Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Mitchell Swanson wants people who use a wheelchair to stand up for themselves -- literally.

Swanson was a speaker at Thursday's West Central Illinois Center For Independent Living's 10th annual Americans With Disabilities celebration. He demonstrated the Superstand Wheelchair, which allows wheelchair-bound people to be in a standing position.

"You need to stand up for yourself," said Swanson, paralyzed since a 1990 automobile crash. "This puts people back to work and, in this economy, it opens doors to new opportunities."

Swanson simply uses a lever with his arms to prop the chair to the standing position.

"I'm off my backside and I've never had to deal with pressure point sores," he said. "It's way better for you."

Swanson was an airline pilot and mechanic when he was paralyzed when his car was rammed from behind on I-74 near Danville. Then the ambulance he was in while being transported to Indianapolis crashed, adding to his injuries.

It took him several years to heal. Around 1994, a martial arts teacher told him he needed to stand up.

Swanson then built a standup wheelchair with his father and never looked back. He works for companies that market products for the disabled and makes the Superstand Wheelchair.

Talking to people at eye-level and feeling better about himself are among the many benefits of the chair, Swanson said.

"This is the world's best-kept secret," Swanson said. "Many insurance companies will pay for it, and it's approved by Illinois Medicaid."

Swanson also talked about raising awareness for disabled drivers who need help getting gas. By law, if two or more people are working at a store selling gas, one must come out to assist disabled motorists.

Getting their attention can be tough, Swanson says. He is pushing for federal legislation to have push-button devices installed on gas pumps, alerting employees a disabled person needs help.

Thursday's event at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center featured speakers and vendors to mark the 19th anniversary of the signing of the ADA.

The Americans With Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The wide-ranging civil rights law prohibits under certain circumstances discrimination based on disability.

The CIL provides counseling, living skills, advocacy and referrals for the disabled. It also provides durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and crutches on a free short-term loan basis to people who need items temporarily, or who can't afford to buy medical equipment.

The CIL also handed out awards. The Accessible Entity of the Year went to John Wood Community College, which offers many services for the disabled and has a supervisor of disability services department.

The third annual Bumble Bee award, named in honor of the late Jordan Pyatt, was presented LuAnn Kleemeyer, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident two years ago.

-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370