Remarkable Women of the Upper Peninsula Finalist: Jen Shaud
HOUGHTON, Mich. (WJMN) — Jen Shaud is making a difference in the Copper Country by forging the way in making it accessible for everyone.
“I’ve had a disability since I was born,” said Shaud. “My disability at that time, was much less severe. So my parents advised to get me involved in sports. So my dad was in the Navy, so swimming, and then ballet and gymnastics is what my parents put me in initially.”
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In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan lies the Copper Country, an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with hundreds of miles of trails, unbelievable views from heights, and miles of shoreline from breathtaking Lake Superior. Someone who is making a difference in this community is Jen Shaud, who works tirelessly as an advocate in the community for people with disabilities.
“I’m passionate about people with disabilities, about all people being outside for several reasons,” said Shaud. “One is it’s good for their health. I’m a healthy person when I’m outside. It helps with strength, and endurance, and flexibility, and dexterity, balance, cardiovascular health. Beyond that, being outside here is a social opportunity. It’s opportunity to be with friends and family. It’s an opportunity to be outside and enjoy all of the gorgeous opportunities there are.”
Shaud tackles it head on with her work though Equipment Loans of the Keweenaw.
“All equipment for people with disabilities is expensive and hard to get,” said Shaud. “Because we’re in a small community, we didn’t used to have resources so that know a kid outgrows something and we can hand it down to the next kid. Now we do.”
That’s with help from the community to fulfill Shaud’s mission.
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“We’re lucky because we have Copper Shores [Community Health Foundation] and they’re interested in getting people outside and healthy and recreating, and Keweenaw Community Foundation,” said Shaud. “We have government that’s interested in making sure that our cities and towns are accessible.”
Shaud has a hand in much of it by letting her voice be heard.
“I think there are several ways,” said Shaud. “One is I write grants. I help fundraise. We talk to people about what the needs are. Sometimes it is really small changes that make a huge difference. For instance this parking lot (at the Michigan Tech Student Development Complex). I love to swim. Getting in on snowy mornings used to be really hard, and because Michigan Tech is such a willing partner and so helpful, I just had to say it would really be helpful if when the snowplow came by, if they went through the center of the parking lot so that I could roll easily into the building.
“To them, not a big deal. To me, life changing. Unless you’re in a wheelchair and you’re trying every day to get through the environment, there’s no way anyone could possibly have that knowledge. So I think so much of it really is just communicating.”
Shaud explains some of the changes she’s been involved with to help make the Copper Country accessible.
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“One is our sled hockey program,” said Shaud. “Everybody in the U.P. loves hockey. It’s huge in Houghton. We have the birthplace of hockey. People haven’t with disabilities, until the past few years, haven’t had the opportunity to play hockey. Last year, we borrowed equipment from Calumet. We borrowed equipment from the Marquette SLED Cats so that we could get a few people on the ice and play.”
Shaud said for some of the athletes, it was life changing. “They spent years watching their family play hockey or going to hockey games, helped the high school hockey team, but never actually been on the ice themselves. Watching the smiles and the happiness and families being together, to me, that was just one of the best experiences ever.
“The other really big project I’m working on is the Swedetown Chalet renovation. If you’ve ever been to Swedetown, you know that there are bathrooms on the first floor, but to get to the first floor, there’s dirt, and there’s gravel and there’s a step. It is really not accessible. All of the concessions and the meeting spaces are on the second floor. Well, Swedetown board and the Township of Calumet, have a great new design to create a level entrance with accessible meeting rooms universally design so it meets standards beyond the ADA.”
Shaud was nominated for the Remarkable Women of the Upper Peninsula Contest by her friend Monica Aho.
“I have sprinted to keep up with Jen for as long as I’ve known her,” said Aho. “She is a bundle of energy and a bundle of passion. When I saw the nomination for a remarkable woman, I didn’t even know what it was. I had no idea what I was applying for. I just saw the word remarkable women and knew that was Jen. That is the perfect way to describe Jen. The tenacity and perseverance and passion that she gives to every last part of her life inspires everyone around her.
“She’s such an unassuming, humble person, and yet she’s a fierce competitor and she’s really strong. She just amazes me. We were at a triathlon last summer, and she was beating college age males in the triathlon with just her arms. It’s just amazing to me how this small, unassuming woman can be so strong. She will fight with a smile on her face and sweetness in her voice, but she will not give in. She fights for what’s right. It’s just amazing.”
“I think that remarkable people care and are passionate about other people,” said Shaud. “I think that that’s the most important thing. I could very well just go get a ski and ski by myself, but I have the opportunity to do good. When I was in graduate school writing grants and helping children was something that I learned to do. I think that being remarkable is when you share your talents.
“A friend sent me a poem this morning, and one of the lines said, ‘The strongest tool in your hand is another hand.’ To me, that is a beautiful metaphor for how when we’re helping somebody else, we’re building strength in community and helping someone else and changing lives is is what I can do today to make our our world better.”
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