In Memory of Todd Reynolds

Todd Reynolds DSG Student Paper Competition - 2011

2011-02-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Disability Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers (DSG)

Todd Reynolds DSG Student Paper Competition - 2011

- Call for Papers -

Students working on topics concerned with the complex and multifaceted geographies of disability, aging and chronic illnesses are encouraged to submit a paper to the 2011 AAG Disability Specialty Group Student Paper Competition. The successful student will receive a cash prize of $100.

The award is named after Todd Reynolds, Ph.D. (1971 - 2008), a scholar with disabilities who pursued important research in human behavior and hazards geography - In Memory of Todd Reynolds blog. The goal of the award is to encourage student participation in the specialty group and to recognize outstanding emerging scholarship in geographic research on aging, chronic illnesses and disability.

Eligibility criteria:Papers prepared for publication, conference presentation, and graduate or senior undergraduate courses, as well as entries written specifically for this competition, are eligible for submission. Each student may submit only one paper. The student should be the lead contributor to the paper if it is co-authored. Students do not have to be a current member of the DSG or AAG nor must they plan to attend the 2011 AAG conference to submit a paper. International submissions are welcome.

The paper should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages (including all notes, references, and figures). 12 point font is preferred along with standard margins.

A cover letter should accompany all entries and contain:
- Current title of the paper and a brief abstract (no more than 100 words)
- Author and co-authors’ names
- Academic affiliation
- Faculty advisor for the paper
- Mailing address
- E-mail address
- Phone number
Students considering submitting are advised to contact student paper competition coordinator Ryan Parrey by e-mail in advance. He will also gladly address any questions or concerns regarding participation in this competition.

Award notification:
Reviewers will be secured and their recommendations will be sent to the DSG Board for the final award decision.The award recipient will be notified shortly after the 2011 AAG annual meeting in Seattle, Washington - more information. The check will be mailed to him/her shortly thereafter. Post-conference announcements will be found on the DSG website and the GEOGABLE listserv, as well as other appropriate venues including the Disability Studies, Temple U blog.

All entries must be received by February 28th, 2011 by email to:
Ryan Parrey
Disability Studies
University of Illinois, Chicago
rparrey@gmail.com

Todd helps train Service and Therapy Dogs

2008-07-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Jan.2002 Todd Kellie Shane

2008-07-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

2008-07-12T14:39:00.001-07:00

Here is Todd with his transcriptionist, B. J. Rowe, at his dissertation defense.

Todd with his fellow Ph.D. student Lacy Jo Burgess at his dissertation defense.

Here is Todd with his Ph.D. committee (Dick Nostrand, Karl Offen, Fred Shelley, and Betty Harris), July 2007.

Here are some more pictures of Todd and some of his many friends at the University of Oklahoma.

2008-07-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

2008-07-12T14:32:00.001-07:00

My Big Brother

2008-07-12T14:22:00.001-07:00

I miss my big brother greatly. Todd and I were only 2 years apart. We shared memories about our youth and past that only Todd and I shared as brothers. I miss Todd greatly. Todd always maintained his "big brother" status with me and despite his severe disabilities never complained to me or asked for help. Todd was an example of what a person can accomplish when they are determined and he motivated me through my entire life through many accomplishments (military and civilian). Todd was one of the toughest men I have ever known. We loved each other greatly and I miss him.... Shane Reynolds

Pictures from the Boston 2008 AAG Conference

2008-07-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2006 with Robin and Vanessa Feisal

2008-07-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

Syracuse.com site

2008-07-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to Todd's obituary on the Syracuse.com. There is also a guest book which will be open until July 25, 2008. Many nice comments about such a remarkable person:

http://obits.syracuse.com/Syracuse/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=112236098

it becomes clear , Todd likes to ride things!

2008-07-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Todd was the first intern for CNN

2008-07-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

This may be interesting...Todd was THE FIRST intern for CNN. He launched the program and they have had internship programs at CNN ever since! Amazing, I almost forgot about this...He was going to USA for the weather program there--this is the connection for his weather related studies for people with disabilities!!! Glad I found it--hope it will be usable.

Kellie

Todd at his high school senior prom in 1988

2008-07-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

Todd on the Tractor

2008-07-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this photo of Todd here at my home....not scooter terrain but the tractor did very nicely--notice the helper on back was Todds dad.

Best,

Kellie

Todd on Palm Beach.....he would be sure to tell you not west Palm...but Palm Beach! ha ha ha

2008-07-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

From Kellie Crosby in Georgia

Dr. Todd Reynolds 1971-2008 A Family's Prospective

2008-07-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

Having had three weeks to reflect on the life and times of Todd, we wanted to share our experience with Todd with you’all.

“A mischievous, bright boy who was troubled with physical afflictions and maladies since birth.”

Memories by father and brothers of his childhood: Always in the pool, swimming, diving in with his hearing aids on. Doing a perfect Swan dive of the “cliff’s” at the Chattahoochee river. No one with superior physical health dare tried and few would even jump, feet first, Off the towering ledge.

Each year brought more affliction, at 2nd grade hearing aid was necessary, hearing loss complete by age 13. Cochlear implant at age 32.

Prescription eye glasses at six years of age. Detached retina and surgery at 18 years and then in the other eye at 19. Lens implants at age 21 both eyes. Legally blind at 21. Total darkness came the night before he passed away.

Balance, mobility problems and small stature of frame from grade school age. Growth shots given by Father three times per week for three years starting at age 9 through Emory Univeristy study. Started riding a scooter at 22years of age.

Todd never left school, his entire life was devoted to learning, straight out of highschool to Kennesaw College, to university of Alabama, brief stint at university of South Alabama, directly to University of Oklahoma and then to Syracuse University. None of us can recall any break in class time with many summer sessions attended as well.

As a family it was always difficult to “Let Him Go” knowing his condition and allowing him the independence to have a life tore at us all, Especially Todd.

K.S.U. no problem, it’s our back yard.

U.A. not a big deal every weekend a trip to the school and back to Atlanta, and all holidays, and school closings Todd was at home in Atlanta, no biggie, after all it’s only 300 miles round trip. We could be there in 4 hours any time.

O.U. you talk about Hard to” let him Go” I could get him there and settle him in, stay a couple weeks and come home to Atlanta. Best scenario , fly him home whenever possible, holidays etc. I flew out and stayed a couple weeks at a time when ever I could. The cochlear implant was in Oklahoma City.

S.U. this was a tuffie, we did not want him to go. Especially in the whirlwind of last min. planning.e feared his condition would not sustain another year at the pace he chose for himself.

Yet here we are , all of us , thanking God for his brief life here......all of us glad that we did “Let Him Go”

One who accomplished so much

If you knew Todd, then you know that he would have it no other way.

Fierce, determined, brilliant and By God he was gonna make it on his own! We remember getting reports from Al., through NY. He wont let the house keeper/aide/hired hand/ in the door....dismisses them , says he does not need any help. Was independent and accomplished his work. We thank all of you who “let Him Go” We are so glad we, against all family emotions, “Let Him Go” Todd viewed each and every one of us as FAMILY.

Thank You Family

Written By : Kellie Cosby

Todd and Dogs at Home

2008-07-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Here pictures of Todd at home with "some of the dogs" in 2008.

Change in Format for This Blog

2008-06-24T04:04:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,
I realized that the previous format of this blog had a dark background, something that someone with a visual impairment, like Todd himself, would have difficulties reading. So it now has a much simpler format, with less emphasis on color and larger type.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER DIES SUDDENLY

2008-06-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dr. Todd Reynolds of Syracuse University died suddenly Sunday at his home at the Skyline Apartments in Syracuse Sunday. Reynolds was a post-doctoral fellow at the university’s Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies. He was working on an advanced training project in rehabilitation research and disability policy co-directed by Professors James Bellini and Steven J. Taylor and funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. At the time of his death, Reynolds was working on scholarly papers for presentation at conferences and publication in professional journals. “Dr. Reynolds was a promising young scholar in Disability Studies,” said Taylor, “and it’s tragic that he will not be able to fulfill his potential.”

Reynolds specialized in the experiences of people with disabilities in natural disasters. He received his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Oklahoma in 2007. His dissertation focused on how people with disabilities prepare for and cope with tornados and other severe weather in the mid-west. During his time at Syracuse University, Reynolds was interested in how people with disabilities adapt to heavy snow-fall. In conducting his research, Reynolds drew on his own experiences as a person with severe disabilities, including limited sight and hearing as well as mobility impairments.

Dr. Reynolds has been teaching a summer session course on the Geography of Disability through University College and the Geography Department at Syracuse University. He was assisted in this course by Liat Ben-Moshe, doctoral student in Sociology and Disability Studies, and supported in his work by Cyndy Colavita, office coordinator in the School of Education.