I’m always afraid I’m over sharing in my disability lit class, but it’s because nobody else has explicitly identified as disabled. Nobody in my class uses mobility aids, and a lot of people seem to assume that everyone in class is abled. So screw it, I’ll use myself as a case study and go off about the treatment of invisible disability if I dang well please.
did the preliminary research, it does not appear to be a scam, the parent organization SciAccess grew out of conversations at scientific conferences about equity and inclusion in STEM. Both ZERO-G social media pages have confirmed the partnership
“The goal of this mission is to bring together the largest and most diverse group of disabled crew members in a weightless environment, with the hopes to learn how to adapt and make accessible outer-space travel for disabled space explorers, scientists, and researchers. The Mission: AstroAccess parabolic flight is scheduled to take place on October 17, 2021, launching from Long Beach, California.
“Our mission is to change outer space and change the world. If you are a disabled person who is confident, enthusiastic, playful, and literally willing to float upside down to change the future, we are looking for you!” says Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen, Associate Professor of Linguistics at Bowling Green State University.”
There is an impressive team behind AstroAccess, you can find the full list on their site here.
Here’s a couple of those bios.
“Anna Voelker is the founder and Executive Director of the SciAccess Initiative, an international program dedicated to advancing disability inclusion in STEM. Through SciAccess, they lead numerous science inclusion initiatives, including an annual conference launched by their receipt of the 2018 Ohio State University President’s Prize. Anna specializes in accessible space science outreach for diverse learners and has worked extensively with blind and low vision students using 3D printing and data sonification. In June of 2021, Anna joined the Aspen Science Center as its new Executive Director. Anna is a 2018 Brooke Owens Fellow and previously worked at NASA Kennedy, NASA Goddard, the Space Telescope Science Institute, the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, and the Aerospace Corporation.”
“Eric Ingram is the Founder and CEO of SCOUT Inc., a company de-risking space operations with sensor suites that enable spacecraft to see and understand the area around them. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Space Frontier Foundation. He was previously an Aerospace Engineer for the Licensing and Evaluation Division of the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, where he gained expertise in the regulatory environment. Prior to this, Eric was an engineer for Deep Space Industries, where he designed cubesat subsystems for testbed missions. Outside of the space industry, Eric previously served as the President of the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association, leading the USWRA to its largest budget surplus in its 30+ year history. Eric has competed in the sport of wheelchair rugby for 15+ years, competing domestically for several club teams, and internationally with the US Developmental team. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Old Dominion University, most of a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston, a sport pilot certificate, and is working towards SCUBA certification.”
“Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen is an associate professor of linguistics at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Along with various aspects of astrobiology, her research interests include social aspects of human colonization, disability, the relationship between language, embodiment and thought, language evolution and ways in which alternative sensory inputs could influence the evolution of scientific thought. She is on the board of SOCIA (Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology and METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) International.”
“Dr Jamie L. Molaro is the Executive Director of Disabled for Accessibility in Space (DIAS). Dr. Molaro is a planetary scientist at the Planetary Science Institute and located geographically with host institution the Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her research focuses on understanding the way that rocky and icy materials fracture and break down, driving landscape evolution on asteroids, comets, and moons. She is also a team member on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve a sample of rock from an asteroid surface. Service is an integral part of Molaro’s career, including organizing and running exhibitions and workshops on science and data-driven art, and leading DAIS (Disabled for Accessibility in Space). DAIS is a peer networking, support, and advocacy group for disabled and chronically ill people in space science and related fields and professions, and proud collaborator in Mission: AstroAccess.”
It’s an electric wheelchair that’s controlled by the levers on the sides (so yes, you do need two hands to operate it, just like a manual). It’s only 40 pounds and can be folded down to fit into any trunk. The creators/managers all seem to be wheelchair users. I personally talked to one on the phone who told me the features he uses.
You don’t understand, I’ve been in New York City for almost four months now and it’s been incredible and in that time, I’ve wheeled my manual chair about 300 miles (there are times I’m going up to 40 blocks a day) and I am so sore and so bruised and so tired and it’s going to s n o w soon and even though the city won’t get nearly as much snow as upstate, it’s still not going to be fun, but I’ve always been afraid to get a big, bulky, electric chair because I don’t want to:
A.) Completely give up my autonomy.
B.) Have a 500 pound electric chair run out of power and have to figure out how the heck I’m getting it and me home.
But this chair, this chair, lads…
This chair can get me all the way from my apartment down the island to Times Square and into Amorino for the world’s best waffles/gelato/hot chocolate before it even considers running out of power. And it only takes 3 hours to fully charge ANDif for some reason, something happens, it can be folded up and put into any NYC cab and I’m just so, so, excited. NYC is filled with so many hills that I’ll now be able to go up/down without straining myself. I’ll be able to take the M5 down Riverside and still get to the center of the island without heaving and huffing and sweating. I just really, really, hope it all works out!
Note: Absolutely none of this is sponsored. I’m just really excited about this wheelchair. The Amorino part isn’t sponsored either but seriously, you should all go to Amorino at some point in your lives, I should stopgoing to Amorino because at this point, I go once a week and that is what we call Unhealthy. But I don’t care because life is short and Amorino is good. And so is this wheelchair (hopefully).
A bit over six months ago I got a new mobility aid. I think it’s time for a review. (As always, this is not in any way a sponsored post. I purchased my scooter myself at market price.)
Basics: What is it? Two-wheeled scooter with a bicycle seat and handlebars with brakes. I will refer you to the company’s website for pictures.
seeing people on shows use canes incorrectly!! OMG YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF. STOP DOING THAT.
YES OMG STOP IT. This is one of my biggest pet peeves; people who know me irl probably have heard me rant about it. They make sure that the character walks funny to show that they’re really disabled or whatever, even though the WHOLE POINT OF CANES is to let you walk as normally as possible so you don’t screw up your body.
And this is actually legit damaging because no one tells you how to use a cane. Usually, you just get one, and then you use it the way you’ve seen other people use it, and if you only see people on TV with canes…you’re gonna use it wrong.
sorry to jump all over your post this just annoys me so much and your post came up first in the cripple punk tag so
If possible could you detail correct cane usage somewhere for anyone who might need it? (I understand if it’s a visual sort of instruction)
When I began using one, I looked on youtube for how-tos. It’s definitely necessary because, yeah, if people go by what they see on tv, they will likely start using it wrong and it’s really difficult to undo learning it that way.
Basically all there is to remember is that you use your cane alongside the opposite leg– not like the cane is affixed to the leg it’s closest to. If I’m holding my cane with my left arm, it’s following the right leg.
Anyone have an infographic? I do not.
here’s one i found! it’s a little confusing bc it starts at the bottom and you read upwards.
here’s two for stairs:
Here are a few!
Here is a very short video about using a cane. It’s very specific. I will say, though, that she mentions that “you’ll hear different people say different things” re: using a cane affixed to your “bad leg” but I gotta say, I’ve never heard a medical professional tell anyone to use a cane any other way than the way described in the video.
If you use a cane like Dr. House on House (for example), YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF.
I use my cane for balance, but I still use it as if I had a bad leg like described above. Sometimes the “good” leg will be bad and I’ll have to figure out how walk with the cane in my left instead of right hand.
What I’m saying is that this is the correct use of a cane even if you use it for different reasons than included in this post.
Making sure your cane is the correct height is also very important! Dr. House’s cane is TOO SHORT. He also uses it by holding the handle against his hip and pushing the tip out away from his body. This causes you to have lean to the side with every step. You will throw your back and/or hips out of alignment if you walk this way. Leaning to the side on your cane will also cause damage to your hand and arm joints.
Your cane should sit comfortably in your hand, should remain vertical when you’re standing still, and the height should allow your elbow to bend a little when you’re holding it standing up straight. If your elbow is fully extended when holding your cane at your side, it is too short.
^ all of this. i legit did research on how to walk w a cane before i got one. because otherwise… yeah. and i dont do it *perfectly* because sometimes it just doesn’t work with the ways my body allows me to move, but i never do that for more than a few minutes at a time.
and yeah. when tv people use canes in ways that will fuck up their bodies. im pissed. because i did have to go off google to correctly walk with one
does anyone know where i can get a cane that doesn’t look like something my great uncle would use? ya know, the boring grey ones that just scream “old person” ? or should i get a boring grey one and cover it in googly eyes?
I’ve been to the hospital many times, and I’ve had bad nurses and doctors and good nurses and doctors. My recent overnight stint had pretty decent doctors and nurses. As patients we will certainly remember the more unpleasant experiences and be rightly angry about them.
However it’s important to remember that not all nurses are the bully from school. Many are genuinely nice and caring people, like my aunt who was a maternity ward nurse for many years. Many of these people are put under pressure of a for-profit medical system that forces more patients on less nurses. We should be outraged at genuinely cruel medical professionals, but if we want to be acknowledged as human too, we should do the same for them and advocate for better working conditions for nurses.
Yeah they’re supposed to be professional and not be rude but is anyone truly perfect at the end of a double shift with double the work? And some nurses are disabled too. I’m not against venting against terrible nurses but when we act like the problem is just the wrong people going into nursing we ignore a large problem about the state of nursing jobs and overworked underpaid caregivers that ultimately hurts and potentially kills us. I personally don’t want to do that.
I had some GREAT nurses when I was in for my colonoscopy. After, in recovery, my nurse went so far as to spend 10 minutes using alcohol wipes to gently remove my IV bandage, because I told her it rips my skin because of my fragile EDS skin. Did she have to do that? No. Did she have other stuff to do? Yes. Did I really appreciate it? SO MUCH YES
What the literal fuck is this nonsense? Who let this bitch practice medicine? Did anyone think to suggest putting some fucking medical evidence in this piece?
Thoughts on power chairs vs. manual chairs with power assist devices? I’m debating between them, but most of the sites don’t seem to have customer reviews which doesn’t help.
It’s 4am and I’m up because my stomach is not happy. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait until December for my colonoscopy when every time I eat I get cramping and diarrhea. My health is still going downhill very quickly, and my meds don’t seem to be helping much. I’m going to email my EDS doctor and let him know what’s going on, because at this point. I feel like we need to re-evaluate what we’re doing to treat my condition.
Pic 1: A title card that says ‘basic respect for cane users’.
Pic 2: Not all cane users are: physically weak, slow, elderly. Some cane users can: run, lift heavy things, ride bikes, skateboards, etc. Cane users are not all the same.
Pic 3: Do: move out of the way for someone using a cane, give your seat to a cane user on public transport, offer to carry something for your friend or co worker with a cane, ask cane users what their access needs are, treat cane users with respect. Remember that not everyone with a physical disability uses a mobility aid.
Pic 4: DON’T: touch cane users without their explicit permission, make assumptions about whether someone ‘really’ needs their cane, give unwanted advice about someones disability, make a cane user feel bad or like they’re an embarassment. Remember: people might not use their cane full-time, you can’t know if someone is faking.
Lemme just say it again for the people in the back, GET OUT OF THE WAY OF PEOPLE WITH CANES/OTHER MOBILITY AIDS. I cannot even begin to count how many times people have made eye contact with me and then just. Continued to stand/walk into my way. Or shove me. I will hit you with my cane. And I will not be sorry.
I have a bad knee that makes going for long walks protesting or patrolling difficult. So, a cane was quickly becoming something I really needed… but my local shops only had the collapsable kind, not something that would hold up to a fight (and might not even hold up to daily use!) I also didn’t want the traditional sword cane, because that’s highly illegal in my state.
My boyfriend recommended Cold Steel for a solid, unbreakable cane that would smash through a cow femur. Here’s a few options, depending on what kind of style you like. Remember that a rounded head on your cane will be harder on your wrists over time! These canes also, in my experience, benefit from a rubber cap on the end. They’re not very grippy. But I’m very happy with my Blackthorn.
I’m going to start this off by saying, mobility aids shouldn’t be used as a fashion accessory, however, if you need one. You have every right to make it look nice.
1. Stickers, this is probably the easiest and can be used on most mobility aids. You can get stickers online (amazon, red bubble etc.) Or if you find any in stores, that works to (obviously). They can also be low energy to apply.
2. Painting, this might take alot of energy for some people, but if you can, painting is a great way to make it look nice. For wheelchairs you can paint the back or if you have solid wheels you can paint those too. Crutches, walking sticks and walking frames can all be painted on the bar part (I’m sorry I dont know what its called)
3. Duck tape, a great alternative to painting.
4. Grips, these can be expensive but you can get grips for the wheels on wheelchairs and the handle on crutches, I’m not sure about walking frames.
I hope you find this helpful, I’m sorry if I got anything wrong, feel free to correct me if i did. I hope you have a good day :)
“Why should I go out of my way to make things accessible for disabled people, i never see them anyway.” There are way more disabled people than you think. Do you know why you dont see them very often? Because alot of disabilities are invisible, and the ones that aren’t. The people who use mobility aids, you dont see them very often because you aren’t making things accessible.
How hard is it to add a ramp? How hard is it to have a few tables at your restaurant that are made for wheelchairs to fit under? I’ve literally seen charities that raise awareness for accessibility that aren’t accessible. Build ramps, add items onto menus that accommodate allergies, make sure (if its needed) there is a lift that is working.
Why am I using my stick today when I didn’t need it yesterday?
I am travelling by train for the first time since my surgery. The journey involves several changes and I am carrying quite a full backpack. As I am still recovering, I need to be careful that I do not fall or get knocked into as these could both potentially cause muscle strain that can lead to other complications. Although I haven’t needed my walking stick for the last couple of weeks, having returned to work this week has shown me that I am far from fully recovered.
As my work requires me to be on my feet a lot, by mid-afternoon yesterday my stomach muscles were beginning to protest. I thought this ache would go away if I sat down and hugged my hot water bottle when I got home but, unfortunately, the pain persisted throughout the night and I am still quite sore even now.
What does all this have to do with my using my walking stick today? Well, as I am travelling through the busy London underground for part of my journey, it will not only help support me as I walk around, but it will also act as a “red flag” to other commuters that I won’t be able to move out of their way and to be mindful to not jostle me as they rush for the tube.
I have said this before but I think it’s worth repeating because not everyone understands that you can be fine one day and not the next. Recovery is not linear.
I have had four surgeries on my gut in the last two years. As you might imagine, this puts a lot of strain on by stomach muscles. Muscles we use for pretty much everything, from carrying to simply standing.
When you first start moving after surgery, every twist, every step is painful and you feel like you might just rip your stitches open at any moment. Thankfully, while in hospital, there is always someone to help you, to hold your arm or fetch a wheelchair for you when you can’t quite make it back to your bed. However, when you’re home and out in the real world, those safety nets are always there.
It takes a while for your muscles, and in fact your whole body, to recover and adjust to how things are post-surgery. Sure, a friend or family member will likely be with you on every excursion out the house for the first few weeks but what about when you want to go out when no one can go with you? What about even when someone is with you but you’re not sure you’ll make it to the car, let along the cafe you’re going to for lunch?
That’s where mobility aids come in.
I have a walking stick. I am 31 years old and look fairly healthy, albeit a bit skinny, and I have a walking stick. I got it for the very reasons mentioned above. I can go out with family, sure, but they can’t always hold me and most probably couldn’t lift me if I fell. The walking stick acts as a support for me if I stumble or when going up or down steps, it allows me to keep my independence. It allows me to walk further and for longer and gives me the confidence to go out on my own.
But it’s not only that. It also acts as a warning to others who can’t see the scars, the ostomy bag and the healing wounds, that I may be slower, unable to move out of their way or cross the road in time. It lets people know to give me a little extra space, to catch that door or hold the lift.
My point is that mobility aids are useful and we shouldn’t be ashamed to use them just because we may look healthy or young or otherwise as if we don’t need it. If you feel you need a mobility aid, regardless if it’s a wheelchair, a walker or a walking stick, you should use it. It doesn’t matter if it’s for six days or for the rest of your life, you should use the tools at your disposal if it makes life easier for you.
And to anyone who has felt the need to question why someone is using a mobility aid, it’s none of your business. You don’t know what’s going on inside, what that person is dealing with. They may be walking fine but that’s probably because they are using that mobility aid. Please don’t be so quick to judge.
i just got a pair of smartcrutches to try and i was wondering if anyone had any advice for using them? my physical therapist showed me how to walk with them, but idk the best way to carry things with them, or what to do with them when i’m sitting. they fall over when i try to lean them on things! i was also wondering if anyone has found a way to attach them to a manual wheelchair. feel free to message, send an ask, or reblog this! thank you in advance!
