INJURED - Shepherd Center

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{Shepherd Snapshots: A Look at News and Other Notes
Self-defense Expert Teaches
People in Wheelchairs How
to Fight Back
Change the plan of the aggressor, and you’ve got a fighter’s chance.
That’s what self-defense expert Ryan Mitchell is trying to teach
his students in wheelchairs – ways to make an attacker decide it’s
just not worth it.
Mitchell, who owns World Class American Karate in Conyers,
Ga., began teaching self-defense classes at Shepherd Center more
than a year ago. Since then, he’s taught about 100 patients at the
hospital.
“We want students to feel empowered, that they can take care of
themselves, even though a situation is different from what they are
used to,” Mitchell explains.
Working with Shepherd sports specialist Chris Ravotti,
Mitchell devised a curriculum of self-defense basics – avoiding
certain situations and how to not look like a victim.
“That’s how I start off any self-defense class,” Mitchell says.
“Then we talk about how people in wheelchairs can be robbed or
confronted while transferring into their vehicles. We teach them to
be aware of their situation.”
Sometimes, though, you can look like a person with purpose
and pay attention to your surroundings, but still get attacked. So
Mitchell spends ample time during the class, which he teaches
every six weeks at Shepherd, to allow students to try out some selfdefense
techniques he teaches them.
“If you end up in a situation where you have to defend yourself,
we go over the moves, striking targets with an elbow or fist if you
can, using the chair as a defense mechanism, using it to throw off
the aggressor,” Mitchell explains. “We adapt the program for students
in power chairs or manual chairs. The students have different
chairs and different capabilities as far as what they can move.”
Above: Ryan Mitchell, who owns World Class American Karate in Conyers,
Ga., teaches self-defense classes to Shepherd Center patients who use
wheelchairs.
And yes, a wheelchair can be used offensively, as well as defensively. “A
power chair can be a 600-pound battering ram, doing some damage to the
shins and ankles,” Mitchell says. “With the manual chair, the foot rest is
great for hurting an attacker’s ankles. It’s not a mortal finishing move, but
often it’s enough. The whole idea is to convince the aggressor they are not
dealing with someone helpless.” — Bill Sanders
Photo by Gary Meek
Shepherd Center Adds New Doctor to Brain Injury Program
Photo by Leita Cowart
Dr. Payal Fadia, a brain injury and rehabilitation specialist, recently joined Shepherd Center’s Acquired
Brain Injury (ABI) program. She is leading two ABI treatment teams and one neurospecialty team.
“We are pleased to add Dr. Fadia to the Shepherd Center team as we continue to expand our ABI
program,” says Dr. Donald Leslie, medical director of Shepherd Center. “Dr. Fadia’s experience and
expertise will ensure Shepherd Center continues to provide the highest quality of care to its patients.”
The hospital’s ABI unit recently increased to 30 beds with 22 private rooms as part of a $53 million
expansion, allowing more than 250 patients to receive medical and rehabilitation care each year.
Before joining Shepherd Center, Dr. Fadia was the attending physician at Rehabilitation Consultants
in Norwalk, Conn. She has also practiced at The Brain Injury and Stroke Program at The Institute for
Rehabilitation and Research in Houston. Additionally, she was an assistant professor at Baylor College
of Medicine. — Kayla Eubanks
2 Spinal column
www.shepherd.org