 Hey, I'm Leslie McVane. Welcome to CTN Member Highlights. Today, I'm at the Wayne Wright Recreation Center in South Portland with some of the members of the group speaking up for us. I'm with Lori Bernier from Speak Up With Us. Hi, Lori. Hi. Hi. So why are we here today? Well, this is a Speaking Up For Us Sports chapter and it's all about the members making choices, what they want to do, and they decided they wanted to go biking. And so we did this last year. People enjoyed it and so we're doing it again today. I'm now with Tyler Ingalls. Hi, Tyler. Hi. You're awfully tall and I don't think you're really that tall. If the camper can look, they can see down. You've got these big skates on. Right. Yeah, you're involved with the Portland chapter and you and Lori run it together or? Right. Yeah. I wrote like a two or three essays to help start the group up and there's something I want to do when I get part of DERB because it's like I didn't see a lot of disabled people into sports or in the community. So it's something I wanted to kind of also activities too. I just wanted people to get people more active. Speaking up for us has chapters all over the state for adults that have developmental disabilities who want to make changes, who want to improve their lives. And so this gives them a forum to get together and discuss issues and figure out ways to improve their life. So do they lobby in Augusta or Washington? We help them to do whatever they feel they need to do. And so yes, we have had big issues that were like right now, we're tackling transportation, which is a huge issue for people. And we're also delving into jobs. That's a huge issue for people. People want to work. And there's there are just so many barriers. So we are whatever members want to work on is what they work on together with with all of us. Our Bangor chapter is a vibrant chapter now. And and one and it's the advisor her name is Krista and she does a great job. And and she's really, really working working with us to to make choice make positive choices. The sports chapter is just one of many various groups under the umbrella of speaking up for us. So tell me about some of the others. Yes, I should say so so most of the chapters are kind of advocacy oriented. And then we have the sports chapter, which is to help people be more participate more in their own communities doing whatever people want to just get out and do any sport they want to, they don't want to be limited to the softball throw, etc. And then we also have an art department chapter, we will probably be starting a technology chapter soon. Yeah, so those are the two that are upcoming. That sounds wonderful. One of the other one of the other things the Bangor chapter is doing for the first time is things like fundraising. We're actually we're actually out raising money to so that all of our members that want to go to the statewide conference can go. And so it's you know it's been great. And also and also we've we've increased our membership at the Bangor chapter too, which is something that had never happened before. Do the members get together weekly? Well, we actually get together by weekly. And because we're all over the state for the sport chapter, we actually go online and call in and all discuss topics of interest, problems we're having, ways we can be more involved in community sports and recreation together. And then we get together maybe every three months or so and do something fun together. And I love the idea that the sports because it's so important for all of us to be able to be physical and flexible as long as we can. The thing is the education goes both ways. So you learn some of the things about us and you learn something about us, but you also realize that we're not so different. You're better athletes. Say that. I mean, but it's also like natural supports at that. So if somebody needs a job, we all connect more naturally than our official supports. I'm with Abbott now. Hi Abbott. Hi. Now you're part of the Portland branch, right? I'm part of the art department branch, which was in Portland, which is in Portland. Right. And we've we've worked with the art department before. As you said, I've interviewed you before. Yes. Now, this is not your first bike ride. No, I've I've biked for a while. For a number of years or a number of years. So do you bike in between the gatherings or yes. So you're you're a real biker. Yeah. Yeah. And when did you start biking when you were a kid or after I graduate from high school? And then just picked it right up. Yeah. There's a sense of freedom with it, isn't there? Yes, there is. Well, tell me a little bit about the bike ride. This is your second time. Yes. You're you're not a newbie. You've done this before. Yes. Now, why did you want to do it again? Was it really exciting? Yes. Yes, it was. It was it was very exciting the first time in, you know, and I enjoy doing it. Now I'm with our third biker, Chris. Hi, Chris. Hi. Are you from the Portland area chapter? No, I'm I'm from the Sanford chapter. Oh, so you drove up here today. Yes, I drove all the way from Sanford all the way up to Portland. And you're the person who hasn't done this before. Yeah, I've never done this before. What made you want to do it today? I've always wanted to try something like this. And it's like great opportunity. Good for you. For me to give it a give it a chance now. But you've ridden a bike like this before or not even? Not even. I've never rode in a bike ever in my life. Oh, oh, are you kidding? You were doing great. I was watching you ride around the parking lot. Yeah. So wow, this is a big day for you then. How does it feel? I like it. Yeah. Do you think you might keep doing it after this? Yes. Great. Well, I hope you have a great ride. Thank you.