Introduction -- Hello Disaboom from a vent-dependent quadriplegic and dynamic wheelchair bowler!

My name is Bill Miller; I live in central Florida (Leesburg).  I incurred a spinal cord injury on 8-23-1997 (hence my user name ending in 823) and I'm functionally considered a C1-2 (complete) ventilator-dependent quadriplegic.

When I was injured in 1997, there wasn't much information on the Internet about life as a C1-2 quadriplegic.  So once I gained experience as a quadriplegic and learned how to build a website, I started my own, mostly to be a resource for other people with disabilities, especially high-level quadriplegics (and their friends & family).  You can check it out here: http://www.LookMomNoHands.net
 
In 2002, I started working on a way in which ANY wheelchair user can bowl.  I'm actually credited with co-inventing the IKAN ("I can") Bowler, which indeed can enable essentially any wheelchair user to bowl -- just for fun, or in league or tournament play -- bowling with and/or against able-bodied bowlers or fellow IKAN Users.
 
Bowling with an IKAN Bowler emulates the able-bodied bowling process: we setup, then physically approach and release the ball as we stop short of the foul line.  That's called dynamic wheelchair bowling and that's why the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) sanctioned the IKAN Bowler for league and tournament play, and it's the first time they have ever sanctioned adaptive equipment. 
 
Though I have already enjoyed learning from others on Disaboom, I admit that a large reason why I'm starting a blog here is to increase awareness that the IKAN Bowler exists and even high-level quadriplegics can bowl.  Anyone who can safely operate his/her wheelchair can bowl in dynamic fashion (as described above).  But it's not just about bowling; it's about empowering wheelchair users.  I started a blog on Google's blogspot titled "Empowering Wheelchair Users" and will share appropriate info from it here, as well as other other things, potentially.
 
It just so happens that bowling is a fun, therapeutic way to get wheelchair users (back) in the game of life, which is the mission of the company I co-founded.  Our very small company was co-founded by three people with disabilities, and we have very limited resources with which to advertise.  That's why I'm trying to post where appropriate on the Internet.

We developed a "Universal Mount" for attaching the IKAN Bowler arm to one's wheelchair, and the Universal Mount also works with our IKAN Power Soccer Guard -- enabling two sorts.  Power Soccer is already a pretty popular sport, but most wheelchair users don't know that dynamic wheelchair bowling exists.
 
For two videos on dynamic wheelchair bowling, checkout:

http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot.com/2007/06/two-videos-and-slideshow-on-power.html
 
For current records for various categories of wheelchair users, checkout:

http://www.WheelchairBowlingRecords.com
 
Our business website and online store are here: http://www.IkanBowler.com
 
I'll be happy to try to answer questions on anything (except politics:).
 
If you actually read this far -- thank you for your interest!
 
Sincerely,
 
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 206 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
My existing blog: http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot.com
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net