Author Archives: devinaxtman

#CPChatNow Recap- 4/10/2019

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was interesting as always. Members discussed various topics such as problematic Lyft rides, meeting a significant other’s parents, and patronizing words. In honor of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, here are the 3 stars of the week presented by #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman.

First, Hannah shared a problematic story with a Lyft driver. Unfortunately, she experienced discriminatory behavior from a Lyft driver refusing to give a ride due to fears Hannah’s wheelchair would scratch the car, but the second driver was great:

Hannah's story about taking a lyft when the driver refused to take her due to worries about her wheelchair scratching the car

Next, Zach and I talked about meeting a significant other’s parents for the first time when you have CP. This morphed into a discussion about me being miffed at the phrase ”seeing past disability.”

zach asks about meeting significant other's parents with cp. i said it was not an issue with my girlfriend's parents. we discussed the phrase seeing past a disability and then not defining someone by their disability

Finally, this led to a discussion of what words or phrases miff people. Seth tweeted his thoughts:

seth tweets about his words he is miffed by 'special' and "you'll get a speeding ticket"

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What words or phrases used to describe disability miff you? Please join us each Wednesday at #CPChatNow on Twitter at 8 Eastern.

#CPChatNow Recap- 3/27/2019

Posted on by

*SPORTS ANCHOR VOICE* “IT’S TIME FOR YOUR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST WEEK IN #CPCHATNOW! I’M DEVIN AXTMAN, the #CPChatNow Co-Host, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. PLAY BALL!

First, our other #CPChatNow Co-Host, Zachary Fenell offered a preview of his next video, If Bob Ross had Cerebral Palsy:

Zach teasing his next video, If Bob Ross had Cerebral Palsy

Next, Zach and I discussed the opening day for baseball season and whether our disability impacts our plans at the ballpark:

Zach asked how people's disabilities impact their experience at the ballpark when Devin tweeted he is going to opening day
zach said once he is seated he does not get up and relies on friends to get food. I tweeted this was my same plan.

Continuing down the lineup of chat highlights, talk turned to the sitcom Speechless and member’s thoughts on season 3. Zach and Seth offered their thoughts on a recent episode while I shared one of my recent favorites.

Zach and seth tweeted about their enjoyment of the most recent episode of speechless. i shared I liked when Maya made the board game. zach tweeted he likes when everyone is involved

Zach and I then shared our thoughts on recent direction of the show and what characters we enjoyed watching:

i shared i thought this season was the weakest, but still worth watching. i shared i tune out kenneth and jimmy but enjoy ray and dillon. zach shared jimmy and ray are his favorite characters and he enjoys this season more than the last.

Next, Paul and Zach brought up the fact that JJ is unable to speak on the show while the actor, Micah Fowler, can speak fine.

paul asks why JJ is non-verbal while the actor is verbal. zach said no idea with a chris farley gif

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: What improvements would you like in a Speechless season 4?

the extend-the-conversation graphic. a green highway sign with the word improvement in front of a blue sky. there is a black text saying 'what improvements would you like to see in a speechless season 4?' the white #CPChatNow logo is in the left hand corner

*SPORTS ANCHOR VOICE* “THANKS FOR WATCHING! PLEASE JOIN US EACH WEDNESDAY AT 8 EASTERN AT #CPChatNow on Twitter! THIS IS DEVIN AXTMAN SIGNING OFF!

#CPChatNow Recap- 3/20/2019

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was bumping as always. Members discussed doing art, surprising interests, and the trending hashtag #AbeldsAreWeird. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, I hope you will spare me some personal happy news. I was engaged on vacation at Disney World recently. I know this is sappy, but I want to encourage everyone to keep trying. All it takes is finding the right person:

Zach asked me how my vacation was. i replied with magical with a picture of my fiancee showing off her engagement ring. i am in a gray shirt with mickey mouse on it and she is in a white minnie mouse shirt

Next, Zach asked if members had surprising interests. Paul shared an interest in collecting things:

paul said he likes to collect stuff like figurines, wall hangings, records, etc. each room has a different color and vibe

Hannah also made some cool art and decided to share it with members:

Hannah tweeted her artistic side. She created a drawing that said, "Fight in me' with a teal and purple butterfly. there is gray, pink, orange, and yellow.

Finally, members discussed the recent trending #AbeldsAreWeird hashtag. I shared my experience of a comment while waiting for a train.

I tweeted my #abeldsareweird hashtag. i was waiting for a train. A guy responded if he was in a wheelchair, he would kill himself.

A member retweeted Nicole Rodovsky’s tweet about parents shushing their children when they ask questions and not directing their questions to the person using a wheelchair:

nicole rodvosky tweets the worst thing people do is shush their child or pull them away. encourage them to ask them face to face and ask the actual person.

This brings us to our Extend the Conversation part of the recap. What are some weird moments with your disability?

I hope you enjoyed the recap! Please join us for more conversation and community each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 2-20-2019

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was buzzing as always. Members talked about how #DisabledPeopleAreHot, plans for CP Awareness Month, incompetent nurses, and controversy with Walmart and an employee with CP. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

The hashtag #DisabledPeopleAreHot swept Twitter the past week. Many #CPChatNow members posted pictures for the hashtag. Here is a newcomer to #CPChatNow, Lionel Menchaca.

Lionel's #DisabledPeopleAreHot picture

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness month. Zach asked if members had plans for the upcoming month. Veronica and Zach discuss upcoming CP awareness plans

Veronica Hosking talked about a phone bank for the local UCP and Zach talked about a team for the Race to Empower which is held in May due to Cleveland winters:

Hannah tweeted about her frustration of being in the hospital and her leg spasms triggering an alarm. A hospital tech asked a truly unbelievably incompetent question:

Hannah tweeted about a tech asking to predict her leg spasms so she doesn't trigger the bed alarm. Blemi and Devin tweeted how nice it would be to predict spasms.

Finally, #CPChatNow shared collective outrage at a change in Walmart policy which may cause a greeter with CP to lose his job:

Hannah passes along a tweet about a Walmart greeter with CP possibly losing his job due to a change in job description. I express disbelief an accommodation cannot be worked out

#CPChatNow members shared our frustrations with employment and attitudes of employees:

Hannah tweets the employment system is rigged. Hosking Poet shares they need to be reminded of EOE laws. Blemi shares she is glad she stopped shopping there and many greeters may be out of jobs.


This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is the worst thing a healthcare employee has said to you? Please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow.

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks "What is the worst thing a healthcare employee has said to you?

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 2-6-2019

Posted on by

#CPChatNow included various different topics last Wednesday including: future employability, Valentine’s Day coming up, and even member’s favorite breakfast cereal. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, Shira shared the memory of encountering a Deaf employee at the bowling alley and struggling to communicate with him. She raised an issue many people with disabilities fear, their future employability:

Zach and Shira talking about a memory at a bowling alley and how it relates to fears about future employability
Zach and Blemi chat about Valentine's Day being a forced holiday

Zach brought up Valentine’s Day and members shared various thoughts from extreme indifference to excitement. Blemi and Zach talked about the day sometimes being a forced holiday:

Finally, Zach and Paul talked about their favorite breakfast cereals:

Zach and Paul talk about breakfast cereals. Paul likes Count Chocula and Zach likes Cocco Puffs followed by Fruity Pebbles with a shout out to Trix for the best commercials.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Have you ever had fears related to your employability due to your disability?

Thanks for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow on Twitter

#CPChatNow Recap 1-23-2019

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was bustling as always. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, we have to congratulate #CPChatNow member, Timmy Le, for getting accepted to a PhD program at the University of Massachusetts.

Timmy announces acceptance to a PhD program

Next, members talked about annoying aspects of having a disability like fixing your wheelchair or having to renew a permanent handicap parking placard

I talked about getting my chair fixed. Zach and Blemi talked about having to renew a prescription or pay for a placard

Various members talked about the positives and negative impacts of social media. Zach and I talked about negatives like getting addicted to “likes,” but also positives like having access to information you would not have like parents finding community.

Zach and I talked about getting addicted to "likes," but also having access to information you would not have like parents with a CP diagnosis.

Next, members talked about potential figures of speech that are offensive due to disability. Shira and Zach talked about the figure of speech “A leg to stand on”

Shira and Zach talked about the figure of speech "A leg to stand on" and wondered if it would be offensive

Finally, I shared my experience as a wheelchair user of people commonly worrying whether saying “Let’s walk over there” is offensive:

We tweeted about whether figures of speech were offensive. I shared many people worried whether the figure of speech "Let's walk over there" is offensive

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Do you feel social media is a net negative or positive in your life?

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks "Do you feel social media is a net negative or positive in your life?"

Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday on #CPChatNow on Twitter at 8 Eastern.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 1-2-2019

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was a happening as always. As you might imagine, New Year’s resolutions were a hot topic. Members also talked about accessible seating and watching the ball drop.

Amanda shared an unfortunate experience of accessible seating not being guaranteed at a concert she wanted to go to. This is all too common unfortunately.

Amanda expressed frustration about accessible seating not being guaranteed

Next, Shira brought up the fact she would not want to go to Time’s Square to watch the ball drop:

Shira and Zach tweet about not wanting to go to Time's Square to see the ball drop

Finally, talk turned to New Year’s resolutions. Hannah talked about wanting to go to Nashville for a vacation and blog:

Hannah tweets about wanting to blog more and go to Nashville

Zach shared many ideas including going to Cincinnati for a Reds game and also to meet the #CPChatNow crew near there:

Zach and Hannah tweeting about Zach going to Cincinnati to see a reds game and visit the #CPChatNow crew

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: What are your 2019 New Year’s Resolutions?

Please join us at #CPChatNow on Twitter tonight at 8 Eastern!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/19/2018

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always.  With the holidays coming up members talked about the difficulty of gift wrapping and the greatest gift they have ever given.  This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members talked about the difficulty of wrapping gifts with CP:

Jen tweets about never wrapping gifts herself. Zach tweets that gift bags are the perfect solution and the need for a wrap battle for CPChatNow

Next, members talked about the greatest gift they have ever given with a variety of cool answers:

Zach asks what the greatest gifts members have ever given. I reply a Traeger grill and talk with Jake about how much he likes it

Blemi tweets about the leather journals she gave to Rob

I tweet about TEKS shoes I got for my mom and Paul tweets about a grandfather clock he got from his mom

Don’t forget our Hangout Thursday, December 27th and answer our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is the best gift you have ever given someone?

Please share your answer in the comments.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12-5-2018

Posted on by

This past week #CPChatNow was lit as always.  Members talked about claiming handicapped parking spots and what makes someone strong.  This week’s chat was also a unique chat as it was #CPChatNow’s 5th anniversary.  Members talked about positive effects from #CPChatNow and what they would make the official theme song of #CPChatNow.  This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, Blemi sparked an intriguing discussion by asking if she should feel guilty for claiming the only handicapped parking spot:

A discussion about Blemi asking if it was bad she claimed the only handicapped parking spot. I tweeted that she should never feel sorry for claiming access

Next, there was an enlightening discussion sparked by Shira’s tweet asking what members thought made someone strong in a community that is often seen as strong by default:

Shira tweeted asking about what makes someone strong. Zach tweeted about perseverance. Shira tweeted about people seeing the disabled community persisting through challenges. Zach tweeted that others probably do not agree on what is difficult

I added in the importance of attitude towards others:

Zach and I tweeted about the importance of attitude towards others in making someone strong

Zach asked about how #CPChatNow had been a positive and many members talked about a positive of finding community.  Cirán discussed the positive of his distrust of escalators being validated from a previous discussion about the dangers of using escalators with CP:

Ciran tweets about a positive of his childhood distrust of the escalator validated

Zach then asked members what they would make the official theme song of #CPChatNow:

Shira tweets Fight Song by Rachel Platten being the official theme song of #CPChatNow. Karre Sloan tweets I get knocked down by Chumbawamba

This brings to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is the theme song of your life with CP?  Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow on Twitter

Extend-the-conversation question in red with What is the theme song of your life with CP? in red as well. There is a black and white picture of a microphone with some knobs.

-Devin

#CPChatNow- 11-28-2018

Posted on by

This past week the #CPChatNow Cerebral Palsy Twitter chat was bumping as always.  Members talked about their holiday wish list, what they wanted to be when they grew up, and what they feel is the worst occupation for someone with CP.  This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

Not surprisingly, members’ holiday wish lists dominated the early conversation.  Members shared their gifts were becoming more practical as they aged.

Zach and Devin tweeted about holiday wish lists. Zach tweeted about a bright winter coat so people can see him and I shared I recently bought lights for my wheelchair

Next, members talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up as a kid.  There were definitely some amusing answers, but some also achieved their goal!

Zach tweets about wanting to be a Cleveland Indians player and then shifting his goal to becoming a writer. We talked about mourning not being able to play sports.

Zach and I had a common goal, playing baseball.  I had a little bit more lofty ambitions however, and Ayden would like to be the Leader of the Free World!

Ayden tweeted about wanting to become President

Zach asked about the occupations that members felt were the worst for people with CP. Dave shared some difficult positions he has had, a stagehand and line cook.

Zach and Dave tweet about bad occupations for people with CP. Dave tweets about stagehand and line cook being difficult on the knees

Heather won the unofficial title of Tweet of the Night with a tightrope walker being the worst occupation for someone with CP

Heather tweets that a tightrope walker would be the worst occupation

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: What was your dream job when you were growing up and did CP require you to change it?  Please share your answer in the comments and join us at #CPChatNow on Twitter at 8 Eastern each Wednesday.

The Extend-The-Conversation Question graphic. There is a tan background with a picture of a little girl daydreaming. What was your dream job when you were growing up and did CP require you to change it? is in red with the multicolored #CPChatNow logo

-Devin