My name is Chad Norton, and I am a very involved member of the Syracuse, NY community and have been for many years. I have been disabled and wheel chair bound diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy since birth, but still found ways of participating with community events such as challenger baseball and disabled skiing. At my young age I saw and experienced all the disabled hurdles people have to deal with in everyday life. That is why I am such a strong advocate. As I grew older I became involved in many more events, particularly keeping Webster pond, a local bird sanctuary, open and becoming a successful place for the community to interact with nature. In addition to volunteering my time at Webster pond, I am also a board member of several organizations, such as; Anglers Association of Onondaga, Friends Of Wild Life, Resource Center for Independent Living, and ARISE. All these organizations seek to improve their involvement in the surrounding community for both able and disabled bodies.
I am writing to you with a concern that will impact the entire disabled community. Throughout all of my years of volunteering in the community, I have relied heavily on means of transportation, my handicap accessible van; And will continue to have a need for it in the years to come. The vehicle is leased and paid for through my independent living budget, paying the majority of the monthly payment. I recently was informed that the vehicle leasing program through the state has been discontinued. This program has enabled me to become an active member of my community, and allowed me to get to medical appointments, regardless of the fact that I am disabled. Without this program I will not have the freedom of the independent philosophy, and feel as though that would be a huge detriment to both me and the community I live in.
I would appreciate any help you could offer in reversing the ending of this program, and hope you see how much a vehicle means to someone who is disabled and already has something taken away from them. Being able to participate in the community is a huge help in not forcing me to focus on my disability, but directs my focus for all the positive things I could do for the community instead.
Updates
July 28, 2015
The state bureaucrats think they can just pull the rug out from under us and walk away without an explanation. I am currently hounding every official who had a hand in cutting this program and I will not stop until I get a real answer about why they are abandoning disabled people.
23 Comments
Keep the disabled van lease program running! I have been fortunate to meet Chad, as I live in the bird sanctuary neighborhood where he volunteers. This program allows Chad to be a productive citizen in our community and allows him the freedom to be as independent as possible with Cerebral Palsy. This is a worthwhile program that allows our disabled neighbors be successful contributing members of the community. Keep this program funding at 100%!
Please keep this program available for individuals that have no other means of transportation this helps them to be able to communicate with others and be a positive role model in our community.
Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean they don't deserve the rights that everyone else has. If it is specially set up for them then why take that right away.
I have the honor of knowing Chad Norton. Chad is an active advocate in the community, as well as a honorable person who strives to have a positive impact. Taking away his transportation would not only adversely effect Chad but the entire Syracuse area as well.
I am also disabled and rely heavily on my van to get me where I want/need to go in my power chair. Without my van I would be stuck
This is disgusting! They will let people sit on wefare and produce as many kids as they can. But when it comes to aiding a disabled person who WANTS to work and not sit on their butts at home we cant help them?????
Dr. Chad When I came to that pond and did my community service I thought you just sit there do nothing but wont's I started to get to know you and talk to you just me and you and how you be telling me stuff how you do stuff that ppl think you cant do but I'm special need to but it don't show cause i just look like a normal person but you it show but each time there is a wall up you all aways know how to get thru that wall and fight for what you want its no law about being special need cant do nothing i think you can do more then any person cant do and i wish my one sister was like you but all she do is laying in bed but the power you have Tha no one cant see then there not seeing what you can do there looking at you cause your in a chair but Tha shouldn't matter cause i look at you like a normal person and watch i have faith in you one day i will see you looking down on me when I'm looking up at you but life your life to the fullest dont let know one say you cant do nothing i seen you do more stuff then any one Tha is special needs and red say the same thing if you need me and him we will be on your side all the time cause your like a mother brother to us
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My name is Chad Norton, and I am a very involved member of the Syracuse, NY community and have been for many years. I have been disabled and wheel chair bound diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy since birth, but still found ways of participating with community events such as challenger baseball and disabled skiing. At my young age I saw and experienced all the disabled hurdles people have to deal with in everyday life. That is why I am such a strong advocate. As I grew older I became involved in many more events, particularly keeping Webster pond, a local bird sanctuary, open and becoming a successful place for the community to interact with nature. In addition to volunteering my time at Webster pond, I am also a board member of several organizations, such as; Anglers Association of Onondaga, Friends Of Wild Life, Resource Center for Independent Living, and ARISE. All these organizations seek to improve their involvement in the surrounding community for both able and disabled bodies.
I am writing to you with a concern that will impact the entire disabled community. Throughout all of my years of volunteering in the community, I have relied heavily on means of transportation, my handicap accessible van; And will continue to have a need for it in the years to come. The vehicle is leased and paid for through my independent living budget, paying the majority of the monthly payment. I recently was informed that the vehicle leasing program through the state has been discontinued. This program has enabled me to become an active member of my community, and allowed me to get to medical appointments, regardless of the fact that I am disabled. Without this program I will not have the freedom of the independent philosophy, and feel as though that would be a huge detriment to both me and the community I live in.
I would appreciate any help you could offer in reversing the ending of this program, and hope you see how much a vehicle means to someone who is disabled and already has something taken away from them. Being able to participate in the community is a huge help in not forcing me to focus on my disability, but directs my focus for all the positive things I could do for the community instead.
Updates
July 28, 2015
The state bureaucrats think they can just pull the rug out from under us and walk away without an explanation. I am currently hounding every official who had a hand in cutting this program and I will not stop until I get a real answer about why they are abandoning disabled people.
23 Comments
access to reliable and timely transportation is vital to living an independent and full life.
Keep the disabled van lease program running! I have been fortunate to meet Chad, as I live in the bird sanctuary neighborhood where he volunteers. This program allows Chad to be a productive citizen in our community and allows him the freedom to be as independent as possible with Cerebral Palsy. This is a worthwhile program that allows our disabled neighbors be successful contributing members of the community. Keep this program funding at 100%!
Please keep this program available for individuals that have no other means of transportation this helps them to be able to communicate with others and be a positive role model in our community.
Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean they don't deserve the rights that everyone else has. If it is specially set up for them then why take that right away.
I have the honor of knowing Chad Norton. Chad is an active advocate in the community, as well as a honorable person who strives to have a positive impact. Taking away his transportation would not only adversely effect Chad but the entire Syracuse area as well.
I am also disabled and rely heavily on my van to get me where I want/need to go in my power chair. Without my van I would be stuck
This is disgusting! They will let people sit on wefare and produce as many kids as they can. But when it comes to aiding a disabled person who WANTS to work and not sit on their butts at home we cant help them?????
Dr. Chad When I came to that pond and did my community service I thought you just sit there do nothing but wont's I started to get to know you and talk to you just me and you and how you be telling me stuff how you do stuff that ppl think you cant do but I'm special need to but it don't show cause i just look like a normal person but you it show but each time there is a wall up you all aways know how to get thru that wall and fight for what you want its no law about being special need cant do nothing i think you can do more then any person cant do and i wish my one sister was like you but all she do is laying in bed but the power you have Tha no one cant see then there not seeing what you can do there looking at you cause your in a chair but Tha shouldn't matter cause i look at you like a normal person and watch i have faith in you one day i will see you looking down on me when I'm looking up at you but life your life to the fullest dont let know one say you cant do nothing i seen you do more stuff then any one Tha is special needs and red say the same thing if you need me and him we will be on your side all the time cause your like a mother brother to us
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access to reliable and timely transportation is vital to living an independent and full life.