Search articles from thousands of Examiners
Write for us
Baltimore Family and Parenting Hartford Special Needs Kids Examiner
Hartford Special Needs Kids Examiner

Disabled vet builds bikes

December 27, 8:54 AMHartford Special Needs Kids ExaminerDanna Mann
Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe


Get alerts when there is a new article from the Hartford Special Needs Kids Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address


  Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use

 

Brian Tinsley 25, of Bloomfield Connecticut left for boot camp after graduating from Bloomfield High in 2001.  Brian was providing special forces support as a mechanic when he was shot.  The bullet entered through one temple and exited through the other.  He has no memory of that day but when he woke up he was in Walter Reed Hospital after a month of unconsciousness.  Tinsley also learned he was now blind.  

Brian went to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center in West Haven to learn how to read Braille.  He even helped Habitat for Humanity build a house in Hartford.  He was going to give up, but decided he would just learn how to do things in a different way. 

In his youth he rode stunt bikes and frequented a local bike shop, instead of searching for parts he was now searching for a job.  The owner, Mike Wolf, couldn’t imagine how Brian was going to be able to do the work.  However, Mike hired him. Since he started in April Brian has assembled more than 220 bikes. 

Al Church, executive director of the Connecticut Chapter of Disabled American Veterans said he has heard many stories of disabled veterans, who want to, and do, go back to work and become valued employees.

 





 

Add a Comment

Name:


Comments:
characters left

NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields:

Recent Articles

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
With Halloween coming in just days, it can be difficult if you have a child on a gluten-free diet. Here is a helpful list of popular candies that are …
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Autism now affects a staggering 1 in 91 children. The National Autism Association (NAA) provide funds to law enforcement agencies in an effort to …

Related Slideshows

Things to see and do

Guided Museum Tours
11 Nov 2009 - 11 am
Johns Hopkins University – Homewood Museum
More special event »
Guided Tours
Johns Hopkins University – Evergreen Museum and Library
Tour of Home Farm
Hampton National Historic Site