Nick Dupree
{{Short description | Disability rights activist and advocate in America}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nick Dupree
| image = NickDupree.jpg
| alt = A picture of Nick Dupree wearing a suit.
| caption = Dupree in February 2004
| birth_name = Nicholas Folk Dupree
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1982|02|23}}
| birth_place = Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|2|18|1982|02|23}}
| death_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = Disability rights activist, artist, writer
| known_for = Nick's Crusade
| partner = Alejandra Ospina
}}
Nicholas Folk Dupree (February 23, 1982 – February 18, 2017){{cite web|author=BA Haller |url=http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/medicaid-reform-activist-writer-blogger.html |title=Media dis&dat: Medicaid reform advocate, writer, blogger, artist, disability rights activist Nick Dupree dies |publisher=Media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com.au |date= 18 February 2017|accessdate=2017-02-21}} was an American disability rights activist and writer.{{cite web | url=http://www.ilusa.com/News/020703nick_dupree.htm | title=Disabled college student's future depends on ruling | publisher=The Associated Press | date=8 February 2003 | accessdate=22 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217081348/http://www.ilusa.com/News/020703nick_dupree.htm | archive-date=17 February 2019 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=974391 | title=A Medicaid Victory | publisher=NPR | date=12 February 2003 | accessdate=23 February 2014 | author=Shapiro, Joseph}}{{cite web | url=http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/community/dupree.htm#021903 | title=Nick Dupree's Crusade Pays Off | publisher=Inclusion Daily Express | date=19 February 2003 | accessdate=22 February 2014 | author=Reynolds, Dave}}{{cite web | url=http://www.itodaynews.com/april2008/this_day.htm | title=This Day in Disability History | publisher=Independence Today | accessdate=23 February 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310004232/http://www.itodaynews.com/april2008/this_day.htm | archivedate=10 March 2014 }} His campaign, labelled "Nick's Crusade," resulted in a special program for 30 ventilator-dependent Alabamians (including himself and his younger brother) to continue home care after they turn 21 years old.
Life
= Early life =
Dupree was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, on February 23, 1982, with an unknown mitochondrial disease{{cite web | url=http://www.nickscrusade.org/about/ | title=About The Author, Nick Dupree | accessdate=23 February 2014}} believed to be related to the metabolic cycle and carnitine. Despite the disease, he was able to go to school by himself, feed himself, and use a manual wheelchair for several years into his childhood. On September 13, 1991, an infected surgical site during a Luque rods surgery triggered a collapse that killed Dupree's remaining muscle tone.
In October 1991, he got his first feeding tube, and he began using a non-invasive BiPAP ventilator to breathe in February 1992. In 1994, due to respiratory failure, Dupree underwent a tracheostomy and began using a ventilator to breathe at all times.
Dupree was admitted to Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, at age 16.
= Personal life =
Due to his disability, he depended on a ventilator to breathe, and used a wheelchair, though he was often bedbound. He worked, created art, and communicated via the computer by using his thumb on a trackball mouse to click out text on the computer screen using KeyStrokes, an on-screen keyboard.
From 2008 onward, Dupree lived in New York City with his partner Alejandra Ospina, who is also a disability rights activist. In 2010, the couple held a public commitment ceremony in New York's Central Park, conducted in part to dramatize concern that people with disabilities are dissuaded from marrying because of U.S. government rules that could cause them to lose disability benefits if they were married.{{cite web |last=Keller |first=Emily F. |date=June 6, 2010 |title=Couple Exchanges Vows in Central Park |url=http://www.nyctransportationaccess.com/news/2010/06/couple-exchanges-vows-in-central-park-.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316051217/http://www.nyctransportationaccess.com/news/2010/06/couple-exchanges-vows-in-central-park-.html |archive-date=March 16, 2014 |access-date=March 16, 2014 |work=NYC Transportation Access}}
= Death =
Dupree died on February 18, 2017. He had spent the last 9.5 months of his life living in hospital and nursing home environments, which he had always sought to avoid. He developed sepsis and suffered cardiac failure after many months of facility-acquired infections.{{cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Joseph |date=February 22, 2017 |title=Nick Dupree Fought To Live 'Like Anyone Else' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/22/516668777/nick-dupree-fought-to-live-like-anyone-else |work=All Things Considered}}
Activism
= Nick's Crusade =
Dupree organized "Nick's Crusade", a campaign which attempted to gain continued in-home services for Alabamians with disabilities who are over the age of 21.{{cite web | url=http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/04/03/29.htm#dupree | title=Alabama Medicaid Policy Blamed For Friend's Death | publisher=Inclusion Daily Express | date=29 March 2004 | accessdate=9 March 2014 | author=Reynolds, Dave}} On February 10, 2003, United States Department of Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson announced a limited program in Alabama that would fund in-home services for Dupree, his younger brother, and 28 others who were turning 21 shortly.
Other activties
Dupree was a prolific webcomic artist who self-published a variety of comics in different styles. He also enjoyed creating self-portraits, along with portraits of family and friends,{{cite web |last=Dupree |first=Nick |date= |title=Faces Gallery |url=http://www.superdude.org/paintings/#FacesGallery |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321170614/http://www.superdude.org/paintings/#FacesGallery |archive-date=2017-03-21 |access-date=2017-03-21 |work=Superdude.org}} some of which were exhibited publicly in New York City.{{cite web |last=Surface |first=Susan |date=May 10, 2014 |title=MORE-THAN-ONE-AND-LESS-THAN-TWO |url=https://gordilloscudder.com.jas.life/press-releases/more-than-one-and-less-than-two-press-release.html |work=Gordilloscudder Gallery}}
Dupree was active on podcaster Dan Carlin's message boards. Carlin recorded an episode about healthcare in his honor.
Dupree enjoyed writing and was working on his memoir before his death.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nickscrusade.org Nick's Crusade official website]
- [http://www.superdude.org Superdude Comics by Nick Dupree]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dupree, Nick}}
Category:Activists from West Virginia
Category:American disability rights activists
Category:American writers with disabilities
Category:People from Morgantown, West Virginia