Immediately following his spinal cord injury (1978), Vinny began his education by enrolling at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Integlia started slowly. Initially, he took two courses during the Summer. When the academic year began in September, Vinny increased his course load. During the next several years, Integlia adapted to being a student in spite of his disability. He learned how to type with one finger using an electric typewriter. Vinny utilized work study students for taking notes and learned skills that made him an “equal” in a young, active environment.

Throughout the next five years, Integlia changed his major several times until committing to Political Science. Vinny began pursuing his dream of becoming a lawyer. However, trips to Alentown, PA (for Hyperbolic Oxygen treatments) and his physical therapy program were time consuming. He could not take a full course load each semester. He was unable to graduate within a reasonable time period much less be a full-time student.

Vinny made the difficult decision of ending therapy and Hyperbolic Oxygen treatments. He also worked with a cousin who was a local lawyer to prepare for the LSAT exams. His cousin told Integlia about the university he graduated from (the University of Illinois at Champaign, Urbana). He described an innovative, accessible environment where disabled students could learn and compete equally. The U. of I. had wheelchair sports, accessible busses equipped with power lift systems and even a progressive living dormitory (Beckwith) where disabled students could live. All resources were located on a campus resembling a small city.

Vinny submitted an application and was accepted. Although Vocational Rehabilitation had payed for wheelchairs, van modifications and college courses in Rhode Island, they could not pay for an education in Illinois. Mojca Integlia took on the tremendous challenge of paying for her son’s education, including living expenses. Vinny’s mom and dad rented a fully-loaded recreational vehicle, packed it with his supplies and traveled cross-country with Vinny and his caregiver. Days later, the Integlias arrived at Beckwidth. After helping Vinny prepare his new dorm room, the Integlias left Vinny to survive in a new exciting but difficult lifestyle.

Mojca Integlia changed employment (moving from education to a career in financial planning), Anthony continued as a high school Biology/Physiology teacher and Vinny’s sister and brother went to college.

Vinny’s first year was difficult at best. Although he maintained good grades, he had to develop new skills to work with at least five different caregivers (pre-med students living in the dorm free in exchange for care), intense courses and learning how to live in a progressive, high paced atmosphere that was a radical departure from a smaller academic institution. However, the support systems there were excellent and people were kind.

In 1984-5, Integlia got out of his power chair and into a basketball wheelchair (most C5-C6 Quads use electric chairs). He played sports including football and table tennis. He also changed his focus from Political Science to Broadcast Journalism. Vinny gained better self-confidence, motivation and physical strength as he pushed to classes.

In 1986, Integlia graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. As he left friends and good memories of Illinois, he looked forward to finding a new professional career in Newport, Rhode Island.

Over the next several years, Vinny worked as a feature writer for the Newport Navalog (newspaper produced out of the Public Affairs Office at the Naval Education and Training Center) and writer for a software company in Middletown.

In 1992, Vinny began a new career in desktop publishing at Salve Regina University. Years later with the help of others, he researched and attained a $135,000 Multimedia grant for the university. It created the Multimedia area of which Integlia became Supervisor for three years. “Multimedia” was a unique, new concept which Integlia used to create interactive presentations. Vinny also taught several 3 credit courses to university students. He took night courses and earned a Master of Art degree in Human Resource Management.

In 2001, Vinny became a Human Resource Representative for Rhode Island Hospital (a Brown University-affiliated teaching hospital employing over 5,000 people) in Providence, Rhode Island. Driving from Portsmouth to Providence each day, he assisted his department using Multimedia technology and resolving conflicts between management (he was assigned 6 areas) and unions.

In 2004, Vinny left Rhode Island with his parents and moved to Tucson, Arizona in an effort to simplify their lives and retire in beautiful weather.