Friday, February 29, 2008

IKAN User Profile: Melissa Sino, Florida

My friend Melissa Sino is currently setting the bowling-pace for power wheelchair users with Cerebral Palsy. Her high score (see below) is tops in both the Cerebral Palsy category and the "head control" driving method category. I have to explain Melissa's comment after stating her high score below... since technically I'm the co-inventor of the IKAN Bowler, I've bowled with it quite a bit; so I should be good with it, plus I'm naturally competitive (I was the first IKAN User to break 200 in bowling). My Dad knows all of these things, so he offered a standing $20 reward to any IKAN User who can beat my top score of the afternoon (not my current high game of 206, just the best of the usual 3, 4, or 5 games I bowl with the Quad Squad). My Dad calls it "ego control" and, I admit, it does make bowling even more fun and challenging with the friendly competition. And yes, as Melissa says below, she did indeed beat me one afternoon and collected the $20 reward! :-)

Name: Melissa Sino
Age: 21 (22 soon!:)
Location: Central Florida (Celebration)
Reason for Wheelchair Use: Cerebral Palsy (quadriplegic, augmented communicator)
Onset or Injury Date: Birth
Wheelchair Operation Method: Proximity head array
High Bowling Score: 169 and BEAT Bill one time & won $20! :-)
Approx Bowling Average: 125
Typical Range of Scores: 90-140
Bowling Frequency: One to two times per month usually with the Central Florida Quad Squad
Bowling Ball(s): 16 lb Brunswick Zone, non-drilled (fluorescent colors swirl = Christmas gift from cousins) [Bill, here, I have to add that I think bowling with an undrilled ball is MORE difficult than a drilled ball; it works for Melissa, but I bowled terribly with an undrilled ball, so to me, that makes Melissa's bowling more impressive!]
Quote from Melissa: "Happiness is a Choice -- Life is Supposed to be FUN!!!"

I absolutely love your quote, thank you Melissa!

Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 206 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
My blog:
http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot.com/
Business website:
http://www.ikanbowler.com/
Personal website:
http://www.lookmomnohands.net/