14,533 --> 00:01:16,400 - Gene and Dave Show 14 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,200 - Hi folks, man I am excited about today. 15 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,310 - We have something special today. 16 00:01:21,310 --> 00:01:23,160 - That's right, we're, yeah, we're gonna talk 17 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,650 about what makes me keep going. 18 00:01:27,650 --> 00:01:28,483 - Yeah. 19 00:01:28,483 --> 00:01:30,520 - And what makes other people keep going. 20 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:31,590 - What is your passion? 21 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:34,010 What gets you up in the morning? 22 00:01:34,010 --> 00:01:37,010 What is it you can't live without? 23 00:01:37,010 --> 00:01:39,730 We've interviewed a couple of folks that have 24 00:01:39,730 --> 00:01:41,560 some really interesting stories. 25 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,520 - We do, I mean, my passion is just getting 26 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,520 up and being onscreen and doing this show 27 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,950 and other movies and TV shows. 28 00:01:49,950 --> 00:01:52,330 I just, I get a rush out of it, 29 00:01:52,330 --> 00:01:55,700 and I can't wait to get up in the morning when that happens. 30 00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:57,230 - And I'm that way with traveling 31 00:01:57,230 --> 00:02:01,430 in different forms, either doing the traveling 32 00:02:01,430 --> 00:02:02,670 or writing stories about 'em. 33 00:02:02,670 --> 00:02:04,790 So, we found our passions, 34 00:02:04,790 --> 00:02:07,760 and folks if you don't have a passion, go 35 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:08,593 out and find one, 36 00:02:08,593 --> 00:02:13,420 'cause it's really life changing having a 37 00:02:13,420 --> 00:02:14,660 passion you can embrace. 38 00:02:14,660 --> 00:02:16,530 - Yeah, and speaking of life changing, 39 00:02:16,530 --> 00:02:19,710 I think we're gonna have Virginia Rose come in, 40 00:02:19,710 --> 00:02:23,960 and her passion started when she was really, really young 41 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:26,620 and happened to be bird watching. 42 00:02:26,620 --> 00:02:29,230 So, let's go talk to Virginia 43 00:02:31,980 --> 00:02:34,320 - Well, we like to have fun on the Gene and Dave Show. 44 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,640 And that's why we invited Virginia here. 45 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:40,860 I was introduced to Virginia 46 00:02:40,860 --> 00:02:45,710 at the St. David's SCI Support Group held 47 00:02:45,710 --> 00:02:48,090 over there at St. David's Hospital. 48 00:02:48,090 --> 00:02:52,140 And Virginia was talking about bird watching. 49 00:02:52,140 --> 00:02:56,190 And it was pretty obvious that Virginia was very 50 00:02:56,190 --> 00:02:58,170 passionate about this subject. 51 00:02:58,170 --> 00:03:00,430 So Virginia tell us a little about yourself 52 00:03:00,430 --> 00:03:03,310 and how you got into bird watching. 53 00:03:03,310 --> 00:03:04,650 - Alrighty. 54 00:03:04,650 --> 00:03:07,380 Well, I think I came by it honestly 55 00:03:07,380 --> 00:03:09,823 in that my grandmother was a bird watcher. 56 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,530 She walked all up and down Lamar from 1930 to 1995. 57 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:18,750 - Wow. 58 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:23,193 - I have her first edition bird book, which is a treasure. 59 00:03:24,660 --> 00:03:27,340 And, my parents were both very much 60 00:03:27,340 --> 00:03:29,610 into identifying everything 61 00:03:29,610 --> 00:03:34,610 around them, rocks, stars, trees, flowers, birds. 62 00:03:35,650 --> 00:03:37,860 So there were field guides open all 63 00:03:37,860 --> 00:03:39,870 over the house growing up. 64 00:03:39,870 --> 00:03:41,650 So I think with all those things 65 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:44,680 in place, it was inevitable that I would finally end 66 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:46,253 up being a birder. 67 00:03:47,590 --> 00:03:52,590 And, I joined Travis Audubon after I attended a lecture 68 00:03:53,060 --> 00:03:55,630 at the Unitarian church. 69 00:03:55,630 --> 00:03:57,380 And the lecture was 70 00:03:57,380 --> 00:03:59,993 about the breeding success of the house finch. 71 00:04:01,410 --> 00:04:04,680 Anyway from then on, I took all the birding classes 72 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,490 at Travis Audubon and began leading the beginning bird walks 73 00:04:08,490 --> 00:04:12,900 at Travis Audubon, and I did that for seven years. 74 00:04:12,900 --> 00:04:16,750 And, now I'm on the board of directors for Travis Audubon. 75 00:04:16,750 --> 00:04:20,200 And, honestly, I have to thank them, 76 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,520 because all of those classes ended with field trips. 77 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:29,200 And the field trips were where I really found my 78 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,120 freedom on the trail. - Cool. 79 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,100 - The leaders never said no to me. 80 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:36,560 They took me everywhere they went. 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,930 If we had to manhandle over logs, we did that. 82 00:04:39,930 --> 00:04:43,890 If we had to perch precariously on bridges 83 00:04:43,890 --> 00:04:46,310 out in the middle of the forest, we did that. 84 00:04:46,310 --> 00:04:49,960 But they never failed to take me right along with them. 85 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:53,563 And that's when I realized there's so much I can do outside. 86 00:04:54,550 --> 00:04:58,530 And then I just started birding with a passion 87 00:04:58,530 --> 00:05:03,220 and decided last March to do my very first Birdathon. 88 00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:07,560 And that's one of the fundraising events at Travis Audubon. 89 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,306 - What is a Birdathon? 90 00:05:09,306 --> 00:05:13,120 - A Birdathon is an event that can be a 91 00:05:14,310 --> 00:05:15,980 number of people running it, 92 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:18,900 and those people all get together 93 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:21,440 and go to a certain spot on a certain day 94 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:22,900 at a certain time. 95 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:25,760 And they see as many birds as they possibly can 96 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,545 in that time period and space. 97 00:05:28,545 --> 00:05:29,845 - And then they document that. 98 00:05:29,845 --> 00:05:31,292 - And they document it. - Okay. 99 00:05:31,292 --> 00:05:36,292 - And then if we have 10 teams, 100 00:05:37,290 --> 00:05:40,960 people all support their teams financially. 101 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,100 And so those end up being really fun times 102 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:46,700 and nice fundraisers too. 103 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:48,630 So I though I'll have my own. 104 00:05:48,630 --> 00:05:52,600 And so, I decided what I would do is go 105 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,450 to five accessible parks, 106 00:05:55,450 --> 00:05:58,120 and I would bird from dawn to dusk. 107 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:02,520 And I would see as many birds as I could 108 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,110 in that amount of time. 109 00:06:04,110 --> 00:06:07,140 - From dawn till dusk. - From dawn to dusk I birded. 110 00:06:07,140 --> 00:06:10,400 I went to five parks in one day. 111 00:06:11,450 --> 00:06:13,290 - In one day. - Yes. 112 00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:14,690 - Wow. - Yes. 113 00:06:14,690 --> 00:06:17,070 - So tell me, you mentioned the field 114 00:06:17,070 --> 00:06:19,010 trips that you went on. - Yes. 115 00:06:19,010 --> 00:06:21,653 - And now you're talking about going to the parks. 116 00:06:21,653 --> 00:06:24,610 And you are a person that uses a wheelchair. 117 00:06:24,610 --> 00:06:25,443 - Right. 118 00:06:25,443 --> 00:06:27,760 - So, to me that's like, oh my gosh. 119 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,150 I get out to the park, and I can usually get 120 00:06:31,150 --> 00:06:34,660 to the parking lot and then that's where it stops. 121 00:06:34,660 --> 00:06:35,493 - Well, right. 122 00:06:35,493 --> 00:06:37,770 - So you found some parks that you can get through? 123 00:06:37,770 --> 00:06:40,310 - I'm very glad you reminded me of this. 124 00:06:40,310 --> 00:06:43,540 In the last 15 years with all the field trips that I've done 125 00:06:43,540 --> 00:06:45,410 with Travis Audubon, I've made a 126 00:06:45,410 --> 00:06:48,200 list of every accessible park. 127 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,970 There are 35 of them in the Austin area. 128 00:06:51,970 --> 00:06:52,803 - Awesome. 129 00:06:52,803 --> 00:06:54,730 - I didn't even know we had 35 parks. 130 00:06:54,730 --> 00:06:59,290 - Right, and so we have 35 parks that are accessible, 131 00:06:59,290 --> 00:07:01,250 which I know no one knows that. 132 00:07:01,250 --> 00:07:04,650 And they wouldn't know it, unless someone like me had 133 00:07:04,650 --> 00:07:06,760 sort of spearheaded that search. 134 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,560 So now that list is on Travis Audubon 135 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,223 under my page which is called Birdability. 136 00:07:13,359 --> 00:07:15,070 - And the address is right here at the bottom of the screen. 137 00:07:15,070 --> 00:07:16,430 - Yes. - Birdability. 138 00:07:16,430 --> 00:07:19,391 - Birdability.com is my blog. - Okay. 139 00:07:19,391 --> 00:07:23,400 - And travisaudubon.org also has access 140 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,910 to Birdability events and the access to the parks. 141 00:07:27,910 --> 00:07:29,053 - Cool. - Yeah. 142 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:31,990 - That's awesome, that'll be something that 143 00:07:31,990 --> 00:07:35,830 people can look up and enjoy and can check out. 144 00:07:35,830 --> 00:07:40,630 - Well, what I realized was that it'd been such an important 145 00:07:40,630 --> 00:07:45,630 and enriching part of my life for the last 15 plus years. 146 00:07:46,130 --> 00:07:50,300 I realized people don't know they can do it. 147 00:07:50,300 --> 00:07:52,090 They just don't know. 148 00:07:52,090 --> 00:07:56,090 And, what I've realized is you don't know 149 00:07:56,090 --> 00:07:57,380 if a place is accessible, 150 00:07:57,380 --> 00:07:59,520 and you guys probably understand this, 151 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,020 you don't know if a place is truly accessible 152 00:08:02,020 --> 00:08:04,610 for you until you go. - Right. 153 00:08:04,610 --> 00:08:06,580 - Nobody can tell you. 154 00:08:06,580 --> 00:08:10,027 Nobody knows for sure. - That's right. 155 00:08:10,027 --> 00:08:11,736 - Right, and so as soon. 156 00:08:11,736 --> 00:08:13,400 - 'Cause electric wheelchairs can be different 157 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,120 than manual wheelchairs. - Right. 158 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,170 And manual chairs are different with a SmartDrive. 159 00:08:18,170 --> 00:08:22,950 And so they're all of these little things that make 160 00:08:22,950 --> 00:08:25,017 your world accessible that nobody can know. 161 00:08:25,017 --> 00:08:29,083 And so, my motto sort of is you don't know until you go. 162 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,050 But, I realized, I think, that a lot of people stop 163 00:08:34,050 --> 00:08:39,050 themselves before going, because they're not sure. 164 00:08:39,150 --> 00:08:41,368 - Of the fear of I'm gonna get there and not be able to. 165 00:08:41,368 --> 00:08:43,450 - I'm not gonna be able to get around. 166 00:08:43,450 --> 00:08:45,500 But. - And with good reason too. 167 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:48,770 A lot of us we make reservations at a hotel. 168 00:08:48,770 --> 00:08:50,300 They say they're accessible. 169 00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:51,880 We go there and find they're not. 170 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:55,858 So, we've kind of grown up with this fear. 171 00:08:55,858 --> 00:08:59,530 But you're saying to find out for sure just go. 172 00:08:59,530 --> 00:09:00,790 - You just go. - Just do it. 173 00:09:00,790 --> 00:09:02,920 - You just go and you figure it out. 174 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,830 And, it's, to me this is the most important part of it 175 00:09:06,830 --> 00:09:11,010 Gene is that what happens when you go 176 00:09:11,010 --> 00:09:13,800 to a place where you've never been 177 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,120 and you don't really know how much you can do. 178 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,150 And you manage it that day. 179 00:09:19,150 --> 00:09:22,290 You come home with a different feeling about yourself. 180 00:09:22,290 --> 00:09:23,260 - Yeah. - Yes. 181 00:09:23,260 --> 00:09:26,390 - You come home with a feeling of I figured that out. 182 00:09:26,390 --> 00:09:29,090 And it is hugely empowering. 183 00:09:29,090 --> 00:09:30,820 And if you start stacking 184 00:09:30,820 --> 00:09:33,590 up those little experiences, one 185 00:09:33,590 --> 00:09:36,660 after another, you fill yourself 186 00:09:36,660 --> 00:09:40,510 with a sense of confidence and a sense of can do 187 00:09:40,510 --> 00:09:43,860 and even more than that a sense of wanting to share 188 00:09:43,860 --> 00:09:46,150 with other people your experience. 189 00:09:46,150 --> 00:09:49,123 And so that's really where Birdability came about. 190 00:09:50,100 --> 00:09:51,150 - But you've got to get out to do that. 191 00:09:51,150 --> 00:09:52,330 - You just have to do it. 192 00:09:52,330 --> 00:09:57,320 You just have to trust that you can do some of it 193 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:58,523 or maybe all of it. 194 00:09:59,630 --> 00:10:01,370 - Maybe it's just going out in your own front yard 195 00:10:01,370 --> 00:10:03,950 or backyard, just getting out of your house, 196 00:10:03,950 --> 00:10:05,690 then the next step. - Right. 197 00:10:05,690 --> 00:10:07,910 - Well now you were talking about access 198 00:10:07,910 --> 00:10:10,230 on the trails before Virginia. 199 00:10:10,230 --> 00:10:12,910 So you sent us a picture of one trail. 200 00:10:12,910 --> 00:10:17,270 Now this you can see is a nice, smooth sidewalk 201 00:10:17,270 --> 00:10:19,580 through the park, but some, you've been 202 00:10:19,580 --> 00:10:20,840 on some rough trails. 203 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,023 - I have. 204 00:10:22,023 --> 00:10:23,983 - Tell us about some of your roughest. 205 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:28,220 - There's a beautiful place to bird 206 00:10:28,220 --> 00:10:30,370 in Austin called Commons Ford. 207 00:10:30,370 --> 00:10:32,540 And it is not at all set 208 00:10:32,540 --> 00:10:34,710 up for wheelchairs. - Okay. 209 00:10:34,710 --> 00:10:38,640 - But in my zest for following along 210 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,470 with the people on the field trip, I just followed along. 211 00:10:41,470 --> 00:10:42,980 - You went ahead. - I did. 212 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:46,060 And, I remember one of the very first times I went 213 00:10:46,060 --> 00:10:49,090 to Commons Ford we, it was 20 degrees. 214 00:10:49,090 --> 00:10:49,923 It was freezing. 215 00:10:49,923 --> 00:10:51,400 I don't know why we were all out. 216 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:52,750 But we're all bundled up. 217 00:10:52,750 --> 00:10:54,440 And everybody was walking 218 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:59,440 down this really beautiful frosty covered grassy hill. 219 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:01,230 That was, you know what it looks like when 220 00:11:01,230 --> 00:11:03,610 grass is totally frosted over. - Yeah. 221 00:11:03,610 --> 00:11:05,940 - It was beautiful, and I thought, 222 00:11:05,940 --> 00:11:08,410 well I'm not, gonna not go. 223 00:11:08,410 --> 00:11:10,110 And so, I just pulled a wheelie 224 00:11:10,110 --> 00:11:13,760 and just kind of went down the whole hill with them. 225 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,520 And I looked behind, and I saw my wheels 226 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,210 in the frost right behind me. 227 00:11:18,210 --> 00:11:20,483 And I thought that is so cool, 228 00:11:20,483 --> 00:11:21,907 that I was making my own tracks. 229 00:11:21,907 --> 00:11:23,205 - Did you take a picture of that? 230 00:11:23,205 --> 00:11:24,038 - I didn't. 231 00:11:24,038 --> 00:11:24,882 - Oh my gosh, just in your mind. 232 00:11:24,882 --> 00:11:27,090 - Sorry, I know, in my mind. 233 00:11:27,090 --> 00:11:31,860 And so I followed along Commons Ford these trails all along. 234 00:11:31,860 --> 00:11:35,420 No sidewalks anywhere, deep grass. 235 00:11:35,420 --> 00:11:38,630 And it was very strenuous and difficult. 236 00:11:38,630 --> 00:11:41,680 But I saw all the birds that everybody else saw. 237 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:46,210 And then at the end of the trip, there was this huge hill 238 00:11:46,210 --> 00:11:49,930 down to end the trip, to get to our cars. 239 00:11:49,930 --> 00:11:52,540 And I was perched on the top of that hill. 240 00:11:52,540 --> 00:11:56,750 And I thought, now I've done it. 241 00:11:56,750 --> 00:11:58,670 But that's what I do is I just go, go, go. 242 00:11:58,670 --> 00:12:00,930 And I don't think about the gettin' back 243 00:12:00,930 --> 00:12:03,710 or I've never thought about the getting back. 244 00:12:03,710 --> 00:12:05,700 I just think about the going forward. 245 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:08,010 - Yeah, you're right, keep your eyes on the prize. 246 00:12:08,010 --> 00:12:09,490 And the prize is getting there. 247 00:12:09,490 --> 00:12:11,820 - Exactly, and it, and I guess I just have 248 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:13,960 this feeling I'll figure it out. 249 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,720 Whatever it is I will figure it out. 250 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,810 - So you build up all the confidence. 251 00:12:18,810 --> 00:12:20,450 - So yeah, exactly. 252 00:12:20,450 --> 00:12:22,580 And you do, you don't get the confidence 253 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:24,470 from doing the easy stuff. 254 00:12:24,470 --> 00:12:27,070 That doesn't, it's like I used to tell my students. 255 00:12:27,070 --> 00:12:28,910 I taught for 28 years. 256 00:12:28,910 --> 00:12:33,540 I'd tell my students why would you get any confidence 257 00:12:33,540 --> 00:12:36,350 from learning something you already knew 258 00:12:36,350 --> 00:12:41,350 or writing a poem that wasn't difficult for you. 259 00:12:41,810 --> 00:12:46,300 That's, what's, there's no empowerment there. 260 00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:49,533 So you, you're not gonna get the good feeling from the easy. 261 00:12:50,570 --> 00:12:52,740 - Yeah, some people say you don't learn from successes. 262 00:12:52,740 --> 00:12:54,310 You learn from failures. 263 00:12:54,310 --> 00:12:56,957 - Well, and or struggles, I like to say. 264 00:12:56,957 --> 00:12:57,790 - Struggles, okay, that's a better word. 265 00:12:57,790 --> 00:12:59,970 - Struggles, 'cause I definitely end up 266 00:12:59,970 --> 00:13:03,425 in predicaments where now I'm like now what am I gonna do. 267 00:13:03,425 --> 00:13:04,320 I'm gonna have to call a neighbor. 268 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,400 I'm stuck in my yard. 269 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:07,850 But sometimes that happens. 270 00:13:07,850 --> 00:13:09,280 But I got to the top of this hill. 271 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,220 And I thought, and all my friends, 272 00:13:11,220 --> 00:13:13,440 all my walking friends were gathered around. 273 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,270 And they're like what can we do to help you. 274 00:13:15,270 --> 00:13:17,880 And I said really there's nothing you can do. 275 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:19,690 I'm just gonna have to pull a wheelie 276 00:13:19,690 --> 00:13:22,690 and just wheelie down this really steep hill 277 00:13:22,690 --> 00:13:24,140 until I get to the bottom. 278 00:13:24,140 --> 00:13:25,687 And everyone's like. 279 00:13:25,687 --> 00:13:27,830 - And if I fall, somebody come pick me up. 280 00:13:27,830 --> 00:13:31,080 - Right, but I've never fallen with them. 281 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:32,760 And so they all just believe I could do it. 282 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,930 So I just popped the wheelie and then just managed my way 283 00:13:36,930 --> 00:13:38,680 down the hill and got to the bottom. 284 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:41,190 And then I turned around, said someone take a picture of me 285 00:13:41,190 --> 00:13:43,500 with a steep hill behind me. 286 00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:44,387 - There you go. 287 00:13:44,387 --> 00:13:47,854 - And they were all white, frozen with fear, right. 288 00:13:47,854 --> 00:13:48,893 - Well, yeah. 289 00:13:48,893 --> 00:13:51,630 - What is Virginia doing. - What is she doing now? 290 00:13:51,630 --> 00:13:53,080 Yeah, exactly. 291 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,700 But for the most part, the parks that I've identified as 292 00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:59,240 accessible don't have all that. 293 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:04,240 They have beautiful, wide, well-graded sidewalks that 294 00:14:05,550 --> 00:14:08,350 you can manage for miles. 295 00:14:08,350 --> 00:14:10,030 - So somebody in an electric wheelchair. 296 00:14:10,030 --> 00:14:15,030 - Yes, someone in an electric, someone in a, on a walker. 297 00:14:16,460 --> 00:14:19,230 I'm thinking every mobility challenged 298 00:14:19,230 --> 00:14:22,760 person can do these bird walks. 299 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,940 - So what kind of equipment does it take 300 00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:25,773 to be a bird watcher? 301 00:14:25,773 --> 00:14:27,290 - Binoculars. - Binoculars. 302 00:14:27,290 --> 00:14:29,750 - Right, and that's all I've had for 15 years. 303 00:14:29,750 --> 00:14:30,583 - Oh wow, okay. 304 00:14:30,583 --> 00:14:31,640 - Pair of binoculars. 305 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,110 - And your guidebook. 306 00:14:33,110 --> 00:14:35,080 - And your guidebook, but now it's all 307 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,607 on apps on your phone. - Okay, so it's on your phone. 308 00:14:37,607 --> 00:14:40,600 - And the bird sounds and songs are on the phone. 309 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:45,600 So I had my first Birdability walk October 13, I think. 310 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:51,760 And there were six people there, two of whom were 311 00:14:52,210 --> 00:14:56,170 in wheelchairs, one of whom had never birded before. 312 00:14:56,170 --> 00:14:57,460 And so I was thrilled. 313 00:14:57,460 --> 00:14:58,950 And I didn't know her. 314 00:14:58,950 --> 00:15:01,500 And so this is exactly what I'm trying to do is 315 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:04,780 to find these mobility challenged people 316 00:15:04,780 --> 00:15:06,040 and get 'em on a trail. 317 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:10,850 And I brought 12 pairs of binoculars and field guides just 318 00:15:10,850 --> 00:15:14,010 in case that many people needed loaners. 319 00:15:14,010 --> 00:15:14,843 - Very nice, okay. 320 00:15:14,843 --> 00:15:18,380 - And we birded for about 2 1/2, three hours. 321 00:15:18,380 --> 00:15:19,640 Everybody had a great time. 322 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,650 Everyone got on birds. 323 00:15:21,650 --> 00:15:25,390 The, there was a Texas (mumbles) wildlife journalist there 324 00:15:25,390 --> 00:15:29,740 and a cameraman, and they said that, 325 00:15:29,740 --> 00:15:32,270 well the journalist emailed me later 326 00:15:32,270 --> 00:15:34,400 and said it was so much fun that I went 327 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,760 and bought little kid binoculars for my kids. 328 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,380 And wanna get them started on birding right away. 329 00:15:39,380 --> 00:15:40,369 - Fantastic. - Look what you did. 330 00:15:40,369 --> 00:15:41,413 - Okay, yes. - Look what you started. 331 00:15:41,413 --> 00:15:43,830 - Yes, exactly, that's the whole point. 332 00:15:43,830 --> 00:15:46,370 - So you were so passionate about this you shared it 333 00:15:46,370 --> 00:15:49,600 with other folks and now it's just growing. 334 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,183 - Now you've created more passions. 335 00:15:51,183 --> 00:15:53,840 - And I went and presented at Rehab Without Walls. 336 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:54,673 - Okay. - Which is. 337 00:15:54,673 --> 00:15:57,090 Have you heard of Rehab Without Walls with St. David's? 338 00:15:57,090 --> 00:15:59,200 - I've heard of 'em, but refresh my memory (mumbles). 339 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,160 - Okay, it's a therapy that is sort of 340 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,640 on sight of wherever the client likes 341 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,420 to spend his or her time. - Okay. 342 00:16:08,420 --> 00:16:11,470 - So, I like to spend my time on trails of birdings, 343 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:14,730 so that's where the therapists met me for my therapy. 344 00:16:14,730 --> 00:16:15,650 - Okay. 345 00:16:15,650 --> 00:16:18,770 - Now, it may be bowling for someone else. 346 00:16:18,770 --> 00:16:22,240 But that's where the therapists we'll meet their clients. 347 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:23,410 - That makes a lot of sense. 348 00:16:23,410 --> 00:16:24,663 - It's so authentic. 349 00:16:25,570 --> 00:16:26,403 And when you think 350 00:16:26,403 --> 00:16:28,660 about making sure that you're doing something 351 00:16:28,660 --> 00:16:31,870 you love as you're exercising 352 00:16:31,870 --> 00:16:36,280 or as you're helping and healing your body, yeah. 353 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,360 - Gene's, I think Gene's therapist would have 354 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:40,970 to meet him at the beer garden. 355 00:16:40,970 --> 00:16:43,090 - Yes. - To exercise the beer bicep. 356 00:16:43,090 --> 00:16:44,980 - To pay for my beer. - Yes. 357 00:16:44,980 --> 00:16:46,210 - Pay for my medication. 358 00:16:46,210 --> 00:16:48,110 - See he immediately thought of it 359 00:16:48,110 --> 00:16:50,360 in financial terms instead of. 360 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:51,890 - Instead of the therapy. 361 00:16:51,890 --> 00:16:53,520 - Well, instead of maybe that isn't 362 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,590 where he should be meeting his therapist. 363 00:16:55,590 --> 00:16:56,830 (Gene and Dave laugh) 364 00:16:56,830 --> 00:16:59,190 Oh my gosh, so anyway. - I know him well. 365 00:16:59,190 --> 00:17:00,023 That's where he would go. 366 00:17:00,023 --> 00:17:01,620 - Yeah, but you're still here. 367 00:17:01,620 --> 00:17:03,690 People choose their friends. 368 00:17:03,690 --> 00:17:04,523 - That's right. 369 00:17:05,660 --> 00:17:09,580 - Anyway, so I'm leading a Rehab Without Walls Walk. 370 00:17:09,580 --> 00:17:10,680 - Oh, cool. 371 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,703 - On the 14th of this month or of November. 372 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:15,393 - Well that's incredible. 373 00:17:15,393 --> 00:17:16,226 That sounds like a whole other show too. 374 00:17:16,226 --> 00:17:19,990 - And the therapists are coming with their clients. 375 00:17:19,990 --> 00:17:20,910 - Nice. 376 00:17:20,910 --> 00:17:24,400 - So the idea is to just ripple it out 377 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:29,400 to as many different places as it can be. 378 00:17:29,572 --> 00:17:30,405 - Alright. 379 00:17:30,405 --> 00:17:35,110 - And, I will tell you my dream, my final dream of this 380 00:17:35,110 --> 00:17:39,620 or ultimate, I should say, is that I put together a 381 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:42,910 mobility-impaired birding team. 382 00:17:42,910 --> 00:17:45,210 I would like to have a team of seven 383 00:17:45,210 --> 00:17:48,770 or eight people who are mobility-impaired who bird regularly 384 00:17:48,770 --> 00:17:52,480 with me maybe once a month, and maybe we go out of town 385 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,093 into other really wonderful places in Texas to bird. 386 00:17:56,670 --> 00:18:00,200 And then we get a team in Dallas. 387 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,850 So there's a, let's say there's a mobility-impaired team 388 00:18:02,850 --> 00:18:06,653 in Dallas or a mobility-impaired birding team in Seattle. 389 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,220 And we invite that team to Austin 390 00:18:11,220 --> 00:18:14,449 to bird in all the 35 places here that we know of. 391 00:18:14,449 --> 00:18:15,299 - Okay and then you go to their place. 392 00:18:15,299 --> 00:18:18,500 - And then Seattle hosts us, 393 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:21,230 because they've already scoped out all the birding places 394 00:18:21,230 --> 00:18:23,030 in Seattle, because otherwise I'd go 395 00:18:23,030 --> 00:18:24,680 to Seattle and spend three weeks trying 396 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,010 to find the places that are accessible. 397 00:18:27,010 --> 00:18:27,843 But they've already done it. 398 00:18:27,843 --> 00:18:28,930 - See that makes a lot of sense. 399 00:18:28,930 --> 00:18:29,870 - So do you see what I'm saying? 400 00:18:29,870 --> 00:18:33,190 It's like, I would like to see this mobility-impaired team 401 00:18:33,190 --> 00:18:38,190 all across the country and create these hosting networks. 402 00:18:38,298 --> 00:18:41,387 And just imagine how cool that would be. 403 00:18:41,387 --> 00:18:43,180 - That'd be very cool. - I know. 404 00:18:43,180 --> 00:18:44,730 - Well I can't wait to get home. 405 00:18:44,730 --> 00:18:46,160 And I'm gonna check out your blog. 406 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:47,867 - Yes, check out the blog. 407 00:18:47,867 --> 00:18:51,352 - And just find out more about you and watching birds 408 00:18:51,352 --> 00:18:53,230 and I'm gonna come hunt you down 409 00:18:53,230 --> 00:18:55,883 and go birding with you sometime. 410 00:18:55,883 --> 00:18:56,880 I'm excited. - It's really, really fun. 411 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,510 And I will tell you the last sort of feather 412 00:19:00,510 --> 00:19:02,480 in the cap right now is that I found 413 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,290 out that the Rio Grand Valley Birding Festival, 414 00:19:05,290 --> 00:19:08,733 which is held in the Harlingten area. 415 00:19:09,570 --> 00:19:12,500 It's one of the biggest birding festivals in the country. 416 00:19:12,500 --> 00:19:14,820 And I just found out that they have 417 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:19,820 now a mobility-impaired walk for those clients. 418 00:19:20,830 --> 00:19:22,630 It's the first one I know about. 419 00:19:22,630 --> 00:19:25,041 And I'm gonna be co-leading. 420 00:19:25,041 --> 00:19:26,003 (man laughs) 421 00:19:26,003 --> 00:19:27,100 - That's fantastic. 422 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:29,900 - It's the first one that I've lead. 423 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:34,050 And I'm so thrilled that the Rio Grande Valley has been 424 00:19:34,050 --> 00:19:35,620 really the first one to pick it up. 425 00:19:35,620 --> 00:19:36,970 - And you're a leader in this area. 426 00:19:36,970 --> 00:19:39,803 - And yes, so it's growing. 427 00:19:40,810 --> 00:19:41,970 - Very exciting. 428 00:19:41,970 --> 00:19:44,000 - I do have one picture to show you. 429 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,450 This is a picture of black vultures that we have here 430 00:19:47,450 --> 00:19:50,660 in Austin, and the reason it's significant 431 00:19:50,660 --> 00:19:54,240 to me is I grew up in Cleveland, where we have Buzzard 432 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,280 Sunday in the spring of every year. 433 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:02,280 And the rumor is that in 1898, there was a horrible winter. 434 00:20:02,730 --> 00:20:05,000 It froze all these cattle to death. 435 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,030 And they all thawed out at about the same time. 436 00:20:08,030 --> 00:20:09,340 And when they did, buzzards came 437 00:20:09,340 --> 00:20:11,620 from all over in that spring. 438 00:20:11,620 --> 00:20:13,320 And so, they've been returning 439 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,940 to Hinckley, Ohio ever since around mid March. 440 00:20:16,940 --> 00:20:18,540 So it's a big deal in Cleveland 441 00:20:18,540 --> 00:20:21,330 and glad to see black buzzards here. 442 00:20:21,330 --> 00:20:24,040 - Yeah, they definitely do their duty. 443 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:25,142 - Yeah, they do what they're supposed to do. 444 00:20:25,142 --> 00:20:25,975 - And thank goodness. 445 00:20:25,975 --> 00:20:27,781 - It's quite gross, but yes. 446 00:20:27,781 --> 00:20:28,614 That's, they do their job. - Yeah. 447 00:20:28,614 --> 00:20:29,840 - They do their job. 448 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:31,220 That's what they're there for, right. 449 00:20:31,220 --> 00:20:32,053 - They do. 450 00:20:32,950 --> 00:20:36,730 - So Virginia, thank you so much for being on our show. 451 00:20:36,730 --> 00:20:39,133 And people we'll be checking out your website. 452 00:20:39,133 --> 00:20:41,200 I know I checked out your blog, 453 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,700 and I'll be back to that as well. 454 00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:45,060 - Oh great, and I hope to see you birding. 455 00:20:45,060 --> 00:20:45,960 That makes it all the better. 456 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,390 - So get out there and look at some birds folks. 457 00:20:48,390 --> 00:20:50,400 - Thank you, thanks guys. 458 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:51,450 - Thank you Virginia. 459 00:20:54,050 --> 00:20:57,240 Wow, that was quite a story she had. 460 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,530 But I don't know about getting up that early 461 00:20:59,530 --> 00:21:01,220 to go bird watching. 462 00:21:01,220 --> 00:21:02,780 - That's gonna be tough for you, isn't it? 463 00:21:02,780 --> 00:21:05,360 Well, maybe you can watch the birds in the evening, 464 00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:07,913 'cause I know that they came out then too, so. 465 00:21:08,770 --> 00:21:10,560 - Or (mumbles), we could mount a camera on your chair, 466 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,740 and I could see it from my computer. 467 00:21:12,740 --> 00:21:14,618 - Just vicariously see the birds. 468 00:21:14,618 --> 00:21:17,850 I think the whole point is you getting out there 469 00:21:17,850 --> 00:21:19,060 and seeing them Gene 470 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,380 and not just sit around in your apartment all day. 471 00:21:23,380 --> 00:21:24,950 - You're right, now speaking of sitting 472 00:21:24,950 --> 00:21:28,406 around, here's one guy that doesn't sit around. 473 00:21:28,406 --> 00:21:32,070 - No, he's running. - He's running. 474 00:21:32,070 --> 00:21:33,980 William Greer who works 475 00:21:33,980 --> 00:21:36,853 at the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. 476 00:21:37,890 --> 00:21:39,510 William is a runner. 477 00:21:39,510 --> 00:21:42,150 - Right, and we see runners all the time 478 00:21:42,150 --> 00:21:46,983 in Austin, right, running marathons, triathlons, whatever. 479 00:21:48,180 --> 00:21:52,023 - Exactly, but William is legally blind. 480 00:21:54,310 --> 00:21:56,240 What exactly. 481 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,190 - Okay, So how does he see to run? 482 00:21:58,190 --> 00:21:59,913 He's got a cane or. 483 00:22:01,001 --> 00:22:03,420 - Let's hear William's own words. 484 00:22:03,420 --> 00:22:04,793 - Okay, here's William. 485 00:22:05,710 --> 00:22:10,020 - William, I've known you for a number of years, 486 00:22:10,020 --> 00:22:14,020 but I never knew about this interesting passion you have. 487 00:22:14,020 --> 00:22:16,483 Tell us what it is and how you got started. 488 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:19,561 - Well, it's runnin'. 489 00:22:19,561 --> 00:22:24,561 And I initially started 2005, I started running again. 490 00:22:27,260 --> 00:22:31,970 And, I never thought I would enter a 5K until I heard 491 00:22:31,970 --> 00:22:35,450 about the Peace of Mind 5K, which was 492 00:22:35,450 --> 00:22:39,470 to raise money to help returning veterans 493 00:22:39,470 --> 00:22:42,200 from Iraq with head injuries. 494 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,580 And that was important to me for a couple of reasons. 495 00:22:45,580 --> 00:22:48,930 I had an open skull (mumbles) when I was 17. 496 00:22:48,930 --> 00:22:51,260 So head injury is important. 497 00:22:51,260 --> 00:22:53,780 And my brother is in the Army. 498 00:22:53,780 --> 00:22:57,050 And he's been stationed in Iraq more than once. 499 00:22:57,050 --> 00:23:01,970 So I said, I've got to enter this 5K for that reason. 500 00:23:01,970 --> 00:23:03,587 And I wound up loving it. 501 00:23:03,587 --> 00:23:07,432 And so I started enter in more 5Ks 502 00:23:07,432 --> 00:23:09,537 and then a 10K. 503 00:23:09,537 --> 00:23:13,970 And eventually I entered a half marathon, and I thought. 504 00:23:13,970 --> 00:23:17,160 - Before we go any further now the head injury you had when 505 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:21,320 you were 17, did that affect your vision? 506 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,103 - Yes that is why I'm legally blind. 507 00:23:26,220 --> 00:23:30,997 - Can you give our viewers a, an understanding of what 508 00:23:32,667 --> 00:23:34,773 you can see or can't see? 509 00:23:38,460 --> 00:23:41,810 - I have no peripheral vision on my right side 510 00:23:41,810 --> 00:23:45,570 and poor peripheral vision on the left side. 511 00:23:45,570 --> 00:23:47,823 I do not see well enough to read. 512 00:23:48,670 --> 00:23:53,670 And, it's hard for me to recognize people. 513 00:23:56,700 --> 00:23:59,210 There's a lot of stuff that I cannot see. 514 00:23:59,210 --> 00:24:03,893 And it's hard to say exactly what I can see or cannot see. 515 00:24:04,770 --> 00:24:09,770 But, there's a lot of stuff that I can't see and... 516 00:24:10,572 --> 00:24:12,297 - Well how does that affect your running, 517 00:24:12,297 --> 00:24:14,930 'cause I imagine, I mean, I wouldn't want 518 00:24:14,930 --> 00:24:19,930 to run off the edge of something or down steps or... 519 00:24:20,170 --> 00:24:22,370 I would think I'd be kind of afraid to run 520 00:24:23,940 --> 00:24:27,480 with poor vision, but you seem to manage that alright. 521 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,180 - It really is not that difficult. 522 00:24:31,790 --> 00:24:36,000 I typically either run around a track 523 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,130 at a school that's close to my apartment 524 00:24:38,130 --> 00:24:41,190 or I just run down Lamar to the hike 525 00:24:41,190 --> 00:24:43,603 and bike trial and follow that. 526 00:24:44,490 --> 00:24:48,520 And, usually it's no problem at all. 527 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,940 Occasionally, I will trip over something and fall. 528 00:24:52,940 --> 00:24:56,200 It happens every once in a while. 529 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,980 I would say every three to six months. 530 00:24:58,980 --> 00:25:01,040 It'll be something I don't see on the ground, 531 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:04,323 and it'll make me hit the pavement. 532 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:13,040 In the last Captain K I was in, I injured it, got 533 00:25:13,420 --> 00:25:15,270 in touch with someone at the School 534 00:25:15,270 --> 00:25:16,970 for the Blind and Visually Impaired. 535 00:25:16,970 --> 00:25:21,970 And we got 10 students from the Texas School 536 00:25:22,050 --> 00:25:23,560 for the Blind and Visually Impaired 537 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,840 to enter this race with us. 538 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:30,080 And one of the girls who was in the race wound 539 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:35,080 up falling over, because she is almost totally blind. 540 00:25:35,460 --> 00:25:38,230 Can see nothing. 541 00:25:38,230 --> 00:25:42,080 And a little child who was four or five years old decided 542 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,900 to run across the race course 543 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:46,180 without thinking about it. 544 00:25:46,180 --> 00:25:48,750 And of course, the blind girl couldn't see her, 545 00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:52,890 so she hit the child and wound up hitting the ground. 546 00:25:52,890 --> 00:25:55,140 And she felt pretty awful, 547 00:25:55,140 --> 00:25:56,910 because it also scared the child. 548 00:25:56,910 --> 00:25:58,710 And the child ran off. 549 00:25:58,710 --> 00:26:01,350 And she couldn't apologize to the kid 550 00:26:01,350 --> 00:26:04,534 and say I'm sorry about this, but. 551 00:26:04,534 --> 00:26:06,400 - But still you getting others 552 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:08,230 with visual impairments out running. 553 00:26:08,230 --> 00:26:10,040 So you're doing not only a good thing 554 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,130 for yourself but for the community as well. 555 00:26:13,130 --> 00:26:14,140 - Yes. 556 00:26:14,140 --> 00:26:17,370 - So then you start, you ran a 5K, 557 00:26:17,370 --> 00:26:19,590 that's five kilometers which is what. 558 00:26:19,590 --> 00:26:22,240 - It's 3.2 miles. - 3.2 miles. 559 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,193 And from there what did you do? 560 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:28,560 - Then, let's see my first 5K. 561 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,153 After that one I was in the Austin Bat Run. 562 00:26:32,050 --> 00:26:34,370 And then I was in a 10K. 563 00:26:34,370 --> 00:26:37,010 Then I thought I will never be in a marathon. 564 00:26:37,010 --> 00:26:42,010 Then I was in the Decker Challenge Half Marathon. 565 00:26:43,108 --> 00:26:44,540 And I said I can finish this. 566 00:26:44,540 --> 00:26:45,973 I'll try a marathon. 567 00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:52,190 So, I was in the Austin Marathon, the 2010 Austin Marathon 568 00:26:52,530 --> 00:26:54,403 for my first marathon. 569 00:26:55,290 --> 00:27:00,290 And I felt but (mumbles) fine, 570 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:02,470 but I thought this is no problem. 571 00:27:02,470 --> 00:27:03,513 I'm up to mile 18. 572 00:27:03,513 --> 00:27:06,380 Mile 18, I said okay, this hurts a little bit, 573 00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:08,000 but I can finish this. 574 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,190 - Was that when you started to hit the wall, so to speak. 575 00:27:10,190 --> 00:27:14,180 - Mile 23 is the wall, where you're supposedly can't stop. 576 00:27:14,180 --> 00:27:17,060 I hit mile 23, and I said, wall, what does it mean the wall. 577 00:27:17,060 --> 00:27:18,120 This is no problem. 578 00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:19,970 I can finish this. 579 00:27:19,970 --> 00:27:21,473 Then somewhere between 24 580 00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:24,140 and 25, it started hurting really bad. 581 00:27:24,140 --> 00:27:25,690 And I had to walk a little bit. 582 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:30,940 But, by mile 25 I was running again. 583 00:27:30,940 --> 00:27:33,620 And I finished the marathon running. 584 00:27:33,620 --> 00:27:37,320 And, I was sore, but I enjoyed it 585 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,453 so much that I said I can't wait till my next marathon. 586 00:27:41,730 --> 00:27:44,367 - You, so you finished it, 587 00:27:44,367 --> 00:27:46,380 and you were looking forward to your next. 588 00:27:46,380 --> 00:27:48,540 - Looking forward to the next one. 589 00:27:48,540 --> 00:27:51,320 - So does it give you a sort of high 590 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,460 or what, I mean, what does it feel like? 591 00:27:54,460 --> 00:27:57,160 I mean, that's, it's obviously a great accomplishment. 592 00:27:58,430 --> 00:28:01,527 - There is something about the natural rhythm of running 593 00:28:01,527 --> 00:28:04,920 that feels good, that you really enjoy. 594 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:06,500 And there's also something 595 00:28:06,500 --> 00:28:09,640 special that goes on in marathons. 596 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:13,450 In the San Antonio Marathon, they had cheerleaders 597 00:28:13,450 --> 00:28:16,900 from local high schools at various mile markers. 598 00:28:16,900 --> 00:28:19,263 And at first I thought cheerleaders, 599 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,160 I mean, who cares, no big deal. 600 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,027 But then I was approaching the first one, 601 00:28:25,027 --> 00:28:29,280 and I heard them cheering 3.2 at just around the corner. 602 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:34,210 3.2 just around the corner, and it was really, really good. 603 00:28:34,210 --> 00:28:36,900 And I started looking forward to the next cheerleaders, 604 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:41,120 because it really did make a difference. 605 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,100 And, the only thing I regret was that 606 00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:47,758 they didn't have cheerleaders between mile 23 and 26. 607 00:28:47,758 --> 00:28:49,740 (man laughs) 608 00:28:49,740 --> 00:28:51,820 And there's always funny things going 609 00:28:51,820 --> 00:28:53,280 on at every marathon. 610 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,230 In San Antonio I had a certain point, 611 00:28:57,230 --> 00:29:00,263 and I said, this is mile 24. 612 00:29:00,263 --> 00:29:02,550 I thought, great, it's two miles to go. 613 00:29:02,550 --> 00:29:04,520 I can do this. 614 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,430 Then I went around the corner, 615 00:29:07,430 --> 00:29:09,913 and I saw a sign saying mile 22. 616 00:29:11,030 --> 00:29:15,060 That made me really upset, because it's only four miles, 617 00:29:15,060 --> 00:29:18,740 but why are you gonna tell me it's mile 24 618 00:29:18,740 --> 00:29:21,540 when there's still more than four miles to go. 619 00:29:21,540 --> 00:29:22,373 - Yeah, yeah. 620 00:29:25,290 --> 00:29:26,800 - It felt really good. 621 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,283 So I finished that marathon. 622 00:29:30,904 --> 00:29:34,420 It felt better than i did after the Austin Marathon. 623 00:29:34,420 --> 00:29:36,016 No stopping at all. 624 00:29:36,016 --> 00:29:37,550 That's how, I said I'm ready for the next marathon. 625 00:29:37,550 --> 00:29:40,640 - You kept moving the whole 26 miles. 626 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:42,920 - You do take breaks occasionally. 627 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,880 I don't know anyone who doesn't have to stop 628 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,880 and go to the restroom two or three times in a marathon. 629 00:29:51,190 --> 00:29:52,470 - You've got, yeah, and you have 630 00:29:52,470 --> 00:29:56,750 to stay hydrated the whole time too. 631 00:29:56,750 --> 00:29:58,520 - There were two things I did differently 632 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,293 from my second marathon. 633 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:03,220 No, there was one thing I did differently 634 00:30:03,220 --> 00:30:05,893 for my second marathon and every marathon. 635 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,330 I get water every mile. 636 00:30:09,330 --> 00:30:14,220 They have people handing out cups of water on a mile basis. 637 00:30:14,220 --> 00:30:18,720 The other thing, well the one thing I did differently was 638 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,363 I carried some gel packs for food with me. 639 00:30:22,229 --> 00:30:25,630 And so every two or three miles I would open 640 00:30:25,630 --> 00:30:28,420 up a gel pack and have some food. 641 00:30:28,420 --> 00:30:31,440 It's just a little protein and energy. 642 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,253 And it made a tremendous difference. 643 00:30:36,300 --> 00:30:37,133 - Fantastic. 644 00:30:38,060 --> 00:30:40,610 So you originally got started with that 5K 645 00:30:42,596 --> 00:30:47,030 and just, would it be fair to say, you just fell 646 00:30:47,030 --> 00:30:48,260 in love with running. 647 00:30:48,260 --> 00:30:50,690 - Just fell in love, well I was in love 648 00:30:50,690 --> 00:30:55,560 with running for two years before I was in a marathon. 649 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:59,110 But after the first 5K, I got addicted to races. 650 00:30:59,110 --> 00:31:01,783 And I just had to be in more and more marathons. 651 00:31:03,770 --> 00:31:08,090 - William, you've been in a number of races, 5Ks, whatever, 652 00:31:08,090 --> 00:31:10,980 10Ks, the marathons, tell us 653 00:31:10,980 --> 00:31:14,483 about some of your most memorable moments. 654 00:31:15,660 --> 00:31:20,150 - Well, one of them was finishing my first 5K, 655 00:31:20,150 --> 00:31:23,740 because I never thought I would want to be in a race. 656 00:31:23,740 --> 00:31:26,453 But after that, it felt really good 657 00:31:26,453 --> 00:31:29,860 and so, and I said I've got to keep doing this. 658 00:31:30,949 --> 00:31:33,740 The second one was finishing my first marathon, 659 00:31:33,740 --> 00:31:38,640 because even though it really hurt, it (mumbles), 660 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,310 I also found it very enjoyable. 661 00:31:40,310 --> 00:31:42,243 And I just felt I had to keep going. 662 00:31:43,990 --> 00:31:48,200 There are a number of medals that I've won. 663 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:52,110 And I don't remember the exact race, 664 00:31:52,110 --> 00:31:54,390 but before I won a third place, I came 665 00:31:54,390 --> 00:31:56,303 in fifth place in one race. 666 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:58,880 And that was really big for me, 667 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:03,450 because I thought fifth place in my age group. 668 00:32:03,450 --> 00:32:06,380 Wow, maybe I could move up and win a third 669 00:32:06,380 --> 00:32:07,833 or a second place. 670 00:32:09,660 --> 00:32:12,963 Another big memory was from the last Austin Marathon. 671 00:32:13,811 --> 00:32:17,290 And it wasn't from me running it in particular. 672 00:32:17,290 --> 00:32:18,940 That was a lot of fun. 673 00:32:18,940 --> 00:32:21,200 It was at the end my wife was waiting 674 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,460 for me at the finish line. 675 00:32:23,460 --> 00:32:26,370 And she said that at the end of the race, 676 00:32:26,370 --> 00:32:28,800 there were some people who were collapsing. 677 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:31,190 There was one person who literally collapsed, 678 00:32:31,190 --> 00:32:32,520 couldn't move anymore, had 679 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:35,943 to be carried off to the paramedics. 680 00:32:36,780 --> 00:32:39,110 Then there was one person who collapsed, 681 00:32:39,110 --> 00:32:41,000 and the two runners in front of them turned 682 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,410 around, came back and picked them up 683 00:32:43,410 --> 00:32:46,223 and helped him walk across the finish line. 684 00:32:48,690 --> 00:32:52,070 Things like that feel really good, because... 685 00:32:53,030 --> 00:32:56,760 Now that's memorable, because yes, everyone's competing 686 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:58,680 and you wanna do well, 687 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,530 but it's also a very cooperative sport. 688 00:33:01,530 --> 00:33:02,730 You want to work with people. 689 00:33:02,730 --> 00:33:06,200 And if you see someone else is having trouble, 690 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,643 you want to cooperate, help the person out. 691 00:33:10,948 --> 00:33:15,190 Another very memorable moment, it's not a good memory, 692 00:33:15,190 --> 00:33:19,595 but I was in the Congress Avenue Mile. 693 00:33:19,595 --> 00:33:22,660 I thought I, well, let's see how fast I can run a mile. 694 00:33:22,660 --> 00:33:25,597 Never gonna do that again, because it's too fast 695 00:33:25,597 --> 00:33:27,710 and it's too short. 696 00:33:27,710 --> 00:33:30,253 It takes me a mile to get warmed up. 697 00:33:31,830 --> 00:33:34,750 I broke a six minute mile for that, 698 00:33:34,750 --> 00:33:39,750 but it hurt and it was too fast and too short. 699 00:33:41,540 --> 00:33:42,450 And that's just. 700 00:33:42,450 --> 00:33:44,250 - Not really fun. 701 00:33:44,250 --> 00:33:46,479 - Not fun. - Didn't do anything for you. 702 00:33:46,479 --> 00:33:50,860 - And it showed me that I need to be in at least a 5K 703 00:33:50,860 --> 00:33:54,560 before I can do something that feels good. 704 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:59,330 - So in the 5Ks and the longer races, even though there were 705 00:33:59,330 --> 00:34:00,240 some that you finished 706 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:05,240 in the top five, the important thing is really finishing 707 00:34:05,510 --> 00:34:09,800 and the, perhaps, camaraderie with the other runners 708 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:11,310 who are all in it together. 709 00:34:11,310 --> 00:34:12,810 - Yes. 710 00:34:12,810 --> 00:34:14,000 - That's fantastic. 711 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,580 - Yes, you wanted to go faster than people, 712 00:34:16,580 --> 00:34:19,830 but you're cooperating with them. 713 00:34:20,769 --> 00:34:23,220 And remember at one of the 5Ks I was in 714 00:34:23,220 --> 00:34:26,030 at the Domain, when I finished someone came 715 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:27,810 up to me and talked with me afterwards 716 00:34:27,810 --> 00:34:29,590 and said wow you were going really fast. 717 00:34:29,590 --> 00:34:32,130 And I said not as fast as you. 718 00:34:32,130 --> 00:34:34,020 You were really pushing it. 719 00:34:34,020 --> 00:34:36,490 And he said no, we were both going really fast. 720 00:34:36,490 --> 00:34:39,230 So, yes, we were competing, 721 00:34:39,230 --> 00:34:44,230 but we were also being cooperative with each other. 722 00:34:44,240 --> 00:34:45,640 So we were supporting each other 723 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:49,050 even though we were against each other. 724 00:34:49,050 --> 00:34:52,610 - So you could enjoy your passion running by yourself. 725 00:34:52,610 --> 00:34:53,750 But when you're sharing that passion 726 00:34:53,750 --> 00:34:57,240 with others that's just an added bonus. 727 00:34:57,240 --> 00:34:59,840 - One of the things that made it easier 728 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:02,610 to finish the last Austin Marathon I was 729 00:35:02,610 --> 00:35:06,290 in is that at the end of it, there were five 730 00:35:06,290 --> 00:35:08,290 or six runners that I was with. 731 00:35:08,290 --> 00:35:09,850 And I was really tired, 732 00:35:09,850 --> 00:35:11,950 but seeing the other people struggle along 733 00:35:11,950 --> 00:35:16,000 with me made it a lot easier to finish. 734 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:19,160 It gave an extra emotional birth. 735 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:22,380 And yeah my legs still hurt. 736 00:35:22,380 --> 00:35:24,450 And they were still in a lot of pain, 737 00:35:24,450 --> 00:35:26,900 but seeing the other runners 738 00:35:26,900 --> 00:35:30,120 up ahead of me, made it easier to join 739 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,823 with them and just run on to the finish. 740 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,360 - William, thank you so much for sharing your story. 741 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:39,080 We enjoyed hearing about your passion. 742 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:43,470 And we'll hear more about other people's passions 743 00:35:43,470 --> 00:35:44,823 on the Gene and Dave Show. 744 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,023 Wow, that was pretty amazing. 745 00:35:49,100 --> 00:35:54,100 Yeah, and William recently came in first place 746 00:35:54,810 --> 00:35:56,750 in a ultra marathon. 747 00:35:56,750 --> 00:36:00,510 An ultra marathon is 50 miles. - Wow. 748 00:36:00,510 --> 00:36:03,610 - When I, we used to run track when I was in high school, 749 00:36:03,610 --> 00:36:05,820 well that was before I became paralyzed. 750 00:36:05,820 --> 00:36:07,900 But they have a big track. 751 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:10,010 Every high school has a big track. 752 00:36:10,010 --> 00:36:13,860 That's a quarter mile in circumference. 753 00:36:13,860 --> 00:36:18,860 So, to run 50 miles, you have to run 200 of these laps, 754 00:36:21,588 --> 00:36:22,810 to put that in perspective. 755 00:36:22,810 --> 00:36:25,200 And I can't imagine how he does it. 756 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,110 - That's a long ways. 757 00:36:27,110 --> 00:36:28,270 - It really is. 758 00:36:28,270 --> 00:36:29,240 And he was telling me 759 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:32,643 about some other runs he's got coming up. 760 00:36:32,643 --> 00:36:35,680 - And, well he and he was at the Boston Marathon. 761 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:37,560 Man, that's, that is so hard to believe 762 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:40,360 and actually at the Boston Marathon, where the bomber 763 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:41,720 and all that stuff was. 764 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:42,930 I remember when that happened, 765 00:36:42,930 --> 00:36:46,050 and I remember seeing, knowing that William was there. 766 00:36:46,050 --> 00:36:47,550 And I was hoping he was okay. 767 00:36:47,550 --> 00:36:49,760 And he was, he made it out through it. 768 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:54,230 But, just, man, taking the passion that far 769 00:36:54,230 --> 00:36:58,610 to go to the acclaimed Boston Marathon. 770 00:36:58,610 --> 00:36:59,880 That's fantastic. 771 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:01,490 - And he's got some more coming up. 772 00:37:01,490 --> 00:37:05,890 He's got one coming up at Marble Falls. 773 00:37:05,890 --> 00:37:09,370 - That's gonna be a 30 mile marathon in Marble Falls. 774 00:37:09,370 --> 00:37:14,370 And then another 30 will be his fourth ultra marathon. 775 00:37:19,610 --> 00:37:22,790 He had to drop out of one, because he got injured. 776 00:37:22,790 --> 00:37:23,623 - Ouch. 777 00:37:23,623 --> 00:37:27,660 - Yeah, he came in third in his age group 778 00:37:27,660 --> 00:37:32,660 at the Prickly Pear 30 mile and was the first male 779 00:37:33,090 --> 00:37:36,880 to finish in the Houston 50 mile ultra. 780 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:39,047 - Yeah, that is just incredible (mumbles). 781 00:37:39,930 --> 00:37:43,040 When we were at William's office, he had shown me 782 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:44,740 some of the medals he won. 783 00:37:44,740 --> 00:37:46,000 - Yeah. 784 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:50,190 - Of course here was the picture of the trophy he won as, 785 00:37:50,190 --> 00:37:55,190 for the ultra marathon, the 50 mile ultra marathon. 786 00:37:55,860 --> 00:37:57,183 Just amazing. 787 00:38:00,950 --> 00:38:04,290 So you couch potatoes out there, just think 788 00:38:04,290 --> 00:38:06,240 about William, legally blind, 789 00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:09,750 and he's running 50 mile ultra marathons. 790 00:38:09,750 --> 00:38:10,583 - Right. 791 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,810 - We're here today with Jennifer McPhail. 792 00:38:14,810 --> 00:38:19,290 Jennifer works at ADAPT, but it's probably better 793 00:38:19,290 --> 00:38:22,990 to say she lives at ADAPT or with ADAPT. 794 00:38:22,990 --> 00:38:25,580 Jennifer I've known you for many, many years. 795 00:38:25,580 --> 00:38:28,230 I met you at ADAPT. 796 00:38:28,230 --> 00:38:29,883 You were doing advocacy work. 797 00:38:32,130 --> 00:38:34,823 Tell us how this has become your passion. 798 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:39,500 - Well, I sorta just slipped into it, 799 00:38:39,500 --> 00:38:43,510 because I had someone when I was interested 800 00:38:43,510 --> 00:38:44,930 in going to school tell me, 801 00:38:44,930 --> 00:38:48,180 well this university isn't for you people. 802 00:38:48,180 --> 00:38:50,630 You people don't come to our university. 803 00:38:50,630 --> 00:38:53,410 And it was an example of many times 804 00:38:53,410 --> 00:38:56,487 in my life when someone had discriminated against me. 805 00:38:56,487 --> 00:39:00,580 And I was angry and I wanted to do something substanitive 806 00:39:00,580 --> 00:39:04,140 to try to address those instances. 807 00:39:04,140 --> 00:39:06,470 And I'd seen an article 808 00:39:06,470 --> 00:39:10,530 in the ADAPT newsletter called Incitement 809 00:39:10,530 --> 00:39:12,800 about a protest that was happening 810 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,140 at the Governor's Reception Room 811 00:39:15,140 --> 00:39:19,930 when Ann Richards was Governor in 1991 I believe 812 00:39:19,930 --> 00:39:23,810 and decided that I would go to that protest. 813 00:39:23,810 --> 00:39:26,043 And that's how I got involved with ADAPT. 814 00:39:26,890 --> 00:39:29,520 - Okay, that's how you got started. 815 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:32,750 Tell us some of the things you do as 816 00:39:32,750 --> 00:39:35,270 part of your advocacy efforts. 817 00:39:35,270 --> 00:39:38,320 - Well, right now, I'm working a lot on the local level 818 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:40,580 with access in housing 819 00:39:40,580 --> 00:39:45,450 and helping people occasionally transition 820 00:39:45,450 --> 00:39:48,010 from nursing homes back into their community 821 00:39:48,010 --> 00:39:51,140 and all sorts of stuff. 822 00:39:51,140 --> 00:39:55,170 - Well now, anybody could do this kind of work, 823 00:39:55,170 --> 00:39:58,610 but I've been to a few ADAPT actions 824 00:39:58,610 --> 00:40:01,610 out in when it's been very hot, 825 00:40:01,610 --> 00:40:04,730 when it's been really, really cold 826 00:40:04,730 --> 00:40:07,890 and just sitting out long periods of times. 827 00:40:07,890 --> 00:40:10,510 It takes lots of effort to do that. 828 00:40:10,510 --> 00:40:12,320 And I think the only way 829 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:15,230 anyone could do that is if they have a really pash, 830 00:40:15,230 --> 00:40:17,354 if they really have a passion for it. 831 00:40:17,354 --> 00:40:20,710 And I believe you have the, 832 00:40:20,710 --> 00:40:23,690 I think the passion really shows in all of your work. 833 00:40:23,690 --> 00:40:26,290 How do you keep it up? 834 00:40:26,290 --> 00:40:27,360 - I don't know, every once 835 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:29,550 in a while something really cool will happen 836 00:40:29,550 --> 00:40:31,860 and you go, alright, well that was totally worth it. 837 00:40:31,860 --> 00:40:33,740 And then I've gotta go try and do more. 838 00:40:33,740 --> 00:40:36,340 Sometimes it's simply that I, 839 00:40:36,340 --> 00:40:38,920 on a certain issue something is just 840 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:42,130 so wrong that someone did that you just say 841 00:40:42,130 --> 00:40:45,273 to yourself I have to keep this going. 842 00:40:46,220 --> 00:40:50,880 Or, every once in a while, you'll see the work that you've 843 00:40:50,880 --> 00:40:52,740 done improve other people's lives 844 00:40:52,740 --> 00:40:55,610 and you'll be able to interact with those people 845 00:40:55,610 --> 00:40:58,070 and see how much their lives have changed. 846 00:40:58,070 --> 00:41:00,170 And that sorta makes you wanna do it more. 847 00:41:01,169 --> 00:41:04,373 - You say it improves someone else's lives. 848 00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:07,750 I think when you're talking 849 00:41:07,750 --> 00:41:09,750 about someone else, you're talking 850 00:41:09,750 --> 00:41:11,950 about perhaps someone else in ADAPT. 851 00:41:11,950 --> 00:41:14,860 And it seems to me that ADAPT is really about family. 852 00:41:14,860 --> 00:41:19,860 ADAPT is, everyone in ADAPT is a family, part of a family. 853 00:41:19,893 --> 00:41:22,360 So when you're doing something for someone else. 854 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:24,120 You're doing something for your family. 855 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:26,623 - Yeah, and yourself as well. 856 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:31,950 When my fellow ADAPT member's life gets better, 857 00:41:31,950 --> 00:41:35,470 so does mine and so will people 858 00:41:35,470 --> 00:41:39,590 throughout the community, hopefully, forget it. 859 00:41:39,590 --> 00:41:41,460 Hopefully, some of the things that we put 860 00:41:41,460 --> 00:41:45,390 in place actually we can keep in place 861 00:41:45,390 --> 00:41:47,900 and improve upon without too much of a fight. 862 00:41:47,900 --> 00:41:52,040 It seems like, especially recently, a lot of the great 863 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:55,580 things that we've won are under attack 864 00:41:55,580 --> 00:41:59,710 by opposing viewpoints, so we have to keep fighting 865 00:41:59,710 --> 00:42:02,670 for the things that we've just won. 866 00:42:02,670 --> 00:42:04,180 But, hopefully we'll be able 867 00:42:04,180 --> 00:42:08,440 to advance the issues forward enough that people will have 868 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:12,430 progress well into the future. 869 00:42:12,430 --> 00:42:15,280 - Tell us about some of the advocacy work you do 870 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:18,973 with the legislature or this past selession I should say. 871 00:42:18,973 --> 00:42:22,100 - Wow, this last session was really brutal, 872 00:42:22,100 --> 00:42:24,923 all the cuts to people's attendant services. 873 00:42:26,010 --> 00:42:28,570 There were a lot of proposed cuts that could've been very 874 00:42:28,570 --> 00:42:30,010 devastating to every program. 875 00:42:30,010 --> 00:42:32,980 So we're expecting some sorts of cuts, 876 00:42:32,980 --> 00:42:35,980 but we're kinda outreaching to people 877 00:42:35,980 --> 00:42:39,070 to let us know if their attendant 878 00:42:39,070 --> 00:42:42,090 services (mumbles) are being threatened to be cut 879 00:42:42,090 --> 00:42:44,570 or they're being reassessed for less hours 880 00:42:44,570 --> 00:42:47,093 to please call us or get in touch with us. 881 00:42:48,010 --> 00:42:51,763 Our website is www.adapt.org 882 00:42:53,090 --> 00:42:56,360 or you can call us at 4420252, and. 883 00:42:58,679 --> 00:42:59,690 - And you can call from anywhere 884 00:42:59,690 --> 00:43:01,190 in the country really, so 512. 885 00:43:02,650 --> 00:43:06,373 - That's correct, I'm sorry, 512-442-0252. 886 00:43:07,570 --> 00:43:10,020 - Because although you work locally, 887 00:43:10,020 --> 00:43:13,840 you will also do national actions. 888 00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:14,930 Tell us about those. 889 00:43:14,930 --> 00:43:16,150 - Yeah, that's right. 890 00:43:16,150 --> 00:43:17,300 We have one coming up. 891 00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:19,290 And there's going to be a big rally 892 00:43:19,290 --> 00:43:23,150 to save Medicaid on the 21st of September. 893 00:43:23,150 --> 00:43:26,240 That's a Wednesday in Washington DC. 894 00:43:26,240 --> 00:43:27,820 And if you need more information 895 00:43:27,820 --> 00:43:31,817 about that, contact us at that website www.adapt.org 896 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:37,073 or contact us at our phone number 5124420252. 897 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:42,890 - Okay, we talked about some of the 898 00:43:42,890 --> 00:43:45,320 national work, state work. 899 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:47,350 I also know you, you've been very active 900 00:43:49,020 --> 00:43:50,960 at city councils as well. 901 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:52,890 You're all over the place. 902 00:43:52,890 --> 00:43:54,509 - Yeah. 903 00:43:54,509 --> 00:43:56,009 How do you keep up the energy? 904 00:43:57,030 --> 00:43:59,350 - Insanity helps a little bit. 905 00:43:59,350 --> 00:44:02,900 Again, you know it's that whole I've gotta make this better 906 00:44:02,900 --> 00:44:04,640 for myself and for everybody else. 907 00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:06,670 Otherwise, if we don't do it, 908 00:44:06,670 --> 00:44:08,820 no one else is going to really. 909 00:44:08,820 --> 00:44:11,230 It's not exactly the most glamour 910 00:44:11,230 --> 00:44:12,820 type of job that you can do. 911 00:44:12,820 --> 00:44:16,380 So there aren't people busting down the doors volunteering 912 00:44:16,380 --> 00:44:18,970 to go to city council for eight hours. 913 00:44:18,970 --> 00:44:21,037 But if you're into that and you're slightly insane like me 914 00:44:21,037 --> 00:44:22,800 and you really wanna make things better, 915 00:44:22,800 --> 00:44:23,980 you're more than welcome to. 916 00:44:23,980 --> 00:44:26,330 And you can get in touch with us. 917 00:44:26,330 --> 00:44:30,600 And we're open to everybody, disabled and non-disable alike. 918 00:44:30,600 --> 00:44:34,320 And it takes a lot of people to make this work. 919 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:35,190 And it's a great thing. 920 00:44:35,190 --> 00:44:36,803 It's a great experience. 921 00:44:37,730 --> 00:44:41,270 There's nothing like the national actions that (mumbles), 922 00:44:41,270 --> 00:44:42,970 that's what we call our protests. 923 00:44:42,970 --> 00:44:45,300 There's absolutely nothing like it in the world. 924 00:44:45,300 --> 00:44:47,343 And you can attest to that. 925 00:44:47,343 --> 00:44:51,950 It's sort of this huge ball of humanity working 926 00:44:51,950 --> 00:44:55,250 toward one goal and everybody is a diverse, comes 927 00:44:55,250 --> 00:44:57,740 from diverse backgrounds and all tho, 928 00:44:57,740 --> 00:45:01,060 all the things that you hear about a melting pot, 929 00:45:01,060 --> 00:45:03,230 that's what ADAPT really is. 930 00:45:03,230 --> 00:45:05,843 And we have to live together and work together 931 00:45:05,843 --> 00:45:09,010 in a very intimate situation. 932 00:45:09,010 --> 00:45:11,500 A lot of times when you're protesting you're 933 00:45:11,500 --> 00:45:12,830 out in the physical elements. 934 00:45:12,830 --> 00:45:14,310 And you're doing a lot of hard work. 935 00:45:14,310 --> 00:45:17,460 And sometimes you go to jail for civil disobedience. 936 00:45:17,460 --> 00:45:20,040 And there's no greater way to really learn 937 00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:23,764 about what a person is made of than in those moments. 938 00:45:23,764 --> 00:45:24,597 (phone rings) 939 00:45:24,597 --> 00:45:26,479 - I, and I'm glad you mentioned that, 940 00:45:26,479 --> 00:45:29,783 because, I mean, obviously this is your passion. 941 00:45:29,783 --> 00:45:31,890 Not everybody can do it. 942 00:45:31,890 --> 00:45:33,901 It's not for the faint of heart. 943 00:45:33,901 --> 00:45:35,693 It's not for the fair weather advocate. 944 00:45:38,181 --> 00:45:39,014 It's just for die hard advocates that are willing 945 00:45:41,390 --> 00:45:43,621 to sacrifice and endure a lot. 946 00:45:43,621 --> 00:45:48,621 And I thank you for all that you're doing for all of us. 947 00:45:49,510 --> 00:45:50,750 - Well, it's fun too. 948 00:45:50,750 --> 00:45:51,610 Don't get me wrong. 949 00:45:51,610 --> 00:45:54,200 I, there's nothing better than 950 00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:57,743 in those moments when you see the opposition go what do 951 00:45:57,743 --> 00:46:01,250 I do now or holy crap just give 'em what they want 952 00:46:01,250 --> 00:46:02,308 and they'll go away. 953 00:46:02,308 --> 00:46:03,780 (woman laughs) 954 00:46:03,780 --> 00:46:08,390 Those are great moments when people realize, hey, either, 955 00:46:08,390 --> 00:46:10,550 they realize, hey, they're right 956 00:46:10,550 --> 00:46:12,900 or God, what do I do. 957 00:46:12,900 --> 00:46:17,900 And they're equally as fun but in different ways. 958 00:46:18,700 --> 00:46:20,720 And it's made a lot of change. 959 00:46:20,720 --> 00:46:23,010 And if it didn't make, if it didn't result 960 00:46:23,010 --> 00:46:25,660 in the change that we wanted, none of us would do it. 961 00:46:27,810 --> 00:46:30,350 But it's (mumbles), it's been the 962 00:46:30,350 --> 00:46:33,280 inspiration of Money Follows the Person, 963 00:46:33,280 --> 00:46:34,900 which is the project 964 00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:38,310 or the program that helps people transition 965 00:46:38,310 --> 00:46:41,260 from institutions back into the community using 966 00:46:41,260 --> 00:46:43,380 the money that the state would've spent 967 00:46:43,380 --> 00:46:46,830 on the institutional care, on attendant services. 968 00:46:46,830 --> 00:46:48,974 - So, let's talk about this for a second. 969 00:46:48,974 --> 00:46:53,974 If someone becomes very disabled, they may be faced 970 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:58,410 with going into a nursing home where, say, Medicaid dollars 971 00:46:58,410 --> 00:47:02,530 or government dollars might be used to fund their stay here. 972 00:47:02,530 --> 00:47:06,860 But, you and ADAPT are advocating for community services 973 00:47:06,860 --> 00:47:08,501 to pay for attendant care 974 00:47:08,501 --> 00:47:10,280 so that person can stay in the community. 975 00:47:10,280 --> 00:47:14,640 - That's correct and what we found is that overall attendant 976 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:16,520 services based in the community are 977 00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:19,430 about 2/3 of the cost of what it would cost 978 00:47:19,430 --> 00:47:22,640 to institutionalize somebody, and the care 979 00:47:22,640 --> 00:47:26,630 and your life in general is much higher quality, 980 00:47:26,630 --> 00:47:28,550 because you can come and go as you please 981 00:47:28,550 --> 00:47:31,370 and do what you like and be who you are 982 00:47:31,370 --> 00:47:32,480 without having to live 983 00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:35,423 by the institutions rules, can be your own person. 984 00:47:37,550 --> 00:47:40,120 - Jennifer is there anything that I haven't asked you 985 00:47:40,120 --> 00:47:43,210 about that you'd like to tell us, 986 00:47:43,210 --> 00:47:46,287 'cause, I mean, certainly a passion is... 987 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:48,990 Well, I mean... 988 00:47:51,810 --> 00:47:54,330 Well, it takes up all your energy. 989 00:47:54,330 --> 00:47:55,937 Your, it takes all your time. 990 00:47:57,870 --> 00:48:00,152 And surely you sacrifice your life. 991 00:48:00,152 --> 00:48:02,460 You could've been other places doing other things, 992 00:48:02,460 --> 00:48:07,460 and certainly it (mumbles) a lot easier things, but of. 993 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:09,640 - Well, success does a lot 994 00:48:09,640 --> 00:48:12,710 to fuel passions, no matter what the passion is. 995 00:48:12,710 --> 00:48:15,260 And if you're not passionate about it, don't do it. 996 00:48:16,940 --> 00:48:19,950 There's nothing quite like seeing 997 00:48:19,950 --> 00:48:22,810 somebody realize that they're worth fighting 998 00:48:22,810 --> 00:48:26,030 for, that they have a lot to give 999 00:48:26,030 --> 00:48:28,310 and that they deserve to be equal. 1000 00:48:28,310 --> 00:48:30,600 That sort of fans those flames 1001 00:48:30,600 --> 00:48:32,880 in each of us when we're together 1002 00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:35,660 as a group and we have success. 1003 00:48:35,660 --> 00:48:38,670 It just makes you want to achieve more. 1004 00:48:38,670 --> 00:48:41,730 And I haven't found anything like it. 1005 00:48:41,730 --> 00:48:44,000 If I found anything that was as 1006 00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:46,670 satisfying as doing what we're doing, 1007 00:48:46,670 --> 00:48:48,170 I would've done it, 1008 00:48:48,170 --> 00:48:49,720 because it'd probably would have been easier. 1009 00:48:49,720 --> 00:48:52,740 But most of the things that are really worth doing, 1010 00:48:52,740 --> 00:48:55,833 that really impact people, they're not convenient. 1011 00:48:56,840 --> 00:49:00,350 And, to know that we've played a role 1012 00:49:00,350 --> 00:49:02,543 in helping people transition back 1013 00:49:02,543 --> 00:49:05,420 in a community and restart their lives 1014 00:49:05,420 --> 00:49:08,080 and not be warehoused away, 1015 00:49:08,080 --> 00:49:10,700 that's a very satisfying feeling or being able 1016 00:49:10,700 --> 00:49:14,420 to roll down the sidewalk that we've advocated 1017 00:49:14,420 --> 00:49:18,630 for and know that everybody uses that, regardless of whether 1018 00:49:18,630 --> 00:49:19,660 or not they're disabled. 1019 00:49:19,660 --> 00:49:22,410 If you're a pedestrian, whether you use your feet 1020 00:49:22,410 --> 00:49:26,190 or your wheels, you probably used a sidewalk that 1021 00:49:26,190 --> 00:49:27,910 ADAPT has advocated for. 1022 00:49:27,910 --> 00:49:30,690 And you get to change the course of history 1023 00:49:30,690 --> 00:49:32,690 and in some small ways and 1024 00:49:32,690 --> 00:49:36,820 in some very large, huge impactful 1025 00:49:36,820 --> 00:49:41,820 ways that you know will impact thousands of lives. 1026 00:49:42,090 --> 00:49:44,420 So how many times in your life will you get 1027 00:49:44,420 --> 00:49:46,800 to do that, change the course of history? 1028 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:48,250 It doesn't happen very often. 1029 00:49:49,130 --> 00:49:53,710 - Good point and largely because of ADAPT difference 1030 00:49:53,710 --> 00:49:55,183 I think it's fair to say, 1031 00:49:56,330 --> 00:49:59,150 because of ADAPT's efforts, 1032 00:49:59,150 --> 00:50:02,470 Austin has been consistently rated one of the top three 1033 00:50:02,470 --> 00:50:05,740 most accessible cities in the country. 1034 00:50:05,740 --> 00:50:08,173 So thanks to ADAPT and people like yourself. 1035 00:50:09,320 --> 00:50:12,140 - It defini, we've definitely still have things that we need 1036 00:50:12,140 --> 00:50:15,850 to improve upon, and if people have things that they want 1037 00:50:15,850 --> 00:50:17,750 to work on with us, they're more than 1038 00:50:17,750 --> 00:50:18,990 welcome to get involved. 1039 00:50:18,990 --> 00:50:23,430 And we have a project called The Tuesday Access Club 1040 00:50:23,430 --> 00:50:25,610 that meets every Tuesday at noon. 1041 00:50:25,610 --> 00:50:29,370 And we work on various accessibility issues. 1042 00:50:29,370 --> 00:50:31,010 And so if people are interested 1043 00:50:31,010 --> 00:50:33,793 in getting involved, our address is 1100 S IH 35. 1044 00:50:38,740 --> 00:50:43,170 - Great, so you folks saw the address listed here 1045 00:50:43,170 --> 00:50:44,130 underneath us. 1046 00:50:44,130 --> 00:50:45,583 It's also on our webpage. 1047 00:50:46,570 --> 00:50:49,120 Just go to the geneanddaveshow.com 1048 00:50:49,120 --> 00:50:52,670 and look up people's passions. 1049 00:50:52,670 --> 00:50:57,300 And when you get to that show, that address will be listed 1050 00:50:57,300 --> 00:51:00,760 and Jennifer's contact information will be listed as well. 1051 00:51:01,720 --> 00:51:03,040 Thanks for joining us. 1052 00:51:03,040 --> 00:51:05,040 Thank you Jennifer. - Thanks very much. 1053 00:51:06,727 --> 00:51:10,940 - Wow Dave, well, you and I have both, had been 1054 00:51:10,940 --> 00:51:12,775 and still are advocates. - Right. 1055 00:51:12,775 --> 00:51:15,190 - But Jennifer like you said, she really takes it 1056 00:51:15,190 --> 00:51:16,023 to a new level. 1057 00:51:16,023 --> 00:51:17,960 - She's kinda like Virginia 1058 00:51:17,960 --> 00:51:20,540 in the beginning, where the bird watcher that gets 1059 00:51:20,540 --> 00:51:22,510 up early in the morning and goes all day long. 1060 00:51:22,510 --> 00:51:23,760 - Yeah. - Well that's Jennifer. 1061 00:51:23,760 --> 00:51:25,610 Man, her, she lives her passion all day. 1062 00:51:25,610 --> 00:51:30,130 She gets up early and goes to the, talk to the senate 1063 00:51:30,130 --> 00:51:35,130 or whatever the case may be, protesting, holding signs, 1064 00:51:35,420 --> 00:51:39,610 out on the street corners in the snow, whatever. 1065 00:51:39,610 --> 00:51:41,260 She's there. 1066 00:51:41,260 --> 00:51:43,380 Whatever it takes to get her message 1067 00:51:43,380 --> 00:51:45,693 across, Jennifer is there. 1068 00:51:46,810 --> 00:51:51,810 So I guess in conclusion, if you have a passion get 1069 00:51:51,830 --> 00:51:53,850 out there and do it. - Yes. 1070 00:51:53,850 --> 00:51:56,770 - And if you don't, go find one. 1071 00:51:56,770 --> 00:51:58,180 - Exactly. 1072 00:51:58,180 --> 00:51:59,530 - But you've gotta get out there. 1073 00:51:59,530 --> 00:52:02,870 You've gotta do something, so that you can find your passion 1074 00:52:02,870 --> 00:52:05,590 and find happiness in life. 1075 00:52:05,590 --> 00:52:08,560 I would say that we've discovered the meaning of life 1076 00:52:08,560 --> 00:52:10,440 here on the Gene and Dave Show. 1077 00:52:10,440 --> 00:52:12,480 - Truer words were never spoken. 1078 00:52:12,480 --> 00:52:14,320 - To live out your passion. 1079 00:52:14,320 --> 00:52:15,530 - Thanks Dave. 1080 00:52:15,530 --> 00:52:18,530 And thank you folks. - Thanks for watching. 1081 00:52:18,530 --> 00:52:20,900 And if you need anymore notes about this show 1082 00:52:20,900 --> 00:52:23,450 or any of our previous episodes, please go 1083 00:52:23,450 --> 00:52:27,960 to thegeneanddaveshow.com and find out more information 1084 00:52:27,960 --> 00:52:29,800 and email us, if you'd like, 1085 00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:32,160 'cause we'd love to hear your story 1086 00:52:32,160 --> 00:52:35,140 and find out what your passion is. 1087 00:52:35,140 --> 00:52:36,760 Bye for now. 1088 00:52:36,760 --> 00:52:37,593 - Adios. 1089 00:52:39,127 --> 00:52:41,794 (playful music) 1090 00:53:09,537 --> 00:53:11,590 - [Female Announcer] Being there for mom once a week is 1091 00:53:11,590 --> 00:53:14,743 great, but she needs help everyday. 1092 00:53:15,660 --> 00:53:17,840 Dad needs a ride to the doctor, 1093 00:53:17,840 --> 00:53:20,190 but you can't miss work again. 1094 00:53:20,190 --> 00:53:23,470 And can mom afford to have help preparing her meals? 1095 00:53:23,470 --> 00:53:25,760 We know what you're going through. 1096 00:53:25,760 --> 00:53:27,340 Amerigroup has a plan for people 1097 00:53:27,340 --> 00:53:29,900 with Medicaid that helps them get the services they need 1098 00:53:29,900 --> 00:53:31,283 to live at home. 1099 00:53:31,283 --> 00:53:33,180 Amerigroup, choose us for helping 1100 00:53:33,180 --> 00:53:34,860 your loved ones live at home. 1101 00:53:34,860 --> 00:53:36,540 Call 1-800-964-2777.