Monthly Archives: October 2021

#CPChatNow Recap- 10-20-2021

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While temperatures outside begin to drop, conversation during the cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow heated up. Or so that remained the case Wednesday, October 20th, 2021. To tell you more, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your weekly recap!

The weather topic arose early in the night.

#CPChatNow participants discuss the challenges cooler temperatures cause individuals with spastic cerebral palsy.

Admittedly, I initiated the dialogue commenting how “it’s that time of year #CPChatNow when my spasticity is starting to increase due to colder temperatures.” Long-time chat regular Blemi responded, calling the week “a stark reminder of that” for her. Adding “It’s not even that cold yet!” Regarding Blemi’s “It’s not even that cold yet” statement, I speculated the actual temperature does not matter as much as how dramatic the decrease in temperature is.

Oppose to spending the night dwelling on the challenges we face due to the cooler weather, we re-focused to concentrate on solutions.

#CPChatNow participants answer "What is one product that helps you get through the winter months?"

A focus starting with me asking participants to name a product which helps them get through the winter months. Blemi showed love for her heated blanket and heated massage pad. I too almost said heating pad. However, after looking over my “Cerebral Palsy Winter Tips” blog post, another answer came to me. My shoes with rigid soles.

Alessandro, on the other hand, offered some humor. Crediting being Italian as what helps him through the winter months. The humorous answers did not stop with Alessandro.

Veronica injects more humor into the #CPChatNow dialogue with her solution to handling the winter months.

Veronica chimed in to say moving to Arizona helped her cope with the winter months. A solution I called “Perfect.” Nevertheless, not everyone has the option to move to Arizona. So, let us keep the solutions coming! Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What is one product that helps you get through the winter months?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section below.

Afterwards, mark your calendar to join us each and every Wednesday on Twitter for #CPChatNow. The fun starts at 8pm ET.

Until then, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks "What is one product that helps you get through the winter months?"
Answer below!
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#CPChatNow Recap- 10/13/2021

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This past week in #CPChatNow was hopping as always. Members discussed showing off their new walker, disability related books they would recommend, and the reasons they read. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, I wanted to give kudos to Blemi for showing off her new pink walker to help promote her Youtube channel. Making mobility aids “cool” is a challenge for disabled people, so any time we can it’s worthy of praise!

zach asks if blemi has had a chance to show off her pink walker, blemi tweeted she did a photo shoot with it with an instagram account that wants to feature her. she said it is a big deal because she used to only take photos from the waist up. zach tweeted it is an incredible feeling when others reach out and they want to partner with you or feature you.

Next, the rest of the chat turned to books and reading. This may have been inspired by Zach finishing the manuscript on his latest book! First, Zach asked members what disability related book they would host for a discussion.

zach asks what disability related book members would choose for a discussion, i tweeted john quinn's or judy huemann's book. huemann's book illustrates disability history and john explains cp so well. zach tweets john's book is one of his favorite books period, blemi tweets sitting pretty by Rebeckah Taussig

Finally, talk turned to the reasons people read. Members shared a variety of reasons. Also, you can find Emily Ladau’s book Blemi references here.

zach asks why members read and offers some reasons such as escape from reality, self-improvement, inspiration. blemi tweets she reads for the pleasure of it. zach tweeted he read for multiple reasons, sometimes escape from reality, others better skills (finance), or disability related material because they open him to other's experiences. blemi tweeted she picked up Emily Ladau's book Demystifying Disability
zach tweets he will eventually get to emily's book, but he has other things on his list. i tweet i mostly escape reality, but i like current event books.
extend-the-conversation question graphic: multi-colored #CPChatNow logo in upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green, what is your favorite book of all time? above a picture of books on a shelf, #CPCHATNOW in white letters in front of a green background on the bottom.

Please share your answers to the Extend-The-Conversation-Question in the comments and join us each Wednesday on Twitter at #CPChatNow at 8 Eastern!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 09-29-2021

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Navigating ups and downs, plus more highlighted the conversation during the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow Wednesday, September 29th, 2021. Here to delve further into the details, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your weekly recap!

Early in the evening I touted a recent personal triumph.

Zachary recalls a 5k he recently completed.

While finishing far from a personal best time, I felt victorious in completing the 2021 Run Through History 5k. As I shared, due to my groin strain the prior month I went into the race not my best physically. Nevertheless, I persevered through the hilly course. Thinking about the hills, led me to ask a question.

Blemi answers whether she finds moving uphill or downhill more challenging.

Curious, I asked what others find more challenging, moving uphill or downhill? Long-time chat regular Blemi answered with no hesitation, saying downhill. I said the same, noting going downhill momentum builds making controlling yourself harder. Blemi and I soon found ourselves in good company.

Alessandro answers the question, "What do you find harder, moving uphill or downhill?"
Conversation about moving uphill and downhill also leads to discussion about ascending and descending stairs.

Alessandro concurred with my assessment about controlling momentum going downhill, just using more colorful wording. Additionally, Veronica replied with certainty. Calling downhill definitely harder. In response, I pondered if others would agree descending stairs remains more challenging then ascending them. My co-host Devin Axtman confidently replied “Without a doubt.”

As the night progressed, the chatter gradually moved from moving up and down hills and stairs to another subject.

Participants in #CPChatNow discuss the concept of Crip time.

Earlier in the day while reading Disability Visibility I came across the concept Crip time. Curiosity striking again, I asked how many people were familiar with the term. Devin hit on a key element involved, needing to plan on extra time. To offer a more comprehensive definition of Crip time I cited University of Minnesota‘s Crip time definition.

A concept arising from disabled experience that addresses the ways that disabled/chronically ill and neurodivergent people experience time (and space) differently than able-bodyminded folk.

-University of Minnesota

Veronica found herself realizing she uses Crip time without even knowing it! Mentioning in-particular always doubling prep time for recipes. What about you though? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “How do you use Crip time?”

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks, "How do you use Crip time?"

Answer in the “Comments” below! Afterwards set a reminder to join us each and every Wednesday on Twitter. The fun starts at 8pm ET.

Until then, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary