Attitude is what determines disability

Vickie Sciberras, who was paralysed from the waist down due to a spinal cord injury caused in a road accident in March, has just returned from rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the UK, where she has striven to learn to lead an independent life.

The 37-year-old occupational therapist spent four months on an intensive rehabilitation programme at the hospital's National Spinal Injury Centre to be able to "bring out her maximum independence in everyday life activities".

Ms Sciberras describes the experience as "fantastic" and "very hard work, with moments when I wanted to give up". But she is now ready to resume her job next month.

Ironically, before the accident in Mosta, when she was hit by a coach as she was getting out of a car, Ms Sciberras used to deal with people in whose situation she is today. She has found herself practising what she used to preach and considers it a bonus for her job.

As a paraplegic, Ms Sciberras feels she is in a better position to assist other persons with disability and is willing to share her experiences to help them improve their lives.

Today, she can "do the basics" on her own: dressing, bathing and domestic activities, such as cooking and cleaning. She has learnt wheelchair skills to be able to go out and she knows how to get up off the floor in case she falls out - "which has happened about six times," she laughs.

"It was a weird experience: I flew off, but didn't feel like I was falling until I was on the floor and I didn't get hurt. You don't realise you've lost your balance until it's too late and there's no pain involved!"

Ms Sciberras can get on and off the bed on her own and can also drive. She is currently waiting for her car, which is being adapted to suit her needs.

At the centre she even learned how to get into a vehicle on her own, fold her wheelchair and transferring it into the car without assistance.

She was also taught to build up her upper body and the muscles in her arms, which she would now have to be using as legs. Ms Sciberras had specialised assessments in bladder and kidney function, seating, posture and pressure relief. Every week, she was given a different wheelchair to try so that, by the end of the programme, she could decide which one suited her best.

She also had the opportunity to make contacts with the Spinal Injuries Association and the Back Up Trust, which organises holidays for persons with spinal injuries.

Still as optimistic as she was when she was contacted in hospital shortly after her accident, Ms Sciberras admits, however, that it takes time to settle down.

"I am not driving yet, so I am still dependent on people taking me here and there..."

And she has already seen for herself the general inaccessibility - even in new buildings - to wheelchair users. She was surprised to note that in certain outlets she could not close the toilet door with her wheelchair and was shocked that although the airport and other important public areas have toilets for persons with disability, they either had no rails or were too low, so assistance was required.

Ms Sciberras does not intend to take matters lying down and plans to write to companies that do not cater for wheelchair users. However, she fears that "every time I go out, I will have to write a letter. The situation is really that bad, I am sorry to say".

"As it is, there is no way I would risk going out on my own," she states, pointing out that she has come across pavements with a ramp at one end but nothing at the other. The only way to avoid these hurdles would be to use her wheelchair on the road, but that would not be safe.

The situation was not as bad as it used to be, but there was still a long way to go in terms of wheelchair accessibility, according to Ms Sciberras. "I appreciate that ramps have been built, but some are so steep that assistance is required just the same."

And that is not because Ms Sciberras does not know how to manage a wheelchair. At the centre, she learnt wheelchair table tennis, basketball and archery and was even able to swim.

She is living with her parents, who have installed a lift. However, she still intends to get married - as per plans for last May prior to her accident. "And now I even have a new set of teeth," she laughs, having described herself as "a toothless monster" in the past.

Ms Sciberras and her future husband have a flat, which they intend to move into, following some minor changes, including grab rails in the bathroom.

At Stoke Mandeville's centre, every patient had a "fascinating" story. "In the large gym, everyone could see what the others were doing and each patient was overjoyed and would applaud when someone achieved something, which was very encouraging," she recalls.

"From my personal experience and what I have seen in other patients, the attitude towards the disability is the most important thing. I would almost say that the severity of the disability is determined by one's attitude and the support one has."

Ms Sciberras herself had stunned the nation with her strength, charisma and positive attitude towards a situation that would have floored almost anyone.

She attended the National Spinal Injury Centre thanks to the generosity of the Maltese, who raised enough money for her to go and she is eternally grateful to those who made it possible. "All their love and support enables me to lead a more independent way of life..."

Ms Sciberras intends to set up a database with contact details of persons with spinal injuries to be able to share information. She can be contacted on viky@waldonet. net.mt.