 "Photo: Joey Castillo")
When Mikail Davenport was diagnosed with polio in 1950, doctors told his parents they should institutionalize him, and that he would end up like a vegetable. Now 58 years old, Davenport spent the month of March bicycling from El Paso to Beaumont - all without the use of his legs.
"To hell with those doctors," he said Monday.
The 950-mile journey took Davenport 25 days to complete. In a bicycle trailer behind him he towed 185 pounds of gear, including his wheelchair. For long stretches of the trip he traveled alone.
Davenport and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities planned for the ride to occur during the 80th regular session of the Texas Legislature, in order to highlight important issues for disabled Texans.
Texas is one of only seven states that claim immunity from prosecution under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a report by the Texas House of Representatives. Thirteen other states have passed legislation waiving such immunity.
Pending legislation authored by Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, and Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, would allow individuals to sue the state under the act.
Additionally, more than 100,000 Medicare-eligible Texans with disabilities remain on a waiting list for attendant care services that would allow them to live in the community instead of in institutions.
Davenport said the current state budget allocates no additional funds to reduce that waiting list.
"They don't want to live in a nursing home," he said. "They want to bike across the state of Texas, if they so desire."
Davenport said he met disabled persons throughout the state who expressed their support. In a pharmacy in Marathon, Texas, a tiny town on Highway 90 with just 600 residents, a Vietnam veteran on a Harley-Davidson showed Davenport his wooden leg.
"Man," the biker said, "You're riding for me."
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