Able Tales Newsletter

Jennie Sloan is a remarkable woman with a spinal cord injury.

Jennie grew up in Newport, Vermont. She lived with her mother, an older brother, an older sister and a younger half sister, and moved from house to house throughout the Newport area. Her father died when she was three years old. Jennie was a redheaded youngster with an outspoken personality and often felt unwanted and unloved.

In the sixth grade, Jennie developed Epilepsy. She would have blackouts each day. The seizures became more intense and became Grand Mals when she was in her early twenties.

As a teenager, Jennie wanted to become a nurse. She also had thoughts of dropping out of school, but she never did. She engaged in drinking alcohol on a regular basis.

When Jennie was 16 she went to a graduation party where there was a lot of drinking going on. She accepted a ride with someone that had been drinking. Shortly after they left the party just outside of Island Pond, Vermont, the car that they were riding in crashed.

Jennie was in the hospital for 2 ½ months. During her time in the hospital, her greatest fear was that she was going to put on weight. She went home and went into therapy for 3 ½ years. The doctors told Jennie that she would never use walking braces full time. Her wheelchair was part of her life now, and she worried that it would prevent her from leading the life that she wanted.

Jennie had to adjust her life. It bothered her that everyone said they knew how she felt, and she hated being babied. She seemed to have lost respect from her friends. People she knew wouldn't speak to her, and when she went to public events, many would try to avoid her. People would assume that she couldn't do anything for herself, either physically or emotionally. Jennie felt that she was a disgrace to her family and friends, and for many years after the accident, her relationship with her family was strained.

Jennie used a wheelchair through the last two years of high school, and took secretarial classes. After graduating, she found out that the public was not very well educated about disability issues and found that it made people nervous to be around someone using wheelchair. This influenced her to end her plans of becoming secretary.

Jennie's seizures continued to worsen through the years. After having at least one seizure a day for four years, she decided to have surgery to help eliminate the seizures. The surgery was successful.

Jennie learned to appreciate life. Her accident really opened her eyes to the need for greater public awareness of disability issues, and she has become a strong advocate for individuals with disabilities and accessibility issues.

After the seizure elimination surgery, Jennie decided to move on with her life and strive to accomplish something. She decided to go to Johnson State College and completed her BA in Psychology. She has created a wonderful life of living independently. She is asked a few times a year to visit the Driver Education Program at the local high schools to tell her story. She goes into the schools using her wheelchair and it makes a big impact on the students.

Jennie got married three years ago. She and her husband Paul enjoy life to the fullest. They go bowling every week, make new friends and have a great time. She also creates fantastic counted cross-stitch crafts. People are always asking her to make something for them. When you receive a cross-stitch craft from Jennie, it's one of your most treasured items.

Jennie now works for North Country Union High School as a para-educator helping students succeed in their studies. She also tutors at Community College, helping college students with math skills. I have been told that she is one of the best tutors that they have. She is also in the process of developing a program to assist individuals with disabilities. The name of the program is Community Integration Support Services, (CISS).

Jennie wants to continue her education and receive her MA in counseling. She also wants to see CISS become successful. Her goal is to help individuals in the same situation as herself accept challenges and be able to create a life that is not centered on their disability.

A Quote from Jennie:
"The wheel of life keeps on spinning. It is your choice to keep spinning with it."