Tim's New Home Page

I was born with spina bifida, a malformed spinal cord. As a result, I am a paraplegic and a wheelchair-user. Therefore, I have had a strong interest in disability civil rights for many years. I date back to the days when they sent disabled kids to school, and kept sending them until they died. Some, like me, just kept living--screwing up the system. Nobody knew what to do with me. I wasn't taught much that would actually help me find a job, because I wasn't expected to be able to actually hold a job! Mom and Dad insisted that I go to college, but after barely graduating from high school, I was done with education. Thankfully, that was when I found the martial arts.

I have been active in disability martia arts for some thirty years; since before the State of Michigan passed the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act in 1976. I also participated in a class action suit demanding accessible public transportation in the Detroit area. The Act was passed--some small businessmen objected to certain portions of the law dealing with accessibility--and there is some accessible public transportation.

Former President George Bush (the first one) performed what may have been the one and only good act of his administration by signing the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990. Follow the link and read it for yourself--it isn't perfect, but it is the best that could be done. It did not--and should not have--helped him get re-elected in '92, but it's done.

More recently, I have established a blog, Born Angry . I comment upon politics, legal issues and current events, and whatever else I feel like writing. I don't claim that it is jounalism, but it's great therapy.

WARNING--Born Angry does contain strong language and controversial topics. It may be considered NSFW!