Priscilla Richardson

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Troutville's Sharon Myers, the author of "Paco's Gift," never goes anywhere without Betsy, her trusted wheelchair, because she must. Ever since a childhood bout of polio, she has needed a wheelchair to get around. Her book focuses on the encounter she and Betsy had with a ragged shoeshine boy on a trip to Peru and the amazing result of his gift to both of them.

But Myers is far more than the author of a book. Her life, which started in Pulaski in 1950, has been full of challenges because of her need for Betsy. In high school, she heard time and again: "You must make good grades, and then college doors will open to you." Well, the doors opened, but she couldn't find an accessible door. The colleges had too many steps. She ended up going to the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center for business college instead, where she won top awards.

While at Wilson she was introduced to sports and went to New York for national wheelchair games. She did track and field, swimming and archery. "When I came back, I wanted to share my experience with everyone," she said.

Sharing also started a major turning point in her life. An occupational therapist at Woodrow Wilson introduced her to a young man, Fincastle native Billy Myers, who also must use a wheelchair. They hit it off, started dating and then married.

The couple headed off to international games, eventually competing in 19 countries. Careers called each of them. Sharon Myers worked at creating jobs for people with disabilities. Nowadays, with computers, it's much easier to find employment they can do at home, she said.

Her husband works as a timekeeper and accountant for Adams Construction in Roanoke. She had to give up her full-time employment in 1976 after a serious operation. She acquired one new task last year: She drives her husband to and from work each day while he slowly recovers from a rotator cuff operation.

Since 1976, "I have worked but not been paid," she said. For example, she has worked with and traveled for the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. "With all my travel experience, I have been able to help make other countries more accessible. I covered the world once in sports, and now to go back has been absolutely wonderful."

Closer to home, when the Roanoke Civic Center was to be built, she saw that it featured not a single handicapped-accessible entrance. "I went to the city council and spoke to the architect. Now we notice that able-bodied persons use the ramps and not the steps. The ramps are easier for everyone and offer less chance to slip and fall."

While the Americans with Disabilities Act now requires accessibility on new construction, there still are many places a wheelchair cannot go or where it's difficult. I have a small understanding of this from pushing first my mother and now my husband around in a wheelchair.

"Right now, one in six Americans have a disability," Myers noted. "With 30 million baby boomers reaching retirement age, I think there will soon be even more than that. Twenty-five years ago, people with disability stayed home because they couldn't get through doors or use the bathrooms anyplace. But now, boomers will realize they cannot get back into their own houses and will be devastated."

Even wheelchair-conscious folks such as the Myerses thought their bathroom was perfect until she had to help her husband with his shower after his surgery. Two chairs didn't fit. They had to knock out a wall to make room. For most people, "homes are the biggest problem."

No problem keeps Myers from one accomplishment after another, however. She founded Blue Ridge Pens, a group for writers (for information, go to blueridgepens.org). An avid gardener, she and her husband do all their own house and yard work. Her Web site's name is "onaroll."

Yes, Myers -- with Betsy -- is truly on a roll.

To buy the book "Paco's Gift," either go to Myers' Web site onaroll.org and use Pay Pal, or order it directly from Myers by sending a check to her for $19.95 plus $1 tax at P.O. Box 313, Cloverdale, VA 24077.

These past weeks of mourning have touched us all. My profound condolences go to all who were saddened by the Virginia Tech deaths.