The Injury Co-Op is a comprehensive resource created by fellow survivors to guide the newly injured and their families through the complexities of life after a catastrophic event. We are dedicated to the empowerment of survivors by providing education, support and the resources needed on the journey to recovery.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Well it was another awesome week for JR! But really, would you expect anything less? This week, the performers danced to Broadway songs and JR and Karina danced a Quickstep to “Hot Honey Rag.”
Katrina said it was the most difficult performance she had ever done on the show. However, JR made it look like a piece of cake. He even did a cartwheel! All of the judges raved about the performance and the couple received two tens. With a final score of 29, they tied for first with Ricki and Dereck.
At the age of 14, Scott Odom had his leg amputated after being diagnosed with cancer. While many thought this basketball and baseball player would never play sports again, Odom was determined to prove people wrong and played both sports in high school. He aspired to play in the NBA after graduation. However, this goal did not seem possible to others.
Rather than quitting, Odom simply started his own league, Amp1. He founded the league to inspire others not to give up on sports. Amp1 is the only organized team of amputees in the U.S. that plays stand-up basketball rather than wheelchair.
This team is really good! Odom, in particular, specializes in 3 point shots. He explains that able bodied players don’t take their team seriously in the beginning of a game. However, when Amp1 shows their skills, it turns into a regular game of basketball in which both teams actually compete. This year, the team launched a national tour and has developed a solid fan base.
JR managed to pull of yet another awesome performance! The contestants travelled back in time to the decade of big hair and leg warmers….the 80’s. JR danced a samba to Gloria Estefan’s “Conga.” As usual, the crowd loved him and, this week, all of the judges agreed he did an amazing job. He received a well deserved 28 points for the performance. We are so happy this burn survivor is doing such a great job and continues to progress week after week!
Well, Martinez has made it to yet another week on DWTS. He was all decked out this Monday in pink tails and a black top hat while he performed a fox trot to the Pink Panther theme song. I think he looked like a natural, but the judges had mixed reviews. While Carrie Ann said his performance fell flat, Len said he was the best performer of the night. However, the audience didn’t seem to have mixed feeling as they booed Carrie Ann for her critique.
Take a look at the video below and see what you think of his performance .
When you think Steve Jobs, you probably don’t think of people with disabilities. Instead, you probably think of cool Apple gadgets like the iPad or iTunes. However, Tim Carmody recently wrote an article titled ‘This Stuff Doesn’t Change the World’: Disability and Steve Jobs’ Legacy that shows just how deep of an impact Jobs had on society, specifically those with a disability.
Carmody found out Jobs had passed while on his way to visit his son, who is autistic and depends on his iPod Touch to communicate. He explains that the iPod has forever changed his son’s life and allows him to interact with others at times when he wouldn’t have been able to on his own. From touch screens to voice commands, Apple has done wonders for those with disabilities. And the response from readers proves this.
One reader responded to the article by saying:
“My niece uses an iPad to communicate with us following a traumatic brain injury that has left her unable to speak, at least for the time being. Yes, it takes therapists and family members working hard to make this work. The blessing this device has been to all of us is hard to put into words. We are thankful to Steve Jobs and the Apple organization and app developers for making this all come together.”
There were several other touching responses similar to the one above that give others insight on how disabled people depend on Apple products for everyday life. Be sure to take a look at the article!
We’re so excited to say it was another awesome week for JR Martinez! This week, the contestants had to use their most memorable year as inspiration for their performances. JR based his performance on the year he was injured in Iraq.
With a fellow burn survivor as his special guest this week, J.R. delivered an outstanding and touching performance. In fact, he received the shows longest standing ovation to date and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. With rave reviews from the judges, he scored 26 points.
Kristin Cavallari, who was eliminated this week, says she expects to see him make it to the final two. At this rate, I certainly see her prediction coming true. Can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next week!
