Neighbors with disabilities handcycle toward independence

The local organization Incight teamed up Intrepid Cycles and Freedom Concepts to put on a handcycling clinic at the Palm Desert Civic Center Saturday.

Coby Webb and her kids were in a car accident more than a year ago. Webb was paralyzed for months, but now with the help of a cane she’s back on her feet.

“I had a broken hip, broken femur, broken back and spinal cord injury,” said Webb.

The Webb family and many others dealing with physical disabilities got out of their chairs, slid into a new set of wheels and went for a ride.

“We have a lot of disabled people in the desert isolated and always inside, so we created this handcycling clinic to increase independence, get them out, get them on the road and connected to other people,” said Judy May, Incight’s program development coordinator.

Incight gave families a chance to ride together while empowering people with disabilities to get out and move.

“It’s great, fun to be out riding my bike with my kids. I didn’t miss anything in life,” said Webb.

For the cyclists, it was more than just getting on a bike; it was about getting out in the community and moving beyond their boundaries.

Dana Johnson was shot 11 years ago — leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.He rode his first handcycle six months ago and since then he says being unable to walk has created a new way for him to live.

“It opened up a whole new world to me, so many benefits; psychologically the breeze in my face and networking with a great group of people.”

For Webb, riding is her self-prescribed medicine to healing and moving on.

“You never know what’s going to work for someone. And if one bike does it for somebody, it’s worth it all,” said Webb.

Organizers said the clinic proves you’re never too old, too young, or too disabled to get a little “Incight.”

“Life has just begun for me. I thought my life was over 10 years ago, but it just began and it’s been a beautiful life,” said Johnson.
Incight hosts the clinic twice a year. The organization hopes to receive the funding to provide enough handcycles to hold a clinic once a month for people with disabilities and their families.