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Dave DureposFredericton, NB Occupation: Cartographic Technician, Favourite food: lasagna Favourite pastime: off-road jeeping Favourite television show: Prison Break Tell me about your injury and how it affects your mobility: |
"If there is something that you |
I have a spinal cord injury. My injury is L2, incomplete - an injury to the lumbar second vertabra. I am able to walk with a pair of crutches and I use a wheelchair for long distances. I drive a car with hand controls and I drive a motorcycle with a side car.
Tell me about the day you were injured:
I was injured on August 10, 1988. It was a motorcycle accident - I just missed a turn and I ended up in a ditch and broke my leg and my back. A friend was traveling behind me. He saw me go through the air "like a piece of tumbleweed" and land in a swamp...there was one rock for about 100 meters around and I landed on it.
As a person with a spinal cord injury, what has been your greatest challenge? What have been your greatest successes?
have been injured 18 years now. The greatest challenge is that society often sees the disability and not your abilities. In the beginning, it was a lot worse - people are much more aware of the issues today.
My daughter is one of my greatest successes - Chelsie is 16. She's a young adult now and it's just overwhelming what kind of young lady she's turned into.
For sports, success would have to be making the Canadian Paralympic team in 1993-1994. Also, the two gold medals in the paralympics - the first one was in Australia in 2000 and the second one was in 2004 in Athens Greece.
Sports have been my life. 
Who have been the greatest supports in your life?
...family and friends. I wouldn't be able to do what I do without their support. I have missed so many family outings - my daughter's birthday, family reunions. I have been in sports at an elite level for 13 years... they never once complain and they just say "go for it...enjoy it." My employer has also been very supportive and has never once complained about me taking time to go away for sports.
What do you believe are the top issues facing people with spinal cord injuries in New Brunswick? What needs to be done to address these issues?
As far as individuals, they have to get through the initial adaptation to using a wheelchair/crutches...it's important to maintain a positive attitude. At first there is going to be different kinds of emotions - once you are over that and you have accepted the cards that have been dealt, don't dwell on what could or should have been...look ahead, focus on the future. If you are a self-motivated individual, all those things will fall in place.
People need to self-motivate, do some searching on what is out there. The Stan Cassidy Centre helped me to get on with my life...I didn't think I could play sports, get married, drive a car, get out and find things that you are able to do. For instance, I played basketball standing up and now I play wheelchair basketball...any sport that you can think of that people do standing up, they have adapted that sport some how for persons with disabilities.
Why do you feel the CPA (N.B.) Inc. services are important?
It all has to do with what I am trying to do with my school talks...to create awareness and to create networks and contacts...all those are necessities to get back into normal life.
What does the future look like for you?
I will be trying out for the 2008 paralympic team in Beijing, China. And then I think I will be hanging up my basketball wheelchair...it takes so much energy to stay motivated and stay focused. I'm starting to see what I have missed with family and friends. 
What message do you have for someone who has just incurred a spinal cord injury or someone with a physical disability?
If there is something that you have done prior to your accident, get out there and do it again. You might do it a little different now, but get out there and enjoy it. Ironically, my accident is one of the best things that ever happened to me. When I look back at my life and what I have done with it, I never would have gained all these experiences. Where would I be if I didn't have the accident? Who knows? All I can say is that I am proud to have two gold medals from the paralympics, one gold and three bronze medals from world championships. I was captain of the Canada paralympic team in 2000. I've been all over the world.
Based on an interview with Haley Flaro, Executive Director, CPA (N.B.) Inc. on August 23, 2006.