IT WAS SOUTH DAKOTA IN SUMMERTIME. For 16 year-old Eric Vetter it was a happy, carefree time meant for chasing around empty backroads on his beloved motorcycle. A horrible crash near his hometown of Chelsea could have changed everything.

    Suddenly wheelchair-bound, Eric discovered the things he had once taken for granted – like walking or riding his motorcycle – posed dramatic new challenges. But the accident that broke his back failed to bend his spirit.

    “I decided I could do one of two things,” Eric, now 29, recalled. “I could be bitter, or I could get better.” Better was the verdict, and that philosophy became the guiding principle in Eric Vetter’s amazing life.

    These days Eric carries himself with a cheerful, enthusiastic confidence, the result of that decision years ago. He’s riding a motorcycle, driving a car, selling real estate, getting on with his life. He’s also become a skilled activist for people with disabilities, emerging as one of Aberdeen’s strongest voices for accessibility. He has teamed up with committees, nonprofit organizations, and works very closely with Mayor Mike Levsen to increase accessibility in the community. His focus is on educating people and businesses about problems with accessibility in Aberdeen.

    “I was scared at first,” he explained, when asked about his activism. “I was afraid that I was going to make people mad. But people are responding positively.”

    According to Eric, many businesses are unaware that there are rules and regulations contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including mandates regarding the removal of both physical and communications barriers. ADA was originally passed into law in 1990, and it protects the rights of people with disabilities.

    Eric works for OIL (Opportunity for Independent Living) and in that capacity he identifies businesses and locations with accessibility issues. His efforts have been effective. Coffee Smith, for example, a local coffee shop, will build a wheelchair accessible ramp, and RG’s Restaurant and the Johnson Fine Arts Center at NSU have made their bathrooms more accessible to those using wheelchairs. Even the State of South Dakota is addressing accessibility issues by adjusting traffic signs on Sixth Avenue to meet ADA requirements so the visually impaired can safely cross that busy street.

    Eric also works with the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, a group organized with an ambitious goal of making Aberdeen accessible by the year 2010. Eric says the Mayor’s Advisory Committee has been a terrific opportunity for him to network with others who have needs similar to his own and also to become part of what has become a more unified voice for accessibility in Aberdeen.

    “The knowledge that I can change things for the better has given me a brighter outlook on life,” said Eric. “But I know a lot of disabled people who don’t get out. I want Aberdeen to be a more all-around friendly community. I don’t want disabled people to worry about coming out because they have a disability or use a walker.” Improving conditions for others is one of the factors that motivates his activism.
 
    Eric also understands how important it is to stay active, and he is not apprehensive about pursuing a variety of hobbies and interests, including enjoying the community’s nightlife. Motorcycling brings a special joy. “I really like to ride my motorcycle. There is such freedom and it gets me away from the wheelchair.”

    Not only has Eric Vetter overcome challenges that many people never face, he’s living a rewarding life that includes public service that results in bettering opportunities for others. For his can-do spirit and his contributions to our community Eric assumes a very high place on our roster of A Listers who make Aberdeen a special place.