¦ March 6, 2010
FREEDOM'S TALES
Freedom's Wings International (FWI) is a non-profit organization run by and for people with physical disabilities. They provide the opportunity for those who are physically challenged to fly in specially adapted sailplanes, either as a passenger or as a member of the flight training program. The following story is from the Freedom’s Wings newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2010. Reprinted in entirety, with permission.

“Persons with disabilities enjoy sport and recreation as much as persons without disabilities. Our joint events introduced the sport we love to those who have very limited ability to participate in any sport. Steve who flew with us stated … -It was an experience I thought was not possible for me and so I am grateful beyond words. Soaring at 2500 feet was a taste of freedom I will treasure always. Thank you Freedom’s Wings.-

“I always felt that in order to be truly successful the outreach program had to do more than introduce persons with disabilities to soaring. It had to raise awareness. Most persons with a disability face challenges daily in their lives from accessibility issues to transportation, from employment to chronic medical or health concerns. There  is so much they cannot do that a mindset develops … ‘I can’t do that because I have a disability’.

“That attitude is insidious and self-fulfilling. It keeps a person with a disability from attempting activities he can do and from enjoying a full life. At the events participants with disabilities observe Freedom’s Wings pilots, who
themselves use wheelchairs, give rides and actively participate in the program. My fervent hope is that each
participant ponders … if these Freedom’s Wings members can fly gliders, what can I do that I did not think I could do because I have a disability? 

“Santina, a young women with paraplegia, flew with us and afterwards remarked … ‘I can’t step up on a curb, but I can fly a plane!’ Her words captured the spirit of Freedom’s Wings perfectly. The … ‘I can’t step up on a curb’ recognizes the obstacles persons with a disability face each day. But the … ‘I can fly a plane!’ speaks to the possibilities in their lives.

“We not only wanted to raise the awareness of the participants but also that of the host club members. It was equally important that they see firsthand that persons with disabilities were good pilots and active club members. What if one of their club members sustained a spinal cord injury? Would he still be welcome? Would the club adapt one of their aircraft so he could continue to fly? Would the facilities be made accessible so that he could remain a contributing member of the club? And what if it was not a club member but instead a veteran with a disability in their community who wanted to learn to soar … would they accommodate him? The answer to all these questions must be yes! Raising awareness within the soaring community is paramount if soaring for persons with disabilities is going to expand.”

For more information on Freedom’s Wings International, visit http://www.freedomswings.org.