This past week in #CPChatNow was positively jumping. Members discussed their appearance on a podcast and the intersection of disability and mental health. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!
First, Veronica tweeted about her haiku being featured on the podcast, Haiku Pea Podcast. Way to go, Veronica!
Next, October 10th being World Mental Health Day sparked conversation about the intersection of disability and mental health.
Zach did a great video on the impact of CP on his mental health. Members talked about the importance of talking about the positives of mental health.
This brings to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are your strategies to maintain positive mental health?
Thanks for reading! Please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!
This past week in #CPChatNow was popping as always. Members discussed their favorite sport, which body parts are most impacted by their spasticity, and Zach discussed his new book! I’m your co-host, Devin Axtman. Strap in for the #CPChatNow recap! All aboard!
First, I would like to recognize progress on Zach’s new book about his efforts towards becoming a marathoner. Zach announced that the proof copies of his book are almost ready:
Sports were a big topic with the Super Bowl coming up. Members discussed their favorite sports with Chris talking about racing and its commitment to accessibility:
Finally, members discussed the parts of their body that are most impacted by spasticity and what they do to cope.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite life hack to help cope with your CP? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow on Twitter.
Every Wednesday participants in the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow gather to enjoy comradery and conversation. Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 proved no different. To tell you more, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your weekly recap!
In addition to a night filled with engaging discussion, September 1st marked the start of an annual challenge.
That challenge, Steptember, arose in the discussion September 1st thanks to chat regular Veronica. Steptember challenges individuals to move 10,000 steps a day throughout September. All a way to help fundraise for life-changing scientific advances for the CP community. To learn more, visit steptember.us.
Veronica wondered if anyone planned to participate in Steptember 2021. I quote tweeted her and noted another participant Timmy approached me about starting a #CPChatNow Steptember team. I declined the idea this year because I am still healing from my groin strain. However, next year I say game on!
Needing to put off a #CPChatNow Steptember team until 2022 due to injury could cause “Life isn’t fair” thoughts to form. Another popular topic from our September 1st Twitter chat.
Inspired by long-time chat regular Blemi‘s Youtube video “Having Sad Days with Cerebral Palsy,” I asked participants “How often do you find yourself thinking ‘Life isn’t fair’ and how do you cope with the feeling?” Blemi and I discovered similarities in our answers. We both had the thought more when younger, but specific frustrations can still trigger sad days. Learning to come to terms with CP has helped a lot to cope with the down days.
What about you? Keep the conversation going and answer as the week’s extend-the-conversation question “How often do you find yourself thinking ‘Life isn’t fair’ and how do you cope with the feeling?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.
Afterwards, mark your calendars to join us at #CPChatNow each and every Wednesday on Twitter. The fun begins at 8pm ET.
Participants in the weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow gathered for a lively conversation Wednesday, July 7th, 2021. Here to tell you more, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your recap.
Various topics came and went throughout the evening July 7th. Early in the night dialogue revolved around the upcoming Paralympics.
Admittedly, I raised the Paralympic topic when tweeting a BBC News story, “Tokyo Paralympics: Most of Channel 4’s TV hosts will be disabled.” In my tweet, I asked what others thought about Channel 4’s pledge to have more than 70% of its Paralympic presenters be disabled. My co-host Devin Axtman responded, calling the move “much needed.” I agreed, saying involving disabled voices should help prevent an ablest narrative.
Your turn! What do you think? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What do you think of Channel 4’s pledge to have more than 70% of its Paralympic presenters be disabled?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.
Continuing on, chat regular Chris and I found ourselves discussing athletes who had to persevere through much adversity. A subject which led me to pose another question.
I asked participants “When facing tough times, what quote or advice do you tell yourself in order to keep persevering?” Long-time regular Blemi responded “Never give up on your dreams,” a quote from Rick Hansen Man in Motion. Meanwhile Alessandro replied “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Putting Alessandro’s chosen advice into action, do remember to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. Again, the question asks “What do you think of Channel 4’s pledge to have more than 70% of its Paralympic presenters be disabled?”
Reply in the “Comments.”
Afterwards, set yourself a reminder to join #CPChatNow each and every Wednesday, starting at 8pm ET. Or, tweet me and ask me to include you in my weekly #CPChatNow reminder tweet. Until our next correspondence, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!
This past week in #CPChatNow was popping as always. Members discussed their favorite Halloween candy, what they do to manage pain, and their favorite part of November. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.
First, members discussed their favorite Halloween candy. I also shared my negative thoughts about candy corn.
Next, Zach and Casey discussed how they managed pain:
Finally, Zach asked members what their favorite part of November is. Members discussed the election being over and writing their novel.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite part of Fall?
Thanks for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.
This past week in #CPChatNow was bustling as always. Members discussed personal accomplishments, COVID restrictions in Australia, good deeds, and what social media platform they like. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.
First, we would love to congratulate #CPChatNow mama bear, Erin, on her acceptance to a Master’s program:
#CPChatNow has had a member joining us from Australia. AcquiDis detailed COVID restrictions in place in the land down under.
Next, talk turned to good deeds as I shared the story of my bus driver taking me to the train station at the end of her route. Members shared good deeds others had done for them or they had done:
Finally, Zach and Chris tweeted about what social media platform they were most active on:
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite good deed you have ever done or someone else has done for you? Please share your answers in the comments!
Please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow! Thanks for reading!
Assorted subjects came and went during the weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow Wednesday, August 19th, 2020. Here with the details, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Time to settle in and enjoy your weekly recap!
Early discussion contained a music theme.
Just for fun I asked participants if they were to nominate a song to be the official song of living with cerebral palsy, what song would they nominate. Personally, I said “Tubthumping” by Chumbuwamba. Meanwhile my co-host Devin Axtman said “Unsteady” by X-Ambassadors.
However, not everyone could come up with a song. Our resident pro at social distancing Jen has no song associated with her CP. What about you? Keep the conversation going and answer as the week’s extend-the-conversation question “If you were to nominate a song to be the official song of living with cerebral palsy, what song would you nominate?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.
In addition to answering the extend-the-conversation question, chat regular Chris could use your feedback!
As the night’s discourse continued, the extend-the-conversation question Devin proposed in the August 12th, 2020 recap emerged.
In answering what I would tell my younger self about CP I wondered if my younger self would believe me. A thought process leading me to shamefully plug my teen memoir Off Balanced, which became available in paperback this past February. Off Balanced details my journey from embarrassment to embrace over having CP.
Responding to my comment, Grace mentioned not feeling embarrassed but rather encountering constant mind-numbing anxiety/guilt. Oppose to us continuing to look back though, let us refocus on the present and future. Presently, the week’s extend-the-conversation asks “If you were to nominate a song to be the official song of living with cerebral palsy, what song would you nominate?”
Reply below to answer. Next, mark your calendar and join us on Twitter for #CPChatNow each and every Wednesday. The fun begins at 8pm ET.
This past week in #CPChatNow was bouncing as always. Members discussed adventurous things they had done in the last week, features of architecture, and aspects of their CP they have had to reconcile. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.
First, Zach asked members what adventurous things they had done in the last week. Members tweeted various things that really are not that adventurous, but seem adventurous and risky in this COVID pandemic.
Next, my friend who is an architect happened upon #CPChatNow and we discussed my preference of ramps versus lifts.
Finally, Zach asked members what they had struggled to reconcile with their CP.
Members discussed various difficult parts of reconciling their CP such as other’s perception and physical difficulties:
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question inspired by Chris. What would you tell your younger self about CP? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow.
This past week in #CPChatNow was cracking as always. Members discussed various topics like their brags for the day, creating their own podcast, life hacks, and what part of the day they feel at their best.
Zach opened the conversation by asking members what their brag for the day was. He shared that his book is now offered at the library he works at:
My brag was advocating to my apartment to finally finish a wheelchair ramp on a sidewalk:
Travis tweeted about starting his podcast, Off The Crutch.
Amanda tweeted a Buzzfeed article with tips for people with limited mobility. This might be helpful for some people with CP.
Finally, members discussed what part of the day they felt the best at:
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation: What is your favorite part of the day?
Thank you for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow
This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always, but this week brought new members. Members discussed the Moro Reflex and media representation of CP. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap!
First, members discussed a dreaded part of CP for some people, an exaggerated startle reflex.
Karen tweeted about the name for the reflex, the Moro reflex.
Next, talk turned to different representations of CP in the media. Members discussed the Netflix documentary Crip Camp and various issues of representation in the documentary.
Talk also turned to the sadly canceled ABC show, Speechless, and issues related to representation. Members had varying opinions on whether they could relate to JJ.
Karen connected the lack of a ramp in the season 2 finale of Speechless with the abelism highlighted in Crip Camp.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Have you ever been denied recognition due to physical inaccessibility?
Thanks for reading this week’s recap and join us at 8 Eastern each Wednesday on Twitter at #CPChatNow!
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