Monthly Archives: August 2024

#CPChatNow Recap- 08-21-2024

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Opportunity for conversation with others who understand living with cerebral palsy (CP) exists on X, every Wednesday, via the chat #CPChatNow. For example, relive with me, chat co-host Zachary Fenell, the discussion from August 21st, 2024. Just keep reading.

One experience you will likely encounter living with CP involves others making offhand comments.

Zachary talks about a remark he received at work about how he walks.

Particularly, I recalled a comment I received at work the previous day. As I shared, “I was walking something out to somebody’s car. Seeing my gait, she said, ‘I have trouble walking too.'” I did not respond to the comment, but reflected in our discussion, “I thought to myself, I don’t have trouble walking. This is just how I walk.”

My co-host Devin Axtman replied, “That’s interesting. I would say I have a problem walking in the typical way, but it works for me.”

While Devin and I continued our dialogue, I acknowledged, “I know I walk different and that’s my walk. It’s not me having trouble walking though because I’m not trying to walk in the typical fashion.”

Anyway, moving on with the recap, I asked the chat about advocacy.

#CPChatNow participants answer what advocating looks like to them.

Specifically, I asked, “What does ‘advocating’ look like to you?”

Devin answered, “Could be different in different scenarios, but to mean it means stating what you believe.” What about you, though? Keep the conversation going and answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What does ‘advocating’ look like to you?” Leave your reply in the “Comments.”

Now getting back to recapping the August 21st, 2024 chat, I explained why advocacy remained on my mind.

Devin and Zachary discuss resilience.

Regarding the subject, I said, “The advocacy topic came to mind because I was interviewed for a podcast last week (Champions of Resilience hosted by Olympian Amy Gamble) and I feel I could have answered the question of advocacy better.”

Meanwhile the podcast name caught Devin’s attention, as he commented, “I wish people focused on resilience more. I try to pride myself on that. Doesn’t always work, but I believe life isn’t about what happens to you, but how you react.”

Do your part to react to the extend-the-conversation question by answering, “What does ‘advocating’ look like to you?” Answer below!

Answer for the week's extend-the-conversation question, "What does 'advocating' look like to you?"

Afterwards set a reminder to join us each Wednesday on X. The fun starts at 8pm ET.

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

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 8/14/24

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This past week in #CPChatNow was bustling as always! Members discussed yummy birthday treats, what they had made progress on during the past week, and what they would do if they could go back to school. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

Hannah recently had a birthday and she talked about a peanut butter fudge cake that her grandma made for her birthday.

hannah tweets about her grandma making her cake and zach asked what kind it was. hannah tweets it is guten free chocolate with peanut butter icing

Next, Zach asked what members had made progress on during the last week.Zach talked about a recent video on goal setting and CP that he had recently completed.

zach asks what people made progress on the last seven days and tweets about a youtube video he had recently completed on goal setting and cp

Jen talked about plans for her upcoming birthday.

jen tweets she has made progress n birthday plans. zach tweets he is glad she is doing something for a big birthday

Finally, Zach asked members what they would do if they could redo school.

zach asks if members would do anything different if they could return to school, he tweets he wishes he was more outgoing, but that he is who he is because of the experiences he had and didn't have, I tweeted I would be bold and try more things

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite kind of cake? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow on X!

Thanks for reading!

~Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 08-07-2024

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Individuals in the cerebral palsy (CP) community gather on X every Wednesday for the live chat #CPChatNow. To tell you about the discussion from Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Come join me for your weekly recap! Or, should I say our weekly recap?

Devin arrives for the August 7th, 2024 #CPChatNow.

Making the distinction to say ours seems important since I missed the week’s chat too. Earlier that day I informed my co-host Devin Axtman I would miss out on the night’s conversation due to severe storms causing a major power outage in my area. Nonetheless, the conversation went on.

#CPChatNow participants discuss what they would like to accomplish in August.

The dialogue started flowing when Devin asked participants what they would like to accomplish in August. Hannah responded talking about her upcoming birthday, noting, “I guess that’s an accomplishment in a way.”

Providing reassurance to Hannah, Devin replied, “Another year always is!” Similar to Hannah, Jen’s answer revolved around celebrating another birthday. Specifically, Jen answered, “To end my 30s on a good note.”

Elsewhere in the chat Devin mentioned an era ending.

Devin celebrates getting his new wheelchair!

That era references Devin’s time in his old wheelchair, as Devin shared, “I got a new wheelchair!” In his post, Devin would also go on to address a subject discussed in past chats, naming your mobility devices. Revealing the name for his new wheelchair, “So far his name is Rolls Royce.”

What about you though? Do you name your mobility devices? Let us know and answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What name did you give your mobility device?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Afterwards, mark your calendar to join us each and every Wednesday on X. The fun begins at 8pm ET. If you do not know how to participate in a X chat, the following video I made back in 2022 might help.

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

-Zachary

Answer for the week's extend-the-conversation question, "What name did you give your mobility device?"

#CPChatNow Recap 7/31/24

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This past week in #CPChatNow was grooving as always. Members discussed their favorite Olympic and Paralympic sports and who helped them become an advocate. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, members discussed their favorite Olympic and Paralympic sports. Hannah rightly pointed out that the Paralympics are coming up. The Paralympics are the Olympics for disabled athletes.

i ask what member's favorite olympic sports are. hannah tweets gymnastics and swimming and points out the paralympic sports of swimming and wheelchair curling.

Next, members discussed who helped them become an advocate. Veronica talked about her husband helping her be herself.

veronica says her husband has helped her be an advocate by encouraging her to be herself

Many people talked about how actions their parents took sparked their advocacy skills. Zach also discussed how he became an advocate at college.

i tweeted that my parents helped me become an advocate because they knew i would have to later in life.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What skills do you think are necessary to be a good advocate?

Thanks for reading and please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on X!

-Devin