Category Archives: Weekly Recaps

#CPChatNow Recap- 11/6/24

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#CPChatNow recaps are baaaaaaaccccckkk! This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. Members discussed funny disability costumes, holiday music, Halloween costumes, and more. All aboard!

First, Stephen checked in with us to let us know he was still having fun going to the Exceptional Foundation.

stephen tells zach he's going to the exceptional foundation tomorrow and that it's always a good time.

Next, I shared a funny comment someone made about my disability when they asked if I rolled 20 miles to and from work each day in my wheelchair.

i shared that a lady asked if i rolled 20 miles from home to work and back. zach asked if she knew how long my commute is. i tweeted she was intoxicated and it was on the shoulder of a highway. veronica shares the story of her daughter seeing someone roll their wheelchair backwards on a sidewalk

Next, Zach asked when members started listening to holiday music.

zach asked when people start listening to holiday music and says he does after Thanksgiving. I tweeted I do on christmas eve

Finally, Zach shared his Halloween costumes from this year, Macho Man Randy Savage and Luigi.

zach asks if anyone dressed up for halloween. i tweeted i wore my only in it for the parking shirt. zach shared pictures of himself dressed up as macho man randy savage and luigi

This brings up to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite Halloween costume you have ever worn? Please share your answers in the comments and join us at 8 Eastern on X each Wednesday.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 10/2/24

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This past week in #CPChatNow was bussin as the kids would say. Members discussed their favorite Starbursts, their Steptember progress, Halloween traditions, and more. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on last week’s recap. All aboard!

First, Zach talked about his progress for Steptember. He met both his step and fundraising goals!

zach provides an update on his final steptember numbers. he achieved both his step and fundraising goals. there is a graphic with his step and fundraising goals

Next, members discussed their favorite and least favorite flavors of Starbursts.

zach asks what members favorite and least favorite starburst flavors are. i tweeted pink and red are my favorite, but i don't love yellow. zach tweeted they are talking about it at work and the majority don't like yellow, but some like it
veronica tweets she doesn't eat them because they are too sticky and make her teeth feel icky. zach tweeted his braces had him avoiding caramels and sticky candies. veronica tweeted she spent 6 years in braces and had her wisdom teeth and permanent teeth out, but she's never had a cavity and the dentist said she will keep her teeth until she is 100 even though she doesn't want to live that long. zach tweeted quality of life is more important than how long you live

Finally, Zach asked what Halloween tradition members liked most.

zach asked what members favorite Halloween traditions are. veronica said she likes handing out candy and seeing trick or treaters rather than dressing up. zach tweeted he likes dressing up and people liked seeing costumes at work

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation-Question: What is your favorite candy?

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap

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We’re going to switch things up a bit this week by recapping the last two chats in #CPChatNow. Members discussed dancing, advocating, pain, and doing a 5k. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, we would like to congratulate Zach for recently completing a 5k!

a picture of zach at a 5k in a Robin costume

Also, Zach asked members if they are self-conscious about dancing,

zach asks if there are songs that make people dance, i tweet it is come on elieen for my wife and i, zach tweets he used t be conscious about dancing, i tweet i don't dance alone, but i don't care what other people think

Finally, Zach, Casey, and Veronica talked about feeling more pain and spasticity in the cold weather.

zach, casey, and veronica discussing spasticity in cool weather and changes

Now this comes to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite way to exercise?

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

-Devin

#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

#CPChatNow Recap- 07-17-2024

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Those who participated in the weekly cerebral palsy (CP) X chat #CPChatNow July 17th, 2024 enjoyed a friendly discussion. Here to provide some highlights from the evening, I am #CPChatNow co-host Zachary Fenell. Please join me for your weekly recap!

Throughout the years regulars in our community formed bonds by sharing their experiences with cerebral palsy and discovering common interests beyond CP. Both remained apparent during the conversation July 17th, 2024.

As participants in #CPChatNow discuss baseball, conversation turns to an issue a number of people in the CP community face, transportation.

Major League Baseball provided one such interest helpful solidifying our connections. Therefore, I asked our Texas based regulars about any All-Star game festivities in their area. Jen answered, “If there were I didn’t pay attention (it all would’ve been in Arlington which is about an hr away from me).”

Responding, I said, “I know Texas is a big state so one hour away isn’t too far away.” However, I added a disclaimer, “15 minutes can be a long way away if you don’t have the transportation.”

Jen agreed, saying, “True” and commenting on the public transportation in her area. Specifically, Jen noted, “The rail/bus line is mostly confined to Dallas proper.”

What about your area though? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “How would you describe the public transportation in your area?” Answer in the “Comments” section.

Answer for the extend-the-conversation question, "How would you describe the public transportation in your area?"

Another topic discussed July 17th, 2024 involved celebrities.

#CPChatNow participants talk about their favorite celebrities.

Celebrities came to the conversation’s forefront when I asked the chat, “Do you have a favorite celebrity? If so, who is it?”

My co-host Devin Axtman answered by asking, “Does Charles Barkley count?”

Meanwhile Veronica named “Jonathan Frakes” as her favorite celebrity, recounting, “I’ve seen him a couple times at conventions.” On the other hand, Jen mentioned not having a favorite celebrity, but favorite characters from different shows.

To join in on these fun and friendly conversations, mark your calendar to join us each and every Wednesday on X. The fun begins at 8pm ET. In the meantime, make sure to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “How would you describe the public transportation in your area?” Respond below!

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

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 07-10-2024

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Every Wednesday individuals in the cerebral palsy (CP) community hop on X to participate in the weekly chat #CPChatNow. Communal vibes remained strong Wednesday, July 10th, 2024 as participants shared news and offered one another support. To delve into the details, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your weekly recap!

Early in the night my co-host Devin Axtman shared some news which provoked different emotions.

Devin shares news he is getting a new wheelchair in August.

Devin posted, “I get my new wheelchair August 2nd. About 4 months after I started the process.” Excited for Devin, Jen responded, “That’s awesome.”

Meanwhile, I expressed frustration by commenting, “About time I guess.” My frustration rooted in thinking getting a new wheelchair should not take so long. Admittedly though, some tasks do take time. Tasks you could refer to as long-term goals. A subject I would bring up that evening.

#CPChatNow participants show a sense of community as they discuss long-term goals.

Curious, I asked the chat, “What is a long-term goal you are currently working towards?” Jen replied in-part, “I guess try to get out of a long dark funk.”

Devin responded to Jen with encouragement, saying, “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that goal.” I compounded the support, adding “That is actually a great goal. A good goal focuses on improving yourself and that certainly is a way to improve yourself.”

How about we continue to focus on good goals and keep the conversation going? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What is a long-term goal you are currently working towards?”

Answer for the week's extend-the-conversation question, "What is a long-term goal you are currently working towards?"

Answer below! Afterwards, set a reminder to join our community each and every Wednesday on X. The fun starts at 8pm ET.

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

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 07-03-2024

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Every Wednesday people in the cerebral palsy (CP) community gather on X for the weekly chat #CPChatNow. To tell you all about the discussion from Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Come aboard and join me for your weekly recap.

As participants welcomed in the new month, chatter turned to calendar orientated occasions. A holiday like July Fourth, but also more.

#CPChatNow participants discuss July being Disability Pride Month.

That more included Disability Pride Month. Curious, I asked the chat how much they know about Disability Pride Month. My co-host Devin Axtman admitted, “Well, I didn’t know it was Disability Pride Month to start. I know about the (Disability Pride) flag though.”

Meanwhile Veronica shared a Cerebral Palsy Alliance graphic explaining, “Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July as a result of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act signed into law on July 26, 1990. It celebrates inclusion and the experiences of all disabled people.”

Delving further into specifics I referenced a post I read from The Arc, “Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month.” Information from the post led me to pose a question to our community.

The #CPChatNow community discusses the 2024 theme for Disability Pride Month, "We want a life like yours."

In-particular I highlighted from The Arc post the 2024 theme for Disability Pride Month, “We want a life like yours.” As The Arc notes, the theme “reflects the disability community’s dreams for life experiences that they are too often denied.” Playing off that, I asked, “What experiences have you been denied due to CP?”

Veronica responded, “I was denied a letter for sports. My youngest got one for academic excellence. I wish my high school had that option.” Sports ended up proving a common theme as both Devin and I mentioned not getting the chance to play sports like we wanted. How about you though? Keep the conversation going and answer for the extend-the-conversation question, “What experiences have you been denied due to CP?”

Answer below in the “Comments” section. Afterwards, set a reminder to join us each and every Wednesday on X. The fun begins at 8pm ET.

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

-Zachary

Answer for the week's extend-the-conversation question, "What experiences have you been denied due to CP?"