Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2000)
8_______ Feature Volunteers combine efforts for disabled kids WedNEsdAy, MAy 10, 2000 The CI ac I camas P rìnt TAM OLIVER Staff Writer A four-year-old boy in a wheel- chair has brought a diverse group of people together here on campus. Steven Roberts, a little boy who aspires to be a PGA cham pion, spends a lot of time in a wheelchair that outweighs him by more than ten pounds. He was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as “Brittle Bone”. When Steven plays, he uses a wheelchair to prevent breaking bones. The chair he uses is heavy to propel and awkward to maneu ver. There are lighter chairs for children, some that weigh 26 pounds instead of 47, but they cost more, and the insurance companies won’t pay for the ul tra-lights. Most chairs for chil dren two to four years old are just like Steven’s. The average weight of the child who uses them is 26 pounds. It’s one-size-fits-all, as the insurance companies will buy replacement chairs only ev ery five years. That’s why, when Teryl Hoffmann-Figgins, a Clackamas psychology student, received a call from Sherman Washman about wheelchairs and how they might possibly be improved to make life easier for students navi Teryl Hoffmann-Figgins, Steven Roberst and Sandy Roberst discuss the plans for wheelchair improvements. gating the campus at Clackamas, become aware of some of the OATC, Hoffmann-Figgins and she thought of the children in community volunteers, will ex plore the possibility of design wheelchairs for whom she volun problems connected to wheel chair mobility on campus when teers—Hoffmann-Figgins is the he read the article by Shelbi ing a new chair for Steven. They founder and facilitator of a group Wescott in the March 8 edition of The Print. After talking to visualize a wheelchair that called WOW, that’s Winners on weighs 20 pounds, adjusts for Wheels. Hoffmann-Figgins was Hoffmann-Figgins, his focus growth and is affordable. They well aware of the problems stu shifted to the problems experi see a chair that will make life dents have with their chairs. enced by younger chair users. easier for many children. “There’s a lot for adults, but work with these young kids and help them to become,involved in life and educational opportuni T0NIMCMICHAEL1 Clackamas Print group this Saturday, May J 3 at I p.m. in ¡R^rj,<ial 1 Qyrp, ^^o^ding to ASG member Mike Lewis, they ties, to get them ready for the tri als they will experience as teen already have reserved the gym agers. “It’s difficult enough to be a tournament. In between games, they will set up games consist teenager. I want to be able to help,” she said. obstacle course to get to know for the Cougar Classic basketball ing of races, pickle ball, and an A group from Clackamas’ en “What we have to do is give Her desire to help appears to the kids. And yes, ASG members gineering, English and computer these kids independent mobility,” be contagious. The Associated do plan to borrow wheelchairs Washman, who occasionally assisted design and manufactur Hoffmann-Figgins explained. Student Government (ASG) will and see how they do in the takes classes at Clackamas, had ing departments, along with host a meeting of the WOW events. nothing for kids,” she told him. Hoffmann-Figgins’ dream is to LCOP helps homemaker find new start TAM OLIVER Staff Writer “It seemed like every time I came here someone would share,” she re lated. Laurie Sullivan’s lawyer suggested the Life and Career Options course at Clackamas Community College. support, Sullivan was encouraged to “She said it would be a good place possessed and to discover what she In addition to receiving emotional assess the marketable skills she already to begin working on your life,” Sullivan really wanted to do. She was encour remembers. aged to pursue educational goals, and After27yearsofmarriage, Sullivan’s to apply for scholarships. Speakers husband had recently asked her for a came to the classroom and told oftheir divorce. Up to that point in her adult own experiences. They had also had life, she had spent her time raising rough experiences, yet all seemed to three chi Idren and being a willing home come out on top. maker. “I chose to stay home and raise my children. I loved being a mother,” she said. “I actually felt like I had a chance to have a new life,” she said. This turned out to be true. To date, Sullivan has been awarded two $500 MIKE POLLOCK I Clackamas Print Mother of three, homemaker Laurie Sullivan discovered life is about change and found a new beginning through the Life and Career Options program on campus. At the time of her husband’s sur scholarships and received a $50 award prise announcement, one child, for a speech she gave about Denmark Since that emotional experience, Zachary, age 17, remained at home. Sullivan has received an additional Two others had grown up and left the in a recent tournament. The Herb and Betty Morris Schol scholarship from the Danish Sister nest and a grandchild had been bom. arship was the first scholarship Sullivan hood of America. In addition to doing Winter quarter 1998, Sullivan enrolled received, and it Was presented in per work-study for LCOP and occasional in the LCOP program. son by the retired couple/donors. housecleaning jobs, she continues to Sullivan’s parents attended the cer work on her educational goal, which “I was looking for hope in my life, that 1 had some kind of future,” she emony. After high school, Sullivan had has switched from nursing to business recalled. married and begun raising children. Now there were people who believed administration. “As long as you are learning, you in her ability to obtain an education. feel like you are moving forward,” she At LCOP, she met other people who were struggling through difficult phases of their lives. She found she “That someone felt I was valuable said. “From LCOP, I really felt like I had wasn’talone or unique. She found that enough to give me money to go to a beginning. It wasn’t an end to my life presents changes to all of us. school,” she marvels. life. A chapter was (merely) closed.” If you want a great education and out standing preparation for any career—and you want to get those things in a special place — Warner Pacific is the community for you. * There is so much to discover about Warner...give us a call or visit us on the world wide web today. Warner Pacific A College of Faith,Scholarshipand Service Admissions Office 503/517-1020 800/582-7885 Fax 503/517-1352 Web: http://www.warnerpacific.edu e-mail: admiss@warnerpacific.edu 2219 SOUTHEAST 68 th AVENUE PORTLAND, OREGON 97215-4099
