Author Archives: devinaxtman

#CPChatNow Recap- 4/10/24

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This past week in #CPChatNow was hopping as always. Members discussed art projects, learning how to fall, and their favorite summer activities. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members discussed their like (or dislike) of doing art projects. Timmy shared photography he had done and Chris shared an art project she recently completed.

zach asked if members liked doing art projects. Timmy shared his photography with pictures of baseball
chris shares a picture of a recent art project she did

Next, members discussed a common activity for people with Cerebral Palsy, learning how to fall in Physical Therapy.

zach tweets he learned how to fall one summer in physical therapy to prevent serious injuries. i tweeted i did the same thing after falling on the playground and almost breaking my wrist. zach tweets he suffered a concussion after a fall in school
veronica tweeted she was taught to go limp when she fell and because it saves her body from more injuries.

Finally, Veronica and Zach talked about their favorite summer activities.

zach asked what members favorite summer activities are. Veronica tweeted swimming, but she doesn't have a pool so she doesn't get to swim often

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What do you remember learning to do in Physical Therapy? I remember I went out by the elementary’s schools playground and I had to try to walk straight on the line students wait behind for the buses. If I fell off to either side, I fell in the “alligator pit.”

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 3/27/24

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This past week in #CPChatNow was buzzing as always. Members discussed what they did for CP Awareness Day, the lack of research for adult treatments for CP, and what they are looking forward to this Spring. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

March 25th was World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Veronica Hosking wrote a haiku talking about the lack of research into adult treatments for CP:

veronica hosking's haiku of: Cerebral Palsy lifelong disability, unveil new research with a picture of Veronica and a stuffed animal

Veronica’s haiku sparked further conversation about the lack of research into adult treatments for CP.

i tweet about how the treatments for cp haven't changed in the 33 years I have been alive. veronica tweets she has been alive for 50 years and now much has changed along with difficulty finding a PCP familiar with CP.

Also, Zach shared photos of himself in a Riddler costume and said he was going to do a video of if the Riddler had CP. Check it out!

Finally, Zach asked what members are looking forward to this spring.

zach asks what members are looking forward to this spring. veronica tweets she will write poetry in april and zach tweets he has some poems in his head. hannah tweets she is looking forward to the cone and zach tweets that is an acceptable answer.

This brings us to the Extend-The-Conversation Question: What do you wish medical professionals knew about Cerebral Palsy?

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 2/21/2024

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Last week in #CPChatNow was hopping as always. Member discussed nostalgia, video games, and what they love about themselves. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, members discussed things that bring them nostalgia.

chris tweeted nick toons and swiss miss hot chocolate make her nostalgic
veronica tweets cinnamon toast and tv shows such as scarecrow and mrs. king bring nostalgia.

Next, Stephen tweeted about how he was looking forward to the summer and the upcoming college football game.

stephen tweeted he can't wait for the summer along with a picture of ea sport's college football 25

Finally, members expanded on the Valentine’s Day spirit and tweeted what they liked about themselves.

chris tweeted she loves her ability to care for others including her empathy and love for others. zach tweets empathy is an admirable quality
I tweeted i love my ability to adapt and keep my cool. zach tweets adaptability is important because life never goes as planned and you need to be able to adapt and having a disability prepares you to do that

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question. I would like to go back to our nostalgia conversation. What is your favorite childhood memory? Mine is going to a Green Bay Packers game. Please share your memories in the comments.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 1/31/2024

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This past week in #CPChatNow was a happening as always! Members discussed their accomplishments for the month, grad school, and building self-confidence. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members discussed things they had been doing this month. 

zach asked what the most brave things members had done stating he went on an escalator, veronica tweeted she went on a walk and cluedup game, hannah tweeted she hates escalators

Veronica expanded more on the CluedUpp game she played. It sounds fun!

zach asked veronica about the clued upp game. she said you walk around the city with a map and clues on an app

Next, Chris talked about how she had started grad school and it was an adjustment from undergrad.

chris tweets grad school is overwhelming at first and adjusting to the work is intense because they have her thinking like a social worker week 1

Finally, Zach asked how members built their self-confidence.

zach asked how members build self confidence and stated he practiced positive self talk during reverse crunches

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What adventures would you like to go on?

Thanks for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 eastern on X at #CPChatNow.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 3/8/23

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This past week in #CPChatNow was a lively chat as always. Members discussed disability on job applications, Youtube rabbit holes, and songs for a musical about Cerebral Palsy. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride of this week’s recap. All aboard!!

First, Heather talked about a new job she got that had been proactive about accommodations. This led to a discussion about questions about disability on job applications.

veronica asks if anyone has seen a disability disclosure on a job application. heather tweets she got a job and that her employer is the first one to be proactive about accommodations. veronica tweets she doesn't think employers can ask about disability and she would hope people don't apply for a job they can't fill. heather tweets she would hope people most people don't apply for positions they can't fill.

This led Zach to ask about disability law in Canada where Heather hails from:

zach asks about the governing law of disability in Canada. she says that Canada doesn't have a federal law, but the provinces have their own laws.

Next, talk turned to members falling down Youtube rabbit holes.

stephen asks if anyone has gone down a youtube rabbit hole. i tweet i have with old wrestling matches and zach tweet he has as well.
zach asks stephen what videos he is watching. stephen tweets he watches videos about old disney channel shows and their actors. zach mentions shows like lizzie mcguire and even stevens. stephen tweets about podcasts.

Finally, talk turned to what songs and musicians would appropriate for a musical about Cerebral Palsy.

Thanks for reading and join us tonight at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 02-22-2023

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It’s #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. This week members discussed heating pads, mattresses, and what they would tell to their younger self.

First, Zach and I talked about a fantastic book we have been reading, True Biz. I highly encourage you to check it out!

zach asks how i'm liking true biz, i respond i like it and i'm halfway through, zach tweets he plans to write a review for his blog and there are some parallels to CP and the book finds a balance between being educational and entertaining.

Next, I asked if members had recommendations for heating pads.

i asked if anyone had recommendations for a heating pad, heather tweets she uses therapearl hot and cold packs on her shoulder joint and she has had botox done today

Also, Hannah asked for recommendations for mattresses.

hannah asks if anyone with CP have recommendations for a good mattress. Heather tweets the firmest one possible with softness impacting her shoulder and hip. She said she uses a Kingsdown rampart. Veronica also prefers a firm mattress and she has a firm tempurpedic.

Finally, talk turned to what members would tell their younger self about CP.

zach asks what members would tell their younger self about CP. Timmy tweets to be unapologetically you because it's your life not theirs
chris tweeted she would say it's ok to be disabled and her disabled body is normal for her and there's nothing wrong with it. she was berated for her spastic arm in the past. zach tweets we are all different in some way so normal is a myth. chris tweeted it took a lot of spending time with disabled people for her to be comfortable in her body. she notes she had to stop herself from yelling at a friend to put his arm down.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are some myths you were told about CP when you were young?

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 2/8/2023

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This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, checking in once again for this week’s recap. Members got nostalgic this week talking about what they missed from childhood while contrasting that by discussing what they liked about adulthood. All aboard!

Members opened the week’s chat by discussing what they missed from childhood. Members talked about being carefree, being able to be carried around, and more!

zach asked what members missed most from their childhood/teenage years, i tweeted about being care free and having less responsibility, zach missed simpler times but talked about how that might be due to blissful ignorance, hannah tweeted having both of her parents and being small enough to be carried around.
alessandro answered he misses a back that doesn't hurt, zach tweeted he just turned on the heating pad for his back and his misses being able to bend down without grunting. alessandro added his misses not hearing a crack or pop.
timmy tweets about missing being able to eat whatever he wants without gaining weight

Finally, members discussed what they liked most about adulthood, namely the ability to take chances and money to go do stuff.

zach asks what members like most about adulthood and tweeted he likes not having to get permission to do things the most and used the example of becoming a marathoner, i tweeted having money to go do fun stuff

This brings to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite memory from childhood? Please share your answers in the comments and please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 1/18/23

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This past week’s #CPChatNow had members bouncing all over the place with discussions of different topics such as hiking, podcasts, and how CP impacts their decision making. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, I would like to celebrate Zach progressing in his career at the library.

zach tweets he finished his branch service assistant training and he can now substitute at the reference desk

Next, talk turned to Timmy’s hobby of hiking and his essentials when he goes on a hike.

zach asks timmy what equipment he takes on his hikes. timmy says he has a 24 pound backpack with micro spikes, trekking poles, satellite personal locator device along with gummy bears

Next, Stephen asked what podcasts others listened to.

Stephen asks if people are fans of podcasts, i tweet i am fans of way too many with my favorite small town murder and wrestling and sports ones. Stephen tweets he likes on air with ryan seacrest and the ellen k morning show and zach tweets he listens to one or two, but he is a visual person so he mainly falls asleep to them.

Finally, Zach asks members how CP impacts their decision making.

zach asks how cp impacts members decision making. i tweeted about transportation or if i'm going somewhere and need to walk a lot. zach tweets about cp helping determine priorities with the first one being to take care of himself physically and prioritizing that guides decision making on what to do first.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are your favorite outdoor activities? Please share your answers in the comments and join us tomorrow at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

the extend-the-conversation question graphic with the question of what are your favorite outdoor activities with a a brown sign and an illustration of two figures hiking.

#CPChatNow Recap- 1/4/23

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This past week in #CPChatNow sparked some interesting conversation about member’s relationship with CP and their hopes for 2023. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, Zach tweeted about a dream where he avoided a common nemesis for people with CP, escalators.

zach tweets about a dream where he was at the mall and avoided taking an escalator. I tweeted I usually realize I should've done something different but it's too late

Next, Zach asked what members are looking forward to in 2023.

zach asked what members are looking forward to in 2023. zach tweeted he is starting to train as a substitute at the reference desk and writing wise he has different events coming up.
veronica tweeted she is not sure she is looking forward to it, but she is turning 50 in November. chris tweeted she is hoping to finish her masters.

Finally, Zach asked about member’s relationships with CP. The question sparked an interesting discussion.

zach asks members to describe their relationship with CP. i tweeted adaptable with some days taking pride in my CP, some days annoyed by it and some days indifferent. chris tweeted mostly ok learning to adapt well with the only impacts coming from post impairment syndrome aging things.
timmy tweets accepted. he accepts it to the point he can push himself physically but it in reality it's really about how far mentally

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Have you ever had a dream related to CP? Please share your answers in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/21/2022

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This past week in #CPChatNow not surprisingly centered around the holidays with members discussing favorite holiday movies and memories. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

Members started the chat by talking about their favorite Christmas movies and music:

i ask what members favorite Christmas movie is and shared mine is christmas vacation with a picture of the Griswold house
zach tweets his favorite movie is the santa clause. i tweeted i watched that today. zach asks if people have a favorite christmas album and tweets his is the christmas album by neil diamond. i tweeted my favorite song is the christmas song by nat king cole. chris tweeted that is his as well.

Next, Zach asked about member’s favorite holiday memories. We reminisced about favorite memories with Santa Claus.

zach asked about fun holiday memories. i tweeted about how my family hired a santa claus zach tweeted about how dad played santa one christmas eve.
seth tweeted about the time he told santa he had bad breath. zach asked how he reacted. seth said he really couldn't react.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation-Question: What is your funniest holiday memory?

Extend-the-conversation graphic with #CPChatNow logo in upper right hand corner, what is your funniest holiday memory? and picture of christmas trees and a hanukkah menorah

My funniest holiday memory is asking Santa where his sleigh was parked at the bank. He pointed to the roof and I was straining desperately to see it. Please share your answers in the comments!

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

-Devin