Posted on Friday August 7, 2020
Life has changed for us all recently, there’s no doubt about that. Social distancing combined with health concerns has created additional challenges. Keep reading to see how some Amigo owners are staying busy during COVID while also staying healthy.
Brian Taylor
About Brian
Brian, who has cerebral palsy, was introduced to his first Amigo while working for the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department in Miami, Fla. Before becoming an Amigo owner, Brian was using crutches to get around his workplace. It wasn’t until a work incident where he fell and injured himself that he realized he needed to make a change. “After this happened, I took it upon myself to be more of an asset and not a liability,” Brian recalls. He is now the owner of both an Amigo RT Express and an Amigo RD Deluxe. The 360 rotation feature allows him to move himself safely to wherever he needs to go.
After retiring from Miami-Dade Corrections, Brian got his unarmed security D license. When the state of Florida began to re-open on a county basis, Miami-Dade County Parks and Rec reached out for help. They asked if he would be available to work. He is now assigned to Highland Oaks Park near his home. Thanks to the Special Transportation Service, operated by Miami-Dade County, Brian is able to get to and from work. The service used to function with multiple riders. With COVID it has transitioned to a one driver, one rider system, to get persons with disabilities where they need to go. Brian’s wife Iara is back in her hometown of Sau Paulo, Brazil, unable to return due to quarantining. Without STS he would be unable to make it to work currently.
How Brian is Keeping the Public Safe and Staying Busy during COVID
Brian has stayed busy during quarantine by providing great customer service, a friendly face, and a great attitude at all times. Along with the customer service, Brian is helping keep both himself and others safe by ensuring all guests are practicing correct social distancing procedures, wearing masks, and answering any questions they may have. While working at Highland Oaks Park, one day his Amigo needed service. Brian regularly uses Total Mobility, a dealer located in his area for regular maintenance and called them up to help. The Total Mobility team stepped in offering to pick up the one for work and drop off one to use. Thanks to Total Mobility, Brian was able to keep providing his great customer service and do his job.
He reminds us all to remember no matter the situation it’s always the people behind the people. Everyone needs to come together to make things work. Brian is just the end user of the Amigo he tells us. He wouldn’t have mobility without us, and his Amigo wouldn’t continue to work without Total Mobility. He thanks them greatly for helping him maintain his mobility during COVID and work.
We think right now it’s a good reminder in general that while life is hectic and crazy, if we all come together we can work through it a bit easier.
Read more about Brian here: 30 Years of Work in the Jail – Friendly Wheels – Issue 108
More on Brian and Total Mobility Services
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
About Patricia
Patricia Lay-Dorsey has been part of the Amigo family since 2000. She started to lose her ability to walk after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1988. She may do things differently from when she used to run marathons in 1980, but “different” doesn’t mean bad. It simply includes a bit more ingenuity and determination.
Patricia’s Amigo of choice is the Amigo RD . The front basket has become her favorite feature because it makes it easy to carry her camera equipment wherever. She also uses a sliding board for transfers to and from the seat. The power lift features make each transfer safer and easier to manage.
Patricia’s favorite thing to do pre-pandemic with her Amigo was to go dancing at techno music concerts. She has even received the title “Grandma Techno.” Attendees clear a path so she can get to the front of the jam-packed stages riding her Amigo allowing her to dance the night away. She loved to be around people, out taking photography, and ventured to downtown Detroit at least twice a week.
How Patricia is Getting Out, Being Creative and Staying Busy During COVID
Post-pandemic life has looked slightly different, as it has for many of us. For Patricia who is high risk for COVID and has spent over 30 years with MS it has been a drastic change. Aside from a brief outing to a tiny Black Lives Matter rally, she has stayed very distant from everyone but her husband and caretaker. This time has made her even more thankful for her Amigo. It has given her such a huge sense of freedom. Every morning you can see her going as fast as she can on a 4-5 mile Amigo ride. The routine that has become her favorite part of the day.
When she isn’t enjoying her morning cruise, or spending time with her husband Eddie, she’s spending countless hours on a new photo collage project. Titled “COVID Collages,” it chronologically documents her thoughts and feelings since the pandemic began. The project will continue as long as the pandemic continues. Being high risk Patricia has had to re-adjust her creative outlets, this project is entirely digital. Combining old shots with new ones in her home.
Another Amigo user, Judith Burton, recently sent us the message, “Because of you, lives are lived…not spent in a chair in a corner,” and we think Patricia would agree!
Read more about Patricia here: Grandma Techno Dances Her Way Through Life
Patricia Lay-Dorsey Photography
