Rich Vander Wal

Co-Founder of Neurocore, Therapeutic Recreationist

The Person

What can one say about Rich…He can't sit still. Whether it's his professional pursuits, personal achievements in sport or volunteer commitments as a way to give back, he does it all. After speaking with Rich, you may ask him "What don't you do?" and he can only think of one thing.

Having experienced a traumatic Spinal Cord Injury resulting in complete T4 Paraplegia more than 17 years ago, Rich Vander Wal brings a wealth of personal life experiences to individuals living with a neurological condition and the challenges that may accompany this life change.

Rich's lifestyle prior to his accident involved outdoor travel, athletics and sports and he was registered to pursue a career in architectural design. He continued to pursue all of these on both a professional and personal level. While attending Brock University, Rich teamed with friends who asked to use high-end custom wheelchairs he had already designed and built to compete against the best in Canada at the 11th annual National Queen's Entrepreneurs Competition. They won the prestigious Price Waterhouse Coopers Gold Medal for Entrepreneurial Excellence in 1998. Rich Vander Wal completed his Bachelor's of Recreation & Leisure Studies at Brock University and went on to attain an Honour's post-graduate certificate in Therapeutic Recreation from Georgian College.

The Professional

Choosing TRI's Lyndhurst Centre for his final student placement was a good decision for Rich, his multidisciplinary rehab team and the clients he was soon to serve. In his 5 years as a Therapeutic Recreationist at LC, he re-established the "Outdoor Adventure Cottage Program", lead the "Community Integration" Program and created a new "Get Outside" program to allow clients the opportunity to develop skills and increased confidence when using their new mobility aids. Always encouraging others to try and hopefully adopt a personal recreation activity, Rich was successful in creating Toronto's first wheelchair tennis program each Monday night at nearby tennis courts. In addition to this Rich had an active role on the patient education committee.

Upon leaving LC Rich sought other ways to assist those individuals with life changing conditions. This search lead him to sales at Medichair where he continued to gain experience and knowledge about seating assessment and prescriptions for clients with various neurological conditions in both in/out patient and community setting.

Rich's dual interest for providing education and acting as a resource customized seating and competitive sports encouraged him to seek a position at Motion Specialties and for over 2 years has worked under the title of Rehab Consultant. In this role, Rich continues to work with clients & professionals in various setting on issues such as: Home modifications, accessibility, community integration, vehicle modification and access, life skills and day to day living. Rich's specialized knowledge for wheelchair set-up and negotiating one's environment has allowed him to teach Wheelchair skills at the Lyndhurst Centre for inpatients and outpatients on an ongoing basis.

Rich's unique teaching ability and life experience is an inspiration to anyone who attends his presentation. He has been pivotal in providing education series and acting as a resource for individuals with neurological conditions, therapists of various disciplines and students of various age groups. Topics he covers include: Customized seating, wheelchair set-up & mobility, recreational and competitive sports equipment, and sexuality & relationships.

In addition to collaborating with clients and therapists, Rich acts as a keynote presenter at the Invacare Seating Rounds, Canadian Seating & Mobility Conference (CSMC), Bloorview Kids Rehab, Chedoke rehab, and for students at the University of Toronto, Seneca and Georgian College. Rich is currently a part of a new education initiative role at Motion Specialties where he will be providing provincial and national product education seminars.

Rich also acts as a Rehab Advisor to Gluckstein & Associates LLP on a part-time basis to assist with client relations and provide expertise in lifestyle issues and concerns on one to one basis and at team meetings.

The Ambassador

Everyone has to find purpose in life. Richs mission is about creating awareness and education to assist in others transition back to a life with an adequate level of quality and involvement.

His knowledge and expertise was sought internationally as he has traveled to Bermuda to assist with adapted sports camps and introduced wheelchair tennis for children, and to Trinidad to assist with integration and awareness for a community not familiar with the needs for patrons with a traumatic spinal cord injury.

In Canada rich has networked and currently plays an active role in volunteering with the following groups.

• Canadian Paraplegic Association- Peer Support Program
• OWSA –Athlete Rep. Board of Directors
• Ontario Wheelchair Sports- Bridging the Gap
• Changing Minds-Changing Lives Presenter/ Ambassador
• Parasport Ontario, Athlete Ambassador
• PARTY Program
• Rick Hansen Foundation, Wheels-in-Motion Keynote Speaker/Ambassador
• Rick Hansen Foundation, Toronto Solutions Committee
• Toronto Accessible Sports Council
• SCI Action Canada – Advisory Panel
• TRI Spinal Cord Rehab Lyndhurst Centre- Patient Educator

The Athlete & Adventurer

Rich's involvement in various sport heavily defines his values and goals.

• 2009- Currently Ranked 2nd on Ontario Wheelchair Tennis Team
• 2008- Selected as Tennis Canada and Dairy Farmers of Canada Everyday Champion
• 2008- Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
• 2008- 6 hour wheelie over river rocks to Franz Joseph Glacier, New Zealand
• 2006- Streaking psa for CPA aired on TV and all movie theaters across Canada!
• 2004- Canada's first adapted sculler to compete at the World Championships in Spain
• 2004- Ski Canada magazine – feature article
• 2004- Only sit-skier to jump at the Big Air competition at Blue Mountain Ski Festival
• 2001- Captain for Golden Horseshoe Marathon Team (5daysx42kmin manual WC)
• 1998-2006 Ontario Disabled Alpine Ski Team
• 1997- Handcycled 164 km alone in a one day event
• 1996- Order of Lake Ontario - 1st adapted canoe crossing of Lake Ontario-Great Lake Race
• 1993-Current: Competes in national and international tournaments and has received various medals for adapted sports such as Tennis, Skiing, and Racing.

Rich certainly brings a unique approach to Neurocore as he designed and built much of the space to reflect a calming, non-traditional atmosphere where someone with a neurological condition will have the opportunity to exercise in an accessible, warm and friendly environment.

So what's the one thing Rich doesn't do and has never done? It's usually the first thing everyone expects him to. He does NOT play basketball.