Accessibility emerged as a dominant theme during the weekly cerebral palsy (CP) Twitter chat #CPChatNow Wednesday, July 6th, 2022. Let me, chat co-host Zachary Fenell, tell you more. Consider this your boarding call to hop aboard the recap train. Choo, choo!

On second thought, I should probably refrain from using a train reference here. I say that since I am a week late posting this recap. Enough dwelling over metaphorical details, though. We do not want our focus to derail.

Long-time chat regular Blemi put us on the accessibility track when she mentioned spending the weekend at her mother’s place, also known as Blemi’s childhood home. Blemi even filmed a tour for her YouTube channel. Seeing how the video initiated a lot of the conversation for the July 6th, 2022 chat, I will go ahead and embed the video below.

After watching Blemi’s video, I posed a question to the group.

I asked participants what steps (no pun intended) were taken to make their homes, either childhood or current, more disability friendly. Both Grace and my co-host Devin Axtman mentioned grab bars and railings in their answers. Additionally, Devin said a detachable shower head.

Meanwhile Grace had an adapted walk-in shower replace an old shower/tub combo. What about you? Keep the conversation going and answer for the extend-the-conversation question, “What steps were taken to make your home, either childhood or current, more disability friendly?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

As the discussion continued, participants made an interesting observation about making homes more accessible.

Devin recalled going to his grandparents’ house and observing how much more accessible the house is now compared to the last time he visited. The cause for the change came from Devin’s grandma needing stuff for her cancer battle.

Between Devin’s comments and insights Blemi shared in her video, I drew a conclusion about accessibility. That conclusion, “Accessibility is evergreen. Even if you don’t have any issues today, life can change just like that.”

Do you agree? Speak up in the “Comments” while answering the extend-the-conversation question. Again, the question asks “What steps were taken to make your home, either childhood or current, more disability friendly?”

Once you answer, mark your calendar to join #CPChatNow every Wednesday on Twitter. The fun begins at 8pm ET.

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

-Zachary