WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.436 --> 00:00:01.986 >> Paw. 2 00:00:03.056 --> 00:00:04.976 >> Welcome to the Kowaleski household. 3 00:00:05.216 --> 00:00:08.156 Paxton and Fenway [assumed spellings] greet all visitors. 4 00:00:08.156 --> 00:00:09.176 >> Good. Hey, what's that? 5 00:00:09.906 --> 00:00:10.996 Come here? 6 00:00:11.266 --> 00:00:12.346 Thank you so much. 7 00:00:12.596 --> 00:00:19.516 I moved to Connecticut in 1993, after meeting my husband, 8 00:00:19.806 --> 00:00:25.236 and I became an instant mom because he has three kids, 9 00:00:26.156 --> 00:00:31.466 and they were ages 12, 6, and 4. 10 00:00:31.616 --> 00:00:34.796 We ended up getting married in August of 1993, 11 00:00:34.796 --> 00:00:38.256 and we just celebrated our 24-year anniversary. 12 00:00:38.256 --> 00:00:40.266 I'm a step-mom, and a mom. 13 00:00:40.806 --> 00:00:47.306 My daughter was actually born 9 years on the day, 14 00:00:47.556 --> 00:00:48.946 on the anniversary of my injury. 15 00:00:49.146 --> 00:00:51.566 Weird, just happened that way. 16 00:00:51.916 --> 00:00:57.156 So, quite frankly, she has absolutely no regard 17 00:00:57.306 --> 00:01:03.056 for the fact I'm using a device that rolls over her shoes, 18 00:01:03.106 --> 00:01:05.156 and her junk, and what have you. 19 00:01:05.156 --> 00:01:08.056 She treats me like she treats everybody else. 20 00:01:08.306 --> 00:01:10.296 >> Shortly after Vicki moved to Connecticut, 21 00:01:10.296 --> 00:01:13.616 she became a vocational rehab counselor for the state. 22 00:01:14.186 --> 00:01:17.446 Work was a major part of her life for more that 20 years. 23 00:01:18.176 --> 00:01:20.466 Like in any job, Vicky had to prove herself. 24 00:01:20.846 --> 00:01:24.376 Having a disability made that even more necessary. 25 00:01:24.716 --> 00:01:29.366 >> Like, with work, I felt like I had to prove myself. 26 00:01:29.756 --> 00:01:32.556 That I had to make sure everything was turned 27 00:01:32.556 --> 00:01:35.346 in before it was due. 28 00:01:35.756 --> 00:01:39.096 Because I, you know, I had an experience with an interview 29 00:01:39.536 --> 00:01:43.096 where the person didn't accept me 30 00:01:43.306 --> 00:01:45.946 because that person had had a bad experience 31 00:01:45.946 --> 00:01:47.576 with somebody else with a disability. 32 00:01:48.096 --> 00:01:52.546 And, I'm like, you don't know me, all of us aren't the same. 33 00:01:53.356 --> 00:01:58.736 As far as keeping things straight, and keeping, you know, 34 00:01:58.996 --> 00:02:05.196 a balance in life, I, you know, while I was working it was hard. 35 00:02:06.346 --> 00:02:08.936 It got to a point, and this is why I ended up retiring, 36 00:02:09.686 --> 00:02:15.946 that I was spending so much time working that I was living 37 00:02:15.946 --> 00:02:19.226 to work, and it got to where, you know, 38 00:02:19.226 --> 00:02:21.406 I realized, I just can't do that. 39 00:02:21.496 --> 00:02:22.586 My health suffered. 40 00:02:22.586 --> 00:02:25.426 >> Having more time allows for Vicki to participate 41 00:02:25.426 --> 00:02:27.666 in more wellness-related activities. 42 00:02:28.206 --> 00:02:30.116 Those come with their own challenges, though. 43 00:02:30.416 --> 00:02:32.296 Not because Vicki can't do them. 44 00:02:32.646 --> 00:02:35.216 But, because many places, including fitness centers 45 00:02:35.216 --> 00:02:39.226 and pools aren't accessible, or lack accommodations 46 00:02:39.226 --> 00:02:41.746 that would allow Vicki more independence. 47 00:02:42.056 --> 00:02:44.816 >> When I was working, our leisure time was going 48 00:02:44.816 --> 00:02:47.616 to movies, or just hanging out with family, 49 00:02:47.616 --> 00:02:49.576 and that kind of stuff. 50 00:02:49.576 --> 00:02:51.906 Now, I've actually tried yoga. 51 00:02:52.656 --> 00:02:58.296 I go to a naturopathic place where I'm getting back 52 00:02:58.296 --> 00:03:02.906 into working out, doing some weights and stretching. 53 00:03:03.836 --> 00:03:07.786 Acupuncture, which is a new thing for me, and you know, 54 00:03:08.306 --> 00:03:10.006 sometimes we have our grandchildren, 55 00:03:10.006 --> 00:03:12.426 and we take them out. 56 00:03:13.496 --> 00:03:16.576 And, about, I'm a giant stroller for the kids. 57 00:03:18.026 --> 00:03:20.186 They fight over who's going to ride on me. 58 00:03:20.746 --> 00:03:26.416 31 years I just celebrated using a chair. 59 00:03:27.146 --> 00:03:31.056 So, you know, it's like, I'm proud of that. 60 00:03:31.056 --> 00:03:32.886 You know, I'm proud that I worked. 61 00:03:33.346 --> 00:03:35.286 >> While Vicki has retired from her career 62 00:03:35.286 --> 00:03:38.416 in vocational rehabilitation, she continues to work 63 00:03:38.416 --> 00:03:42.246 in her husband's supermarket, assisting with accounting tasks. 64 00:03:42.606 --> 00:03:46.766 The flexible position allows for greater work/life balance.