gilligan, let me throw this in also..
I have a good friend of mine that is "handicapped"!!!! YEA RIGHT!! Dont tell him that.
He has been in a wheelchair for almost 20 years now, he is only 40 years old or so now,, AND there is NOTHING he cant do. (or seems that way).. (I dont know the terms, but he is paralyzed from the waist down)
when we are out with him, people look at us funny.,
we dont hold doors open, because he can open them.
we go upstairs, he goes around them,
go to a restauraunt, he moves chairs out of the way and wheels right in..
He wheels up to his pickup, he pulls himself inside the truck, folds up his chair, it goes int he backseat and her is on is way,!
He also plays baseball, basketball, rides quads and buggies with us,
And I wont even get into the word games we paly with each other, while doing the things we do,,, LOL
i have learned from him that "handicap" is more of a frame of mind, rather than physical. If dont want to be considered handicap, dont act like you are,\
He is an amazing individual.