Wheelchair-Bound Man Breaks Down After He “Skis” For 1st Time In Decades.

disabled man skis with vr tech

Some people think virtual reality or VR is the wave of the future.

This increasingly common technology uses computer-generated images of a three-dimensional environment to enable people to be “in” an activity of their choosing. Using a headset or helmet, users can virtually fly, go into space, or ski down a snowy mountainside, all without ever leaving the comfort of their chairs.

Imagine the possibilities! For people who can’t move their body due to a physical handicap, the technology can open a whole new world of movement and vitality.


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This is Evan. He’s been confined to a wheelchair and hasn’t had the use of his legs for all of his adult life. Although he relies on his wheelchair to navigate his world, he longs for the days when he could walk the earth with his own two feet.

People at Evan’s school knew he wished more than anything that he could have the sorts of experiences that he’d once had before he became fully disabled, so they decided to do something about it.

They arranged for Evan to try out the school’s latest technological offering: virtual reality.


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Using the VR headset, Evan was able to attend a concert at the Burning Man festival before hitting the simulated slopes for the first time since he was 15.

As soon as the grown man found himself swooshing down a snowy mountainside, he burst into happy tears. He couldn’t believe how thrilling it was to experience an athletic sport like skiing once again. Tears flowed freely down his face as deep emotion washed over him.


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After, Evan thanked the people who had made this experience possible. “You made me feel like I’m walking,” he said happily. Can you imagine how liberating this must feel for someone who can’t move on his own?


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“I think VR is not just for me, it’s for every handicapped person,” Evan said. “This chair is my friend, but it’s also nice to get out of it for a while.”

VR could open a new door for those who suffer from severe physical handicaps. Virtually anything is possible!

Watch Evan experiencing VR for the first time below, and don’t forget to share.

 

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