[ MUSIC ] >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING ADDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODEL SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM .

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING .

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>> NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE AGAINST FORMER SAN DIEGO SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE SEE.

THE NEW COURT FILING INCLUDES TEXT MESSAGES THAT UNDERMINE THE ACCUSER.

OUR KPBS REPORTER HAS MORE ON WHAT THEY SAY.

>> MARCH 2023, THE FORMER METROPOLITAN TRANSIT EMPLOYEE SUED FLETCHER, ALLEGING SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND BATTERY, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, IN 2022.

SHE SAYS HE KISSED HER AND GROPED HER, BUT IN TEXT MESSAGES TO A FRIEND, THE GUERRILLA INDICATED THOSE ENCOUNTERS WERE MAKE OUT SESSIONS, IN NEW DOCUMENTS FILED LAST WEEK.

IT INCLUDES MANY TEXT BETWEEN HER FRIEND AND HER, DURING THE MONTHS SHE ALLEGES HE ASSAULTED HER.

IN THE TEXT THREAD, SHE DESCRIBED HER THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ABOUT THE FIRST ENCOUNTER.

IN ONE TEXT, SHE SAID SHE TOLD FLETCHER "NO KISSING, BECAUSE THEY BE WORKING TOGETHER."

AND THEN SHE SAID "I FEEL LIKE I CAME OUT OF THE WILDEST DREAM I COULD HAVE HAD, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT IT, IT WAS GREAT, AT THE SAME TIME, IT FELT SO WRONG, I HAVE NO WORDS."

THE SAME DAY AS ANOTHER ALLEGED ENCOUNTER CAN THE FILING SHOWS HER TEXTING HIM OMG FIVE TIMES, FOLLOWED BY "WE JUST HAD A HEAVY, HEAVY MAKE OUT SESSION.

WTF."

HE HAS DENIED THE ASSAULT ACCUSATIONS.

HER LAWYER DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

FLETCHER'S LAWYERS SAID THE TEXTS WERE DEVASTATING TO THE GROSS CASE.

>> I THINK THEY COMPLETELY EVISCERATE ANY CLAIM SHE HAS THAT SHE SUFFERED SEXUAL ASSAULT OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THEY SHOW EACH TURN, SHE WELCOMED THIS BEHAVIOR.

IN MARCH, FLETCHER FILED A CROSS-COMPLAINT, ACCUSING HER OF DEFAMATION.>> YOU CAN READ A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE NEW COURT FILING ON OUR WEBSITE.>>> TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY ON THE JOB FOR A NEW FIRE CHIEF WHO WAS SWORN IN AS THE 19th FIRE CHIEF TO LEAD THE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.

LOGAN IS A LIFELONG SAN DIEGO AND, WITH NEARLY 25 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF OVERSEEING OPERATIONS.>> IT'S AMAZING, NOT SOMETHING I CAME TO THE FIRE SERVICE TO STRIVE FOR, IT WAS ABOUT WHATEVER POSITION I WAS IN, THAT LED TO PEOPLE PUSHING ME UP THE LADDER, SOMETIMES THEY PUSHED ME INTO POSITIONS I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN, IT MADE ME BETTER, IT GOT ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY, THE FEELING IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.>>'S OTHER OPTIONS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING THE FIRE PROTECTION PROGRAM, AND HE IS A MEMBER OF WOMEN IN FIRE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS EMPOWER WOMEN IN FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.>>> THERE IS SOME HEAT DURING THE DAY, TEMPERATURES ARE RISING IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS THROUGH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, AND THROUGH THE INTERIOR.

TONIGHT, LOW CLOUDS RETURN LATE AT NIGHT, ALONG THE COAST, NOT SO MUCH AMMA BUT OVERALL, THE HEAT IS BUILDING THROUGH TUESDAY, THE HIGH PRESSURE IS RELATIVELY STRONG, SOME AREAS WILL BE 10 DEGREES ABOVE HISTORICAL AVERAGES, I WILL TELL YOU HOW HIGH WE GET, IN JUST A BIT.

>>> A SUSPECTED CYBER ATTACK IS CAUSING OPERATIONAL HEADACHES.

CYBERSECURITY EXPERTS WARN THESE ATTACKS COULD BE TEST RUNS FOR SOMETHING BIGGER.

>> VERY, VERY BUSY, THE LINE HAS BEEN CONSTANT.

>> FRUSTRATING LONG LINES AND BAGGAGE BACKUPS AFTER A SUSPECTED WEEKEND CYBER ATTACK SPILLED INTO THE WORK WEEK AT THE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS WERE DISRUPTED AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE, WHICH OPERATES THE AIRPORT.

MANY PASSENGERS LOOKING FOR LIGHT INFORMATION ARE GREETED BY AN ERROR MESSAGE.>> AIRPORT SECURITY SYSTEMS REMAIN IN TACT, SCREENING MEASURES REMAIN IN PLACE.

>> STILL ON THE MINDS OF MANY, LAST MONTH CROWD STRIKE MELTDOWN.>> AIRPORTS ARE BIG TARGETS FOR HACKERS.

>> INCREASING ATTACKS, THEY WARN, COULD BE TEST RUNS.>> PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY CAN ATTACK OR HURT EVERY STRUCTURE.

>> CONCERNING AT ANY TIME, EVEN MORE SO DURING RECORD SUMMER TRAVEL.

THEY EXPECT LABOR DAY CROWDS TO BE LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS BY MORE THAN 8%.>> THE IMPORTANT THING NOW IS TO MOVE ON AND DO BETTER FROM THIS.>>> PARENTS AT OCEANSIDE UNIVERSITY ARE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT ISSUES HAPPENING ON CAMPUS.

THEY BELIEVE IT IS A HAZARD FOR THEIR CHILDREN.>> THINGS ARE QUIET AT THE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IN OCEANSIDE, BUT THIS WAS THE SCENE ON AUGUST 15.

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, VISIBLE, WHILE STUDENTS HAD TO CLASS.

>> THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

>> LAST WEEK, STUDENTS WERE EVACUATED AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION CREW HIT A POWER POLE.

>> THE PRINCIPAL JUST WENT RUNNING.>> THAT CEMENTED A DECISION TO KEEP HER SON OUT OF SCHOOL.

>> I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SENDING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL.

>> THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR TWO YEARS FOR A MODERNIZATION PROJECT.

SHE SAYS SHE WON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SENDING HER SON BACK UNTIL SHE AND OTHER PARENTS HAVE A WALK-THROUGH WITH THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF SAFETY.>> YOU CAN SEE AN EXPOSED PIPE AND TRENCH.

PARENTS SAY THESE ARE THE HAZARDS THEIR CHILDREN FACE EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL DURING CONSTRUCTION.>> PARENTS ALREADY HAVE ANXIETY SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS AN ISSUE, SAFETY, FIRE, ALL OF THAT.

>> SHE SAID THE SCHOOL LACKED SHADE STRUCTURES TO KEEP PEOPLE COOL.

>> SHE ALWAYS GETS SUNBURNS.

>> IN AN EMAIL SENT TO PARENTS LAST FRIDAY, THEY'VE ADDED MORE TEMPORARY CANOPIES FOR SHADE, AND THE CONSTRUCTION CREW MEETS DAILY TO REVIEW SAFETY PROCEDURES.

A SPOKESPERSON DECLINED AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW, THE DISTRICT IS WORKING WITH PARENTS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS.

UNTIL SHE SEES IMPROVEMENTS, SHE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP HER SON HOME FROM SCHOOL.>>> NOW THAT MOST STUDENTS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, A LOCAL LEADER IS JOINING A CALL TO LIMIT CELL PHONE USE DURING SCHOOL HOURS, INTRODUCING A PAIR OF PROPOSALS AT TOMORROW'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, THE PROPOSAL IS AIMS TO SUPPORT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN AN FERMENTING CELL PHONE POLICIES TO GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORTERS SAY POLICIES HELP PROTECT STUDENTS FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.>> IT'S TIME FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO STEP IN AND SET HEALTHY BOUNDARIES, STUDENT SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON HOW THEY ENGAGE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND MAKE DATA INFORMED DECISIONS TO DEVELOP A VITAL, HEALTHY, AND PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH TECHNOLOGY.

>> THEY CAN PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE PHONES, POUCHES, OR POCKET HOLDERS TO TEST THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

>>> A NEW CALIFORNIA GRANT PROGRAM IS BOOSTING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN SCHOOLS, CERTIFIED WELLNESS COACHES WILL HELP TO ADDRESS THE RISE IN STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.>> A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MIRA MESA HAS A WELLNESS COORDINATOR.>> AT SCHOOL WITH TEACHERS OR HAVING PROBLEMS AT HOME, IT'S NICE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RELAX.

>> AT HIS PREVIOUS SCHOOL, THERE'S ONLY ONE COUNSELOR.

WHEN I CAME HERE IN SIXTH GRADE, I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO ALL THREE OF THEM, I WAS ABLE TO SEEK HELP.>> LAST YEAR, THE STUDENT TO COUNSELOR RATIO WAS 464 STUDENTS TO EVERY ONE COUNSELOR, THAT'S NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS.

STATE GRANTS ARE HELPING TO PAY FOR WELLNESS COACHES FOR ONE SCHOOL YEAR.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HIRE 10 COACHES.

DANIEL IS ONE OF THEM.

>> ANXIETY, STRESS, DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL IDEATION.>> THEY WILL SHARE A WELLNESS COACH WITH NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS.>> THEY WOULD MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT OFFERING OF SUPPORT FOR THESE KIDS.

>> $38 MILLION TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM.

THEY WILL WORK UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF PROFESSIONALS AND SCHOOL EXPENDING THE WELLNESS PROGRAM AND GIVING STUDENTS MORE SPACE AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, YOU CAN CALL THE SUICIDE WELLNESS LIFELINE.

>>> A PLAN TO BUILD CEMENT SILOS AT A PROPERTY NEAR AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

LAKESIDE AVENUE IS 1 MILE WALK FROM LAKESIDE FARMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

OUR MEDIA PARTNER SPOKE TO A PARENT WHO SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT THESE WILL HAVE ON HER DAUGHTER'S HEALTH.>> PERSONALLY, IF THIS GOES THROUGH, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH MY KIDS SEE ME SCHOOL HERE.

I'M BLESSED TO HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN, THAT'S NOT TO SAY A LONG-TERM EFFECT OF INHALING TOXINS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.

>> PERMITS ARE IMPROVED APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO OPERATE IN COMPLIANCE, THEY SENT A LETTER ASKING WHETHER A STUDY WAS DONE WITH A POSSIBLE HEALTH IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.

>>> AS A SUMMER WAVE HITS THE UNITED STATES, UPDATED VACCINES ARE HITTING PHARMACIES AND DOCTORS OFFICES.

>> AS THE VARIANT GETS MORE INVOLVED, WE ARE SEEING MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

A PREVALENT STRAIN OF COVID-19, ACCORDING TO CDC DATA, ESTIMATED TO ACCOUNT FOR 37% OF CASES IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST, TRIPLE THE LEVEL OF A MONTH AGO.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SAYS WE ARE IN A SEARCH.>> WE'VE SEEN THESE SURGES OCCUR, THERE HAVE NOW BEEN 10 OF THEM.

THEY ARE NOT TIED TO ONE SEASON.

>> THE SURGES ARE TIED TO VARIANCE OF COVID AND WANING IMMUNITY.

>> ANYONE WHO HAS NOT HAD A VACCINE SINCE THE MIDDLE OF JUNE COULD HAVE BEEN INFECTED SINCE THAT TIME AND SHOULD GET A NEW DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

>> THE CDC RECOMMENDED ANYONE OVER SIX MONTHS OLD RECEIVE AN UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINE, AND A FLU SHOT THIS YEAR.

THE FDA SAID PEOPLE FIVE AND OLDER ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET AN UPDATED VACCINE, AS LONG AS IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE LAST DOSED.

>> WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL AVAIL THEMSELVES TO THOSE, THEY CAN DO A LOT TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DEVELOPING SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH.

>> EMILY WALDMAN, REPORTING.

>>> PROGRAM IS MAKING A COMEBACK, HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE RETURN OF THREE TESTS AT LIBRARIES, FOOD BANKS, AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO REOPEN A COVID TESTING WEBSITE IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

EACH HOUSEHOLD CAN ORDER FOR FREE AT HOME TESTS TO BE DELIVERED BY MAIL.

>>> VETERANS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE IN SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK FOR A SERIES OF ADAPTIVE SPORTS EVENTS, ALL PART OF THE SUMMER SPORTS PANIC.

ANDREW DYER CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AT A MORNING SURF SESSION.>> A NAVY VETERAN, HIS SECOND YEAR SURFING HERE, LAST YEAR HE SERVED ON HIS BELLY, THIS YEAR HE IS SITTING ON TOP OF THE BOARD.>> IT'S SO MUCH BETTER, I CAN SEE WHERE I'M GOING.>> HE WAS ONE OF 120 VETERANS IN TOWN, IT STARTED EARLY THIS MORNING WITH SURFING.

THE - - THEY WILL SURF, SALE, PRACTICE YOGA AND MEDITATION.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH SAYS THE BENEFITS OF THE CLINIC GO BEYOND JUST EXPOSING VETERANS TO NEW EXPERIENCES.>> WHEN THEY COME TO EVENTS LIKE THIS, IT'S A PERMANENT AND LASTING BOND WITH OTHER VETS, LASTING INTO THE FUTURE, IT ENCOURAGES THEM TO KEEP GOING, WHICH IS GREAT FOR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING.>> IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON, AFTER A SAFETY AND TRAINING, EVERYONE CATCHES WAVE AFTER WAVE AFTER THEY ARE HELPED INTO THE WATER.

IT CAN BE DONE TO GETTING INTO THE WATER, BUT THEY SAY THAT IT IS WHAT MAKES THE PAYOFF EVEN MORE WORTHWHILE.>> IT REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN STILL DO IT.>> THE SPORTS CLINIC RUNS ALL WEEK.

>>> THERE IS A NEW RESOURCE TO FIGHT WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS THE FIRST HERCULES AIR TANKER BEGAN FLYING MISSIONS TODAY, ONE OF SEVEN AIR TANKERS THE STATE IS RETROFITTING, THEY WILL BE LOCATED THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

EACH TANKER CAN FLY 800 MILES AND CARRY 4000 GALLONS OF FIRE RETARDANT.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS IT IS THE FASTEST PLANE IN THE FLEET, AND IT CAN COVER THE MOST DISTANCE.

>>> THE BIG STORY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL INVOLVE INLAND HEAT AND TEMPERATURES RISING QUITE A BIT, WE ARE BACK INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS, A FEW DEGREES ABOVE IN THE DESERTS.

WE ARE GOING TO FIND A LITTLE RELIEF LATER IN THE WEEK, WE WILL SHOW YOU THE FIVE-DAY FORECAST, AND THERE ARE THOSE PERENNIAL LOW CLOUDS.

BACK DOWN TO 67, COMFORTABLE ALONG THE COAST, HEAT BUILDING ALONG THE INTERIOR, HIGH- PRESSURE DRIFTS IN, THE PACIFIC IS A DECENT REFRIGERATOR TO KEEP THE COAST A LITTLE BIT COOLER.

INLAND AREAS WILL BE 10 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE IS, WE EXPECT TO STAY DRY.

LOW CLOUDS IN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON, WE ARE DRYER AND BRIGHTER, WE EXPECT TO SEE SUNSHINE REACH THE BEACHES ONCE AGAIN.

WHEN ZERO DEGREES IN BORREGO SPRINGS, THE HEAT IS ON, 90 DEGREES IN EL CAJON, THERE IS SOME PRETTY GOOD LATE SUMMER HEAT ACROSS THE INTERIOR, YOU HAVE TO GET WAY EAST INTO TUCSON AND THE FOUR CORNERS REGION TO SIGN FIND SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

IT IS PRETTY WARM, SOME AREAS NEAR THE COAST AS WARM AS 82.

MID-70s BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

INLAND AREAS, 90 THIS TUESDAY, 82 AND 81 BY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, A MARKED DECREASE IN TEMPERATURES, SATURDAY LOOKS NICE.

NOT MUCH OF A THUNDERSTORM CHANCE, A GOOD DEAL OF SUNSHINE, THERE WILL BE SOME DEGREE OF FIRE DANGER.

MID-70s FOR TUESDAY, LOW 70s FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

108 DEGREES ON TUESDAY, 107 DEGREES, BACKING DOWN TO 104 DEGREES, 105 DEGREES ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY.

I'M GEOFF CORNISH, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IN THE WAKE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, WILL KAMALA HARRIS SEE A BOUNCE IN HER POLL NUMBERS?

THAT'S AFTER KPBS.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR TOMORROW IN THE KPBS NEWSROOM.

AN EXAMINATION OF HOW MANHOOD IS BEING PORTRAYED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

AND HOW WE DISCUSS PAIN MANAGEMENT, AND PROGRESS IN THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE MOVEMENT.>>> CONNECTING EXPERIENCED, ADAPTIVE CLIMBERS WITH NEWCOMERS TO THE SPORT, WE BROUGHT IN CARLOS CASTILLO TO PRODUCE THIS STORY FOR THE ONGOING SERIES ON VOLUNTEERING.>> ROCK CLIMBING, BUT IN YOUR OWN, UNIQUE WAY, WHATEVER YOUR DISABILITY IS.

I'M MISSING MY LEFT HAND, I WAS BORN THAT WAY, BECAUSE THE UMBILICAL CORD WRAPPED AROUND THE LIMB IN IN VITRO, CUTTING OFF CIRCULATION, SO I WAS NEVER BORN WITH A HAND.

I'VE BEEN CLIMBING FOR 3 1/2 YEARS.

I AM AT ADAPTIVE DEAD LIFTER, I WAS IN THE ADAPTIVE CROSSFIT SEEN FOR A WHILE, TRYING TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.

I FOUND ADAPTIVE CLIMBING AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

WE ARE AT THE CLIMBING CENTER.

AROUND US THERE ARE DIFFERENT CLIMBING WALLS.

THERE ARE EASIER WALLS FOR PEOPLE TO TRY OUT.

ALL THE COLORS COORDINATE WITH THE COURSE YOU'RE TAKING UP THE WALLS.

WE HAVE CLIFFHANGERS FOR ANYBODY WHO IS ADAPTIVE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND BE ABLE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF, PARAPLEGIC, PEOPLE WHO ARE MISSING LIMBS, LEGS, ARMS, PEOPLE THAT ARE BLIND, NEUROLOGICAL DISABILITIES AS WELL.

ALL DISABILITIES ARE WELCOME.

WHEN THEY FIRST COME HERE, THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THEY CAN DO IT, WHICH IS THE BEST PART, I THINK THEY ALL OVERCOME THAT FEAR AS SOON AS THEY CLIMBED THE FIRST WALL.

MOST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW DON'T JUST DO IT ONCE, THEY DO IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

I'M GOING TO FIND ABDUL, AND CATCH HIM.

WANT TO DO THE PURPLE ONE?>> THIS IS MY SECOND TIME CLIMBING, I JUST STARTED LAST WEEK.

LAST YEAR, I GOT INTO AND OFFLOADING ACCIDENT IN UTAH, SOUTHERN UTAH.

I BASICALLY JUST FLIPPED THE UTD AND LANDED ON MY ARM.

>> ALL I HAVE LEFT IS A LITTLE PART OF MY FOREARM, A LOT OF MY WRIST IS GONE.

>> MY FIRST THOUGHTS, I DON'T BELONG HERE.

I WALKED IN LIKE OH, NO, I GUESS I'M NOT THE RIGHT MAN TO DO THIS.

I SEE EVERYBODY CLIMBING, THEY ARE SUPER SLIM AND FIT, SCALING WALLS, A LOT OF THE CLIMBERS MAKE IT LOOK EASY, I HAD A FEELING I DIDN'T BELONG WHEN I FIRST WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS, THAT QUICKLY FADED.>> THE ROPE HAS A LOOP ON IT.

WE WILL GO THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HARNESS THROUGH THE TOP AND PULL, THE CARIBBEAN OR GOES INTO THE HOLE, INTO THE HARNESS, AND I'M GOING TO LOCK IT IN.

NOW I AM LOCKED AND SAFE, ABDUL CANNOT FALL.

WHENEVER YOU ARE READY, GO AHEAD AND CLIMB.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

PERFECT.

YOU GOT IT.>> IN THE BEGINNING, WHEN I FIRST GOT MY INJURY, I WAS ON THE COUCH FOR FOUR MONTHS, MY GOAL COMING HERE IS TO GET OFF THE COUCH, STAY ACTIVE, TO USE AS MUCH OF MY LIMBS AS I POSSIBLY CAN, HONESTLY I USE MY ARM CLIMBING, MY RESIDUAL LIMB, MORE THAN I DO IN MY DAILY LIFE.

THE GOAL IS JUST TO STAY FIT AND KEEP PUSHING.>> THERE YOU GO, GRAB WITH THAT ELBOW, PERFECT, PERFECT, YOU GOT IT, YOU GOT IT, YOU ARE SO CLOSE.

>> I JOINED THE CHAPTER IN SAN DIEGO A YEAR AGO.

I AM THE SUPERVISOR OF THE PROGRAM IN MISSION VALLEY.

HAVING VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES IS IMPORTANT, REPRESENTATION IS A BIG PART OF WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE IN AND WHY THEY WANT TO COME BACK.

I SEE IT IN NOT JUST PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE, BUT THEIR CONFIDENCE, SOMETHING THAT I'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TRYING NEW THINGS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS OUTSIDE OF CLIMBING HAS INCREASED, PEOPLE HAVE ALMOST AN INNATE BARRIER BREAKING WITHIN THEMSELVES.

>> GOOD JOB, THAT'S A HARD ONE, THE GROUPS ARE NOT FUN.

ARE YOU GASSED?

>> I AM, YEAH.

>> THAT TERRIFIC STORY WAS PRODUCED BY SCOTT ROHDE AND CARLOS CASTILLO.

HE YOU CAN FIND OUR STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I MAYA TRABULSI.

>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODEL SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM .

BY CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

[ MUSIC ]