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ABILITIES, A PROGRAM ABOUT[Focus on Abilities (#193): “DaQuan Minor – Grad Student from Texas Woman’s University Houston”]
ISSUES AFFECTING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR TODAY'S PROGRAM.
I'M PROFESSOR AT UT HEALTH AND I DIRECT THE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESEARCH UTILIZATION PROGRAM AT TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN, WE HAVE AN INTERESTING SHOW FOR YOU TODAY.
I'VE GOT A GUEST I CAN'T WAIT TO INTRODUCE.
BUT BEFORE WE TAKE THE BREAK, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION THAT WE WILL ANSWER BEFORE THE END OF TODAY'S PROGRAM.
HOW MANY NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN WON BY HOUSTON TEAMS? STAY TUNED.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST AND THE ANSWER TO THAT GREAT QUESTION RIGHT AFTER THIS BREAK.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY ILRU SOUTHWEST, A DA CENTER PROMOTING COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH MR. DEQUAN MINER.
WELCOME TO FOCUS ON ABILITIES.
UH, DEQUAN, YOU WERE A GUEST ON A SHOW SOME YEARS AGO, WEREN'T YOU? 5, 6, 7, I WANNA SAY, UH, ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE WORLD AND IN YOUR LIFE SINCE THEN.
AT THAT TIME, IF I RECALL, YOU WERE A VOLUNTEER AT TIER, CORRECT.
AND NOW, NOW, UM, I ATTEND TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY.
UM, I'M PURSUING MY DOCTORATE DEGREE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.
I, UM, I STILL VOLUNTEER AT TIER, BUT NOT AS OFTEN, OF COURSE.
'CAUSE SCHOOL'S THE PRIMARY GOAL.
SO WHEN, WHEN WE TALKED SEVEN YEARS AGO, YOU, YOU HAD A INTEREST IN, IN DOING PATIENT CARE, PATIENT SERVICES.
AND I THINK YOU HAD AN IDEA THAT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MIGHT BE WHERE YOU WANTED TO GO, BUT YOU HADN'T EVEN FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THEN WHEN YOU DID, YOU APPLIED TO GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL AT, UH, TW AND HOW MANY OTHER SCHOOLS? SO I'M GONNA REWIND.
'CAUSE BEFORE I WENT TO TW I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN 2021.
UM, COMING OUT OF, UM, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, I APPLIED FOR THREE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SCHOOLS.
I WAS ACCEPTED INTO ALL OF THEM, BUT I FELT AS IF TEXAS WOMEN'S WOULD BE THE BEST FIT FOR ME, UM, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS LOCAL.
AND ALSO I KNOW, UM, PLENTY OF GREAT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS THAT CAME OUT OF TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S AN AMAZING STORY.
WHAT WAS YOUR DEGREE FROM U OF HN PUBLIC HEALTH? I MAJORED IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU DID WELL IN SCHOOL OR YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A DOCTORAL PROGRAM AND CERTAINLY NOT EVERYONE THAT YOU APPLIED TO.
UH, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR CHOICE OF TW THANK YOU.
IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKED PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THERE? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE, YOU'RE READY TO, UH, UH, TAKE ON ALL THE CURRICULA THERE? UM, I, I, SO I, COMING INTO IT, I WAS NERVOUS.
UM, I JUST COMPLETED MY FIRST SEMESTER, UM, IN THREE WEEKS, I'LL BE STARTING MY SECOND SEMESTER, WHICH WOULD BE THE FALL.
NOW, I'LL, I HAVE THE GROOVE OF IT.
UM, IT IS NOT REALLY CHALLENGING YET BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FIELD FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, SO IT'S NOT CHALLENGING YET.
A LOT OF THINGS I ALREADY KNOW, BUT I'M STILL KEEPING THAT OPEN MIND.
I'M STILL GOING INTO IT WITH AN OPEN MIND AS IF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IT ALL.
SO THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT.
I, I MEAN, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO GET INTO A CERTAIN FIELD IF THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY CORRECT.
TO DO AN INTERNSHIP OR TO VOLUNTEER TO BE AROUND CORRECT.
PEOPLE WORKING IN THAT FIELD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY ULTIMATELY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
THEY HAVE A MUCH BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING, AND PROBABLY MUCH BETTER BASIC BACKGROUND TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE.
WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, WILL YOU DO, UM, HANDS ON CLINICAL SERVICE? SO THAT'S THE GOAL.
SO MY SHORT TERM GOAL, UM, I TELL PEOPLE IF I, IF SOMEBODY SAY, HEY, TOMORROW YOU'RE GOING TO BE A OT GARDEN WORKER, UM, OF COURSE I FEEL LIKE MY NICHE OR WHAT I WOULD BE A HUGE ASSET TOO, WOULD BE THE SPINAL CORD COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD PREFER TO GO AND WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS
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WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES.UM, IF I CAN BE SUPER DETAILED, I WOULD PREFER IT TO BE ADOLESCENTS.
I WAS INJURED AT THE AGE OF 16, SO IF I CAN TARGET OR WORK WITH THAT AGE RANGE, IT'LL BE PERFECT.
UM, AT THAT AGE RANGE, I WAS INJURED AT 16.
SO YOU DIDN'T LIVE, I I DIDN'T LIVE TOO MUCH OF LIFE OR TOO LITTLE OF LIFE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU RAISED THE, UH, POINT IN TIME WHEN YOU WERE 16 YEARS OLD, AND HOW WERE YOU INJURED EXACTLY? I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR WRECK, CAR WRECK, A SINGLE CAR WRECK.
UM, I WAS WITH SOME FRIENDS AT THE TIME, UM, WHO, WHO WERE MY FRIENDS AT THE TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WAS JUST YOUNG AND DUMB.
IT RAINED PRIOR IN THE DAY, AND THE, THE GROUND WAS SLIPPERY.
HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, HIT THE CURB, AND THEN THE CAR FLIPPED OVER.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CAR HURT? JUST ME.
THAT TAKES ME BACK A LITTLE BIT.
MY NECK WAS BROKEN IN A CAR WRECK WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE, AND I WAS OUT JOY RIDING.
UH, AND, UH, AND, UH, EVERYBODY WALKED OUT OF THAT CAR BUT ME.
AND, UH, SO I GOT THE TEAR THE SAME WAY YOU DID TO BEGIN WITH.
I TELL PEOPLE WHEN, WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT TYPICALLY HAPPEN, IT WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, GOOD AND BAD THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.
WHEN YOU GOT HURT AND YOU WENT THROUGH REHABILITATION, THEN YOU WENT HOME, RIGHT? CORRECT.
YOU'RE FAMILY GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
SEE, THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO FORTUNATE.
AND THOSE KIDS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HELPING, A LOT OF THEM PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF FAMILY SUPPORT.
WHILE YOU WERE WORKING AT TIER, WHAT WERE, CAN YOU TELL US SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THEY, UH, HAVE TRAUMATIC INJURIES? I MEAN, NOWADAYS IT USED TO BE, UH, BACK IN THE DAY, MOST PEOPLE BROKE THEIR NECK, SWIMMING, DIVING, THAT SORT OF THING.
NOW IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD.
HOW DO THEY GET HURT NOW? UM, I'VE SEEN SOME RARE CASES TO A INDIVIDUALS JUST WOKE UP PARALYZED, NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT TOOK PLACE.
THEN OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE EXTREME SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW, UM, ACTS OF VIOLENCE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, UM, SLIP AND FALLS.
IT SEEMED LIKE NOWADAYS, IT, IT COULD PRETTY MUCH HAPPEN FROM ANYTHING.
SO WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS A SPINAL CORD INJURY DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE.
IT CAN HAPPEN IN VARIOUS FORMS. I WANTED TO VISIT WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THAT, AND, UH, ALSO I WANT TO GET AROUND TO THIS QUESTION WE ASK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW.
I'LL RE I'LL REPEAT IT FOR OUR GUESTS.
I SAID, HOW MANY, UH, NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HAVE BEEN WON BY HOUSTON TEAMS? WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT.
WE'LL GET BACK TO DEQUAN MINER.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A SHORT BREAK NOW.
THIS IS FOCUS ON ABILITIES ON HTV.
SHARED WITH LOVED ONES ARE PRECIOUS JOY ENCHANTMENT CONNECTION.
IT'S WHY WE TRAVEL AT HOUSTON AIRPORTS.
WE KNOW THE MAGIC OF FLIGHT BEGINS THE MOMENT YOU SECURE YOUR PARKING SPOT AND EMBARK ON YOUR JOURNEY.
THAT'S WHY WE WORK SO HARD TO BRING YOU THE MOST CONVENIENT PARKING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR TRIP.
IF YOU'RE TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS OR LEISURE, WHETHER YOUR VOYAGE STARTS FROM BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL OR WILLIAM P.
HOBBY AIRPORT, OUR PARKING TEAM AT VALET PARKING ECO PARK, ECO PARK TWO OR TERMINAL PARKING IS HERE TO GIVE YOU A FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE WITH A BIG TEXAS SMILE.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU TO ENSURE THIS MOMENT AND EVERY MOMENT IN BETWEEN WILL BE FILLED WITH GREAT MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.
SO, TRAVEL SMARTER, PARK SMARTER, AND GET MORE OF THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER.
SAM HOUSTON PARK IS PICTURESQUE WITH WADDLING DUCKS AND NINE FROZEN IN TIME.
LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS COMING TOGETHER FOR A GREATER GOAL.
KIND OF REPRESENTS HOUSTON AS A WHOLE AND EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT STYLE, BUT SOMEHOW THAT'S KIND OF OUR THING.
IT'S DIFFERENT PATCHES OF PEOPLE AND CULTURES.
THEY BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE TABLE THAT INFLUENCE US A LOT OF WHAT WE DO.
WE EMBRACE THE FUTURE, WE LEARN, WE GROW, WE EVOLVE, AND WORK IS ONE TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.
HERE IN HOUSTON, WE COULD START BY TELLING YOU HOW SLEEK IT IS, HOW IT'S AT THE EDGE OF INNOVATION IN ITS INDUSTRY, THAT IT MAKES CONNECTIONS FASTER AND MORE CONVENIENT.
WE COULD PROMOTE THE FACT THAT EVEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS GIVE IT THE GREEN LIGHT AND THAT IT MOVES SO QUICKLY.
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ITS OWN LANE.OR YOU COULD JUST RIDE, DISCOVER WHERE THIS RAIL LIKE RIDE IS GOING NEXT.
NEXT, THE KENNEDY BAKERY BUILDING IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE OLDEST HAUNTS IN HOUSTON.
WE'RE HERE WITH DEQUAN MINER, UH, DEQUAN.
YOU, UH, YOU WERE HURT WHEN YOU WERE 16 YEARS OLD.
SO, UM, 11 YEARS AGO, YOU ARE STILL LEARNING TO DO THINGS AS A PARAPLEGIC, RIGHT? CORRECT.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL FOLKS HOW THAT WORKS? I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE WITH THE, THE PARAPLEGIC LIFESTYLE, UM, IT'S AN ONGOING LEARNING LESSON.
UM, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE PHYSICAL ASPECT, MENTAL ASPECT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ALWAYS ADAPTING.
YOU MAY LEARN HOW TO DO SOMETHING ONE WAY, AND THEN EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY PROGRESS OR YOU MAY, UM, DIGRESS.
WHATEVER THE, YOU KNOW, THE CASE MAY BE AND YOU MAY HAVE TO ADAPT.
SO, YEAH, IT'S, IT IS STILL, UM, AN ONGOING PROCESS FOR ME.
LIKE PRIME EXAMPLE IS STARTING GRADUATE SCHOOL.
SO I HAVE TO ADAPT, YOU KNOW, IN THAT ENVIRONMENT NOW.
SO ONE OF THE, UH, BENEFITS OF REHABILITATION IS THAT YOU, WHILE YOU'RE THERE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, YOU GET THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT YOURSELF SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON SOMEBODY ELSE CORRECT.
TO SHOW YOU HOW TO ADAPT, RIGHT? YES.
THAT'S A AND THAT'S THE ROLE YOU'LL BE FILLING AS A OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST.
YOU THINK HAVING HAD THAT EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER OT? UH, NOT TO TOOT MY OWN HORN, BUT I, I DEFINITELY THINK, UM, ME LIVING A PERSONAL LIFESTYLE AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T, YOU KNOW, ANY BAD MOUTH TO THOSE WHO, WHO AREN'T PARAPLEGICS OR WHO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT IS JUST A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LIVE THE, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND YOU CAN BRING IT OVER AND YOU CAN TALK TO A PATIENT.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE THAT IT, IT HELPS THEM TAKE INTO YOU MORE.
UM, AND I SEE IT NOW WITH THE ROLE I PLAY AT TIER.
UM, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT, UM, TALK WITH THEIR CURRENT OTS OR PTS, BUT IF I COME IN, THEN THEY OPEN UP MORE.
THEY, THEY OPEN TO LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
WHILE AGO YOU SAID THAT YOUR, UH, LIFE HAD BEEN AFFECTED WHEN YOU WERE INJURED, BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
AND I SUPPOSE THE GOOD PART, YOU MIGHT SAY SORT OF CHANGED YOUR LIFE DIRECTION, CORRECT.
BAD PART WAS KEPT YOU FROM RUNNING AND, UH, PLAYING THE, THE PHYSICAL ASPECT.
UM, FOR THE GOOD PART, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH PEOPLE WHO COME FOR REHABILITATION, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THIS IS A CHANCE TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS.
I MEAN, I WAS TRYING TO STUDY ENGINEERING AND I WASN'T ENJOYING IT.
AFTER IT BROKE MY NECK, I FLIPPED OVER TO PSYCHOLOGY AND PEOPLE.
AND I LIKED THAT A LOT BETTER.
SO I MEAN, THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS HELPFUL.
UM, WITH THE KIDS THAT COME IN TODAY, SOME OF THEM I'VE SEEN THEM, THEY WEAR, UH, THEY WEAR MARKS FROM THEIR, I GUESS YOU'D SAY GANGLAND ACTIVITY.
AND, UH, THEY GET HURT IN REALLY, REALLY BAD, UH, EXPERIENCES.
I'VE HEARD SOME OF THEIR STORIES.
THEY, UH, THEY REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, FROM, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, YOU, YOU HAVE SOME WHO, WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
YOU HAVE SOME WHO STAY IN THAT SAME MIND STATE FOR A WHILE.
UM, THEY DON'T WANT TO LET IT GO.
THEY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF PRIDE AND EGO DEPENDING ON THE AGE.
SO THEY LIKE, NAH, YOU KNOW, I STILL, I'M STILL WHO I AM PRIOR.
UM, SO IT, IT, IT VARIES PERSON TO PERSON, JUST LIKE WITH EVERY SITUATION.
UM, NOW LET YOU, IN YOUR SPARE TIME, ENJOY, UH, SPORTS, RIGHT? YES.
WHERE DO YOU PLAY BASKETBALL? IN A WHEELCHAIR.
SO I, I TELL PEOPLE I'M NOW RETIRED, BUT I WAS INVOLVED IN WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL AT WEST GRADE PLAYING FOR THE, THE HOUSTON, UM, HOT WHEELS.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF TWO OF THE NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, UM, CHAMPIONSHIP RUNS.
ONE WITH THE JUNIORS AND THEN ONE WITH THE ADULTS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT I JUST STOPPED PLAYING AND FULLY FOCUSED IN ON SCHOOL.
IT USED TO BE SOMETHING WE JOKED ABOUT, PEOPLE PLAYING WHEELCHAIRS, PLAYING BASKETBALL.
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PEOPLE PLAYING WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL GET DRAFTED TO COLLEGES, THEY GET FULL RIDE, UH, THE SPONSORSHIP.DID YOU HAVE ANYBODY LOOKING FOR YOU? UM, I HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO, BUT NO ONE COULD GUARANTEE ME THAT I WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF ON THE MEDICAL SIDE.
SO WHEN I WAS COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, I WASN'T AS INDEPENDENT AS I AM NOW.
AND ONE OF MY THINGS, OR ONE OF MY NEGOTIATING, UM, PARTS WAS, HEY, WILL I BE GOOD MEDICALLY? DO YOU GUYS HAVE GREAT PT AND OT IN, IN YOUR TOWN? AND NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE ME THAT.
SO I WENT AHEAD AND I ATTENDED COMMUNITY COLLEGE FIRST WISE MAN.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, PLAYERS WHO WERE ON THOSE TEAMS WITH YOU CORRECT.
WHO ARE NOW PLAYING COLLEGE BASKETBALL, RIGHT? CORRECT.
WHAT, CAN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE ANY OF THEM MIGHT BE, HOW THEY'RE DOING? UM, I HAVE TWO TEAMMATES.
UM, I HAD A FEW WHO ATTENDED UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON.
UM, ACTUALLY NO, I ACTUALLY HAD THREE THAT ATTENDED ALABAMA.
UM, SO THOSE PROBABLY THE ONLY TWO SCHOOLS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN, UM, RECRUITING PLAYERS FROM MY TEAM.
WHAT SCHOOLS NATIONALLY ARE THE WHAT SCHOOL? WHAT COLLEGE TEAMS MOST OFTEN WIN THEIR OWN LEAGUES? DEFINITELY U-T-A-U-T A'S A A POWERHOUSE.
THEY'RE KNOWN FOR WINNING A TON OF COLLEGE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
SO THEY RECRUIT FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
YOU WOULDN'T, I MEAN, JUST THINKING ABOUT IT, UT ARLINGTON, THEY PROBABLY DO BETTER IN COMPETITIVE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL THAN ANY OTHER SPORT.
UM, SO YOU KEEP UP WITH OLD TEAMMATES? OH YEAH, DEFINITELY.
I, I TRY TO, UM, OF COURSE IT'S NOT A DAILY OR WEEKLY CONVERSATION, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN I'LL CHECK IN WITH THEM.
IF SOMEBODY'S WATCHING THIS SHOW AND THEY THINK THEY MIGHT ENJOY ATHLETICS, UH, OR COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THEY DO? UM, I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL TO FIRST GO TO WEST GRAY, WHICH IS THE ADAPTIVE GYM, UM, HERE IN HOUSTON.
UM, AND JUST VIEW IT FIRST IF IT LOOKS LIKE, IF IT'S LOOK INTRIGUING TO YOU, THEN GO AHEAD AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, GET INTO A CHAIR AND TRY IT OUT.
SO WEST GRAY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER? CORRECT.
AND PEOPLE CAN DROP IN THERE ANYTIME.
AND THERE ARE STAFF THERE WHO WILL HELP GUIDE THEM, UH, LOOK UP THE CALENDAR AND FIND OUT WHEN THE VARIOUS TEAMS ARE PRACTICING.
AND I GUESS ALL THOSE TEAMS ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD PLAYERS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
IS THERE LIKE A STARTER LEAGUE, A STARTER TEAM? UM, YOU HAVE YOUR JUNIORS, WHICH IS, LIKE I SAID, THE KIDS WHO ARE, UM, WHO ARE YOUNG, HAVEN'T GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL YET.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR ADULTS, I THINK THE ADULT TEAM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S SEPARATED INTO TWO DIVISIONS, WHICH IS D THREE AND D TWO.
THAT'S BASED ON HOW, HOW MUCH DISABILITY THEY'RE TRYING TO NO, THAT'S, THAT'S BASED ON YOUR SKILL LEVEL.
AND THE, UH, TEAMS TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
UH, WE'LL TRY TO GET SOME PHOTOS TOO, GO ALONG WITH THE SHOW.
UH, DEQUAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US SOME BACKGROUND THERE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANOTHER BREAK.
WE'LL VISIT SOME MORE WITH DEQUAN MINER.
SHAKE UP YOUR EVERYDAY AND COME EXPLORE DOWNTOWN.
FROM NEW ART INSTALLATIONS TO FAMILY FUN, SWEAT SESSIONS AND MOVIE NIGHTS, WE'RE KEEPING HOUSTON INSPIRED AND ENTERTAINED.
DOWNTOWN IS AN ART LOVER'S DREAM.
WITH MORE THAN 65 PIECES OF PUBLIC ART GREASE AND WIPES CLOG PIPES.
IN FACT, CLOGS FROM THESE ITEMS ARE THE MAIN CAUSE OF SEWER OVERFLOWS IN HOUSTON.
OUR PIPES ARE DESIGNED TO TRANSPORT WATER, PEE POO, TOILET PAPER, AND SOAP.
HERE ARE A FEW ITEMS TO KEEP OUT OF TOILETS AND DRAIN IN THE KITCHEN.
PUT GREASE IN ITS PLACE THE TRASH.
SIMPLY POUR IT INTO A HEAT RESISTANT CONTAINER.
THIS INCLUDES FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS MEAT, FATS, BUTTER, AND CREAM OILS, AND EVEN DOUGH AND BATTER.
ALL FOOD SCRAPS SHOULD BE TOSSED IN THE TRASH IN THE RESTROOM.
ONLY FLUSH THE THREE PS, PEE POO AND TOILET
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PAPER.TOGETHER WE CAN PROTECT OUR PIPES FROM CLOGS AND OVERFLOWS.
LEARN MORE@PROTECTOURPIPES.ORG.
METRO IS HERE FOR YOU EVERY DAY, PROVIDING SAFE, RELIABLE TRAVEL OPTIONS.
WE TAKE YOU TO CELEBRATIONS AND HELP DURING EMERGENCIES.
WE'RE ALWAYS LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE MANAGE TAXPAYER DOLLARS RESPONSIBLY.
AND THANKS TO OVERWHELMING VOTER APPROVAL, WE'RE BUILDING TRANSIT FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW SO THAT YOU CAN DRIVE LESS AND DO MORE.
IN HOUSTON, WE MAKE TOMORROW TOGETHER, BUT FIRST WE MAKE DINNER TOGETHER.
WE MIX INGREDIENTS AND CULTURE.
WE CREATE EXCITEMENT YOU CAN TASTE AND EXPERIENCES TO SAVOR.
ARNOLD TEXAS'S OLDEST CRAFT BREWERY SHIPPED THEIR FIRST KEG OF BEER IN 1994.
YOU'RE TUNED IN AND TURNED ON TO HTV.
AND UH, THIS IS FOCUSED ON ABILITIES.
WE'RE HERE WITH DAQUAN MINER, UH, DAQUAN, THE, UM, I GUESS ALL OF US WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE OUT, YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WHO ARE NOW MOBILITY IMPAIRED YOU DIDN'T SEE BEFORE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
OVER MY 10 YEARS, UM, I FEEL LIKE IT IS, IS DEFINITELY AN INCREASE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE I NOTICE IT MORE, UM, JUST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENVIRONMENT I'M IN AS FAR AS SCHOOL AND, AND BEING THAT TIER, BUT I'M DEFINITELY SEEING IT MORE.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE OLD PEOPLE THOUGH, CORRECT? I MEAN, I'M SAYING OLD PEOPLE.
AND, UH, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING, GETTING OUT THAN BEFORE.
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S MORE THE SOCIETY'S MORE OPEN.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS MORE ACCESS AND BECAUSE WE DO HAVE DISABLED PARKING, BUT THAT IS ALSO PRODUCED SOME PROBLEMS. WHAT ARE, WHAT HAVE YOU OBSERVED IN THAT REGARD? UM, WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSIBILITY, UM, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ANOTHER TOPIC WHERE IT'LL CONTINUE TO BE AN ONGOING BATTLE NO MATTER, UM, HOW MANY RESOURCES WE HAVE, NO MANY, NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN TURN TO IN ORDER TO HELP US OUT.
UM, ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK IT'LL BE A ONGOING BATTLE IS BECAUSE A LOT OF, UM, COMPANIES OR ESTABLISHMENTS, THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF ALL THE A DA LAWS.
IT'S NOT A PRIMARY FOCUS TO THEM.
UM, THEY MAY KNOW THE BARE MINIMUMS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BUILD THEIR ESTABLISHMENT OR, YOU KNOW, BE IN COMPLIANCE.
BUT AS FAR AS THE, THE DETAILS OF A DA, UH, I THINK IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE PEOPLE JUST BRUSH UNDER THE CARPET.
UM, MY EXPERIENCE, WHAT I TYPICALLY DO, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, I UM, GO AND LET YOU KNOW THE OWNER OR MANAGER ON DUTY, WHOEVER YOU KNOW IS IN CHARGE, LET THEM KNOW, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW THINGS GO OR THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE.
BECAUSE THEY, LIKE I SAID, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ON IT.
AND THEN IF THEY DECIDE TO CHANGE IT OR WORK WITH ME, FINE.
YOU KNOW, AND NOT ONLY THAT, I I I, I HAVE THE PROBLEM SOLVE, BUT I ALSO EDUCATED THEM WHILE DOING SO.
UM, BUT THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE THO THOSE MOMENTS WHEN PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARRY, LIKE, OH, WHATEVER.
UM, AND THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES FRUSTRATING.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHY A LARGE POPULATION, UM, OF OUR POPULATION TRY NOT TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC.
THEY'RE AFRAID OF THOSE BARRIERS THEY MAY COME ACROSS.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THOSE BARRIERS.
SO I, I WISH, UM, WE CAN HAVE MORE SOLUTIONS TO THIS ONGOING BATTLE.
SO, I MEAN, THERE ARE A RANGE OF THINGS ONE CAN DO.
IF ONE FINDS, UH, THERE'S A SLOGAN WE USE ON, UH, METRO WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME, AND, AND THAT IS IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING CORRECT
AND I THINK THE SAME THING SHOULD APPLY TO, UH, ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, DON'T JUST SIT THERE.
NOW, I WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY TO GO TO SOMEBODY WHO'S PARKED.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE
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RESTAURANT GOING IN TO, TO GET THE MEAL AND WAITING ON THE, UH, DISABLED PARKING TO CLEAR AND BOOM COMES A, A TRUCK WITH FOUR WHEEL WE WAY RAISED WAY UP.DUDE JUMPS OUT OF THE TRUCK RUNS IN THE RESTAURANT AND I'M LOOKING LIKE, NOW WHAT'S THAT PERSON'S DISABILITY AND HOW DID THEY GET A HANDICAPPED TAG? YEAH.
AND IF I LOOK AROUND AND, YOU KNOW, NOW PART OF ME GETS REALLY ANGRY AND I LIKE TO FACE UP TO HIM.
BUT IT KIND OF WORRIES ME TOO.
THIS BIG DUDE
PROBABLY BE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME SHRINK.
AND THEN I SEE A FEDEX DRIVER AND YOU KNOW, SAY SOMETHING TO HIM AND THEY SAY, WE'LL JUST BE HERE A MINUTE.
AND THEN I SEE SOMEBODY ELSE PULL UP AND THEY, THE FAMILY GETS OUTTA THE CAR, WALKS IN THE RESTAURANT AND I SEE A LITTLE HANG TAG ON THE MIRROR.
SIGNED BY A DOCTOR THAT I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF 'EM GETTING TREATMENT.
THEY NEED THAT SPACE, BUT I GUESS THEY DO.
A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN, UM, MINUTE MAID PARK OPENED THE UH, COMPANY I, ENRON WAS THE SPONSOR.
THEIR MEDICAL DOCTOR FOR THEIR COMPANY WROTE UP THOSE TAGS FOR EVERY ONE OF THE EXECUTIVES.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE UPFRONT PARKING FOR ALL THE GAMES.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT GOES ON.
AND IT FRIES YOU, DOESN'T IT? YEAH.
LIKE I SAY, ONGOING BATTLE, UM, YOU WILL ONLY TAKE IT SERIOUS IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND THAT LIVES THIS LIFESTYLE OR IF YOU LIVE THE LIFESTYLE.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LIFESTYLE, YOU KNOW TOO MUCH, CAROL.
WELL, IT'S, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, YOU CAN CALL 1-800-949-FOUR 2 3 2 TO THE A DA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE LINE AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU, TELL YOU WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE.
AND, AND IF YOU ENCOURAGE THE VENDOR OR THE RESTAURANT OR WHATEVER TO CALL THAT LINE, FIND OUT WHAT THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE.
IT FRUSTRATES ME THAT A LOT OF, UH, ARCHITECTS AND CODE SURVEYORS IGNORE OUR RULES.
AND THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN EITHER.
UM, AND, AND WE NEED TO TURN 'EM IN.
ONE PLACE YOU CAN TURN TO AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH IS THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BUT JUST BRIEFLY, UH, TELL ME WHAT YOU DID IN ONE OF THE MANY CASES YOU BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
UM, SO IT WAS ESTABLISHMENT, WELL-KNOWN ESTABLISHMENT HERE IN HOUSTON.
UM, THERE WERE, THEY WEREN'T ACCESSIBLE FOR, FOR YEARS AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN THE CHAIR AT LEAST.
AND, UM, I GOT TIRED OF THE ISSUE AND I FOUND OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN I, HOW I WAS ABLE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BASICALLY.
AND THE ISSUE WAS SOLVED AND NOW I CAN GO THERE AND EAT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
THERE FOR YEARS, ALWAYS ALIGNED.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY THEIR, THEIR CHICKEN AND WAFFLES, BUT I NEVER GOT, YOU KNOW, HAD TWO ISSUES.
IF I STAYED IN LINE LONG ENOUGH I COULDN'T GET IN THE DOOR 'CAUSE THERE WAS NO RAMP AND I COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK.
'CAUSE THERE WAS NO DISABLED PARKING.
WE JUST CAME BY IT ON THE WAY HERE.
GO AND, UH, RINGING THE BELL AND, AND CALL FOR HELP.
AND THAT'S THE, UH, US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HERE IN HOUSTON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, WHAT THE NUMBER OR THE, UM, I, I DON'T, HONESTLY, YOU CAN JUST LOOK UP, UM, THE US ATTORNEY'S SOUTHERN DISTRICT AND, UM, I THINK IT'S UNDER CIVIL, CIVIL COMPLAINTS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
AND IT'LL LEAD YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
SO DAQUAN, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
I, I, I'M, I'M, I'M A FAN OF YOURS AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU BEING, UH, OT, SO I CAN COME AND PAY YOU TO SERVICE ME
THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING YOU.
YOU KNOW NOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
HOUSTON TWO NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAMS. UH, BE SURE TO CHECK IN WITH THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DISABLED SPORTS.
THIS IS, UH, FOCUS ON ABILITIES.
I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR MORE FOCUS ON ABILITIES.