As part of our ongoing series of equity interviews, today, for National Disability Independence Day, we interview Christopher Timm. Chris is the Recreation Specialist at Disability Network Northern Michigan, and, among other initiatives, has been especially involved in helping people with disabilities gain access to the outdoors. (As told to Jeff Smith.)
Chris Timm: I’d like to start by talking about one of my favorite parts of my job here at the Disability Network Northern Michigan. We have a partnership with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, where I schedule guests who reserve a track chair hike or a wheelchair bike ride in the park. This assistive technology helps people who have mobility challenges get out on some of the beautiful trails in the park. My job is to coordinate with volunteers and help give our guests access to that equipment and that experience. It’s very rewarding!
The equipment includes three track chairs and a power assist bike with a wheelchair on the front of it. Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes has permission from the park for the track chairs to operate on two different trails, both with beautiful scenery and views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Shoreline. It’s just a really nice thing that they do for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to have these experiences. One of the trails where guests can take the track chairs is the Bay View Trail. It starts out in these glades, tall grass, and the trail goes through some stands of old growth trees and you wind your way up this hill, and then through an old farm and then you get to a ridge. The trail goes along this ridge, and you can see Lake Michigan and the dunes from where it starts, and it continues up to this nice overlook. It’s a really great experience.
This is a volunteer-driven program, so we have people who volunteer their time to host these track chair hikes. They meet our guests at the trailhead and guide them on the trails. These track chairs will go through just about anything—they have tracks like a tank, and they’re joystick driven. You can go onto a beach and some dunes. People can drive around on the beach, which is really nice if you have a disability that doesn’t allow you to get to the beach. I use a wheelchair myself, so I know how it feels to have that independence, that freedom again. It’s just an incredible feeling.
People come with their families and take a lot of pictures. Our volunteers are so good with the guests. They know a little something about the places and they answer any questions guests may have.
Another accessibility program they just started this year is the wheelchair bike program that allows guests to reserve rides on the Heritage Trail. A pilot and a safety rider go out with the guests. The pilot pedals the bike and the safety rider makes sure there isn’t anything that would present a danger to the guest. It’s really cool.
I also facilitate a couple of peer support groups. One of them is our gaming group, where participants play all types of games. We incorporate some educational games and work on promoting communication skills and teamwork. It’s also a very rewarding experience.
We serve 17 counties, which is the biggest area of any Disability Network in Michigan. There are quite a few in Michigan and around the country. The Disability Network is an Independent Living Center. They were established by Congress in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and they focus on helping individuals with disabilities to live independently, options counseling, benefits review, and peer support.
The other group I run is focused on mobility issues and we discuss the challenges those of us with disabilities have getting around in the community and around our homes. We talk about advocacy, accessibility, and things like health and nutrition.
As for my story, I am from Traverse City, born and raised. On August 8, 2004, I was out canoeing with friends, and I dove into some shallow water and broke my neck. I had to get medavac-ed out and had surgery at Munson. I was told I had a C7 spinal cord injury and probably wouldn’t walk again. That is hard to hear.
I went to the University of Michigan model spinal cord injury program for rehabilitation, and they did a really good job helping me to learn how to live with a spinal cord injury. This August it will be 21 years since my injury.
Before my injury, I was very active. I snowboarded, played volleyball, played the drums and was in a band. I was a chef. I’d say it took me about two years before I felt kind of confident about learning to live with a disability. It’s a slow evolution and takes a lot of hard work. The physical aspect is hard, but the mental aspect is just as hard. I was lucky to have people who had disabilities to help me through that.
On National Disability Independence Day, I’d like people to know we are just like you. We have hopes. We have dreams. We are always trying to improve our situations. But of course it’s difficult. We have added things that come along with our disabilities. But we are no different. We are moving along doing the best we can. Where I’m at with my life right now, I feel good about where I’m at in my career and am generally happy. I feel good mentally and spiritually. And in the work I do now, I am a mentor, and I like that, and I’m looking forward to doing more. 
Jeff Smith is Groundwork’s Communications Director. jeff.smith@groundworkcenter.org
