Liberty Swing Comes to Michigan

Words cannot express how impressed, grateful, and excited I am about a recent development in the local news.  Michigan soon will be getting its very first Liberty Swing (originally from Australia).  A young boy in a neighboring town worked long and hard to raise money for this special swing.  Why such the effort, you may ask?  This is a swing especially designed for handicap wheelchairs.  His brother has Cerebral Palsy, much like my daughter.  This young man wanted to give him the opportunity to “spread his wings” as it were and enjoy a simple thing like swinging.  Kids in wheelchairs often grow up not knowing the joy of even half the activities their peers often engage in.  What a giant step in the right direction!  The Liberty Swing will be installed in a somewhat smaller town park only 20 minutes away from where we live.  I was astonished to hear that town officials were originally put off by the idea saying there weren’t enough handicap people around to benefit from such an extensive and expensive project.  “All they need to do is look around them,” said the boys father during our discussion yesterday.  So true!  There are more people that will benefit than they might think.  Even if it could help one disabled person experience the seemingly simple joy of having the wind in their hair, being lifted from the ground in a swing specifically designed for them – it’s beyond worth it.  Besides, my opinion is that people will drive.  I plan to.  Even though it’s a good distance to drive to play at the park, I want my daughter growing up knowing she can experience the same things as other kids her age; that nothing can stop her if she really wants to do something – anything!  Other parents of disabled children, I’m positive, feel the same way.  Thank you again for this awesome opportunity!