Category Archives: Weekly Recaps

#CPChatNow Recap- 06-08-2016

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Excitement remains abuzz the #CPChatNow community. I am co-host Zachary Fenell, back again. Amidst all the exciting prospects I am tasked to focus and recap the June 8th Twitter chat.

In-part the aforementioned excitement extends to announcements made June 8th.

#CPChatNow co-host Zachary Fenell announces Zach Wood will lead a focus chat on breaking down stereotypes Wednesday, June 15th.Co-host Blake Henry announces the date for #CPChatNow's monthly Google Hangouts video chat.Now the focus chat news first broke June 3rd, right here on our website! To ensure you stay updated on everything, subscribe to the website. When using a laptop or desktop, you will find the option located on the left hand side bar. On mobile devices scroll down until you see the “Subscribe” forum.

Subscribers know another reason for the recent #CPChatNow enthusiasm. Yes! I am talking about the #CPChatNow t-shirts and tank tops sale. Long awaited news I first made public here. Learn more about the sale. Then purchase your own #CPChatNow gear to wear.

With that plug complete, let me resume recapping. Early conversation segued to chatter about physical therapy.

Early conversation segued to discussion on physical therapy.#CPChatNow community members share how physical therapists had them deal with pain in physical therapy.The ability to relate to physical therapy matters seems small. However, such ability can prove a difference maker. You can especially gain a greater appreciation when remembering a time before social media. A time frame our participants recalled.

Our community recalls the time before #CPChatNow and social media.More reflection on life before #CPChatNow and social media

Answer "Before #CPChatNow and social media, did you know anyone else with cerebral palsy? If yes, how did you meet?"

Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Time for you to share your voice. Regulars know the drill. Go ahead and answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question.

“Before #CPChatNow and social media, did you know anyone else with cerebral palsy? If yes, how did you meet?”

Respond by commenting below. Tweet you shortly during our focus chat on breaking down stereotypes.

-Zachary

 

#CPChatNow Recap- 06-01-2016

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Cerebral palsy or drunk, the too common mix up triggered much conversation Wednesday, June 1st. Hi! Co-host Zachary Fenell back as promised to recap our most recent Twitter chat. Due to my co-host Blake Henry dealing with other priorities, I remained without my metaphorical co-pilot.

Blake inform the community other priorities will keep him from the night's Twitter chat.After sending well wishes to Blake’s father, we proceeded with our traditional Wednesday evening ritual. I sparked dialogue, sharing an experience from earlier in the day.

#CPChatNow community members discuss how some people assume people with cerebral palsy are just drunk.Devin asks if I used the cerebral palsy or drunk confusion as a teachable moment.Honestly, I read about others encountering the cerebral palsy or drunk confusion before. Yet if I indeed heard correctly, the interaction marks my first personal experience with the issue. I wonder how many face the cerebral palsy or drunk mix up.

Wait! That gives me an idea. How about I ask for this week’s extend-the-conversation question “Has your cerebral palsy ever led someone to mistaken you for being drunk? How did you react?”

Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Another noteworthy aspect came when I teased the next focus chat announcement.

Zachary tells the community to visit the website Thursday for the June 2016 focus chat announcement.Those who missed Thursday’s post, click here. Personally I believe this upcoming focus chat will lead to some standout discussion! Make sure to mark the special time on your calendar, 5pm ET- 7pm ET (June 15th).

Speaking about focus chats, Devin mentioned a past focus chat leader.

Devin recommends Emily Ladau's new podcast The Accessible Stall.Last year Devin and Emily teamed up to lead an advocacy focus chat. While I still need to listen to The Accessible Stall myself, I hold no hesitation echoing Devin’s recommendation here. I am more than confident Emily delivers an awesome podcast.

Additionally I wish to echo a plug I made Wednesday evening.

I encourage others to sign a We the People petition, asking the White House for adult changing areas in restrooms.Everyone deserves the chance to go to the bathroom in a private, dignified setting. So again, I am encouraging everyone to sign. Use this active link to visit the petition and show your support on said important matter.

Answer, has your cerebral palsy ever led someone to mistaken you for being drunk? How did you react?Once you sign the petition, return here to the recap and answer the extend-the-conversation question.

“Has your cerebral palsy ever led someone to mistaken you for being drunk? How did you react?”

Simply leave a comment below to respond.

I hope to talk with you Wednesday.

-Zachary

 

 

 

#CPChatNow Recap- 05-25-2016

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On Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 our live cerebral palsy Twitter chat discussed many subjects. Hello again! I, #CPChatNow co-founder and co-host Zachary Fenell, am back with you. Hopefully you enjoyed the past two recaps, put together by my co-host Blake Henry. Those recaps prove the start to empowering our community to use this website to share their voices. More about that soon enough though!

In the meantime I possess a lot to recap from our most recent chat. Blake sparked conversation early, asking about inspiration.

Blake aks the #CPChatNow community about what inspires them.others-share-their-inspirationRegular recap readers, yes! You will notice another new Twitter handle in the above screen grab.

new-participantHamda later specified she lives in Dubai. Her presence allowed us to learn about disability perceptions there.

disability-in-dubai Fittingly enough, disability perception in general stood out as a hot topic during the weekly chat. Regular Devin triggered the dialogue sharing an article from CNN, “Paralyzed After Falling From Tree, Hunter and Dad-to-be Opts to End Life.”

#CPChatNow responds to the CNN article Devin shares.Now I must admit selecting highlights from the disability perception discussion remained challenging. Personally I thought our community raised several great points. Since such a rich topic, why not keep the dialogue going? In other words, extend the conversation! Answer for the extend-the-conversation question, “What can you do to encourage those who become disabled to push forward, to keep on keeping on?”

Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Moving forward, an additional loaded topic emerged thanks to chatter about botox treatment.

Conversation about botox treatment turns to discussion over insurance.Lucinda’s recommendation to checkout Botox Savings Card exemplifies our community’s helpful nature. Join in the Twitter chat fun one week and see what beneficial advice you receive. I sought to contribute to the good advice too when the conversation transitioned to exercise.

Co-host Zachary gives a tip about exercising.

Keep the conversation going and answer "What can you do to encourage those who become disabled to push forward, to keep on keeping on?"

Answer in the “Comments” section.

Overall last week’s Twitter chat conversation covered a lot. From helpful advice to disability perceptions to disability in Dubai and more! I excitedly await to see how the dialogue for tonight’s chat progresses.

Assist me in passing the time until 8:00pm ET by keeping last week’s conversation going. Answer the extend-the-conversation question.

“What can you do to encourage those who become disabled to push forward, to keep on keeping on?”

Thank you for reading. Tweet you soon!

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap 05-18-2016

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Every week the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow comes together to discuss a wide variety of topics. Hi, your co-host Blake Henry here to give you the low-down on this week’s chat. Allow me to do so by recapping the May 18th Twitter chat.

This week we got to know the newest participant of #CPChatNow. This is what Shira Sadiky had to say about our community.

#CPChatNow Home

“What makes #CPChatNow home for you?” 

The community is often known to emit rays of homeliness, education, and most importantly, that of community.

Belonging

We have grown into a great community over the past two years r the leadership of my co-host Zachary Fenell and myself expanding and connecting several people with cerebral palsy to each other.

The summer happies have set in for many, but participants are still finishing up their last few weeks of school. The end of the year always seems to drag on longer than it ever should be allowed too.

Highschool & College

The end of school talk sparked conversation about one of the many things you have to do at least once or multiple times during summer, whether you like it or not! ROADTRIP!! “Are we there yet” – Brian Levant. I can hear many of you saying “Kiss my 330 cubic inches of V8 power, sucker!” – Nick Persons, right now.
Roadtrip

One of our regulars, Hannah Pike said that she missed me and that I needed to come see her. I told her it would be great because I could ride on “Mr. Be Bo Jr,” a name for her mobility device because of my laughable memory loss. But she quickly corrected me, and told me its “Hank the Tank.” I’m excited to see you soon in your country guitar wielding BIG city.

Nashville

 

Extend-the-conversationThe weekly extend-the-conversation question supplies the opportunity to reconnect and tell what first made #CPChatNow your home on Wednesday nights? So make sure you answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. “What makes #CPChatNow home for you?”

Don’t forget to answer in the “Comments” section.

As always thank you for reading the recap and for your interest in #CPChatNow.

-Blake

#CPChatNow Recap- 05-04-2016

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Week after week #CPChatNow offers the cerebral palsy community a place for support, advice, and understanding. Proud chat co-founder and co-host Zachary Fenell here to catch you up on the latest. Now before I continue with the May 4th recap, let me share a disclaimer. Life gets in the way sometimes. Busy schedules causes the occasional Twitter chat to end up uneventful. That proved the case with the April 27th #CPChatNow. Hence no April 27th recap.

Yet do not mistaken a down week for lacking interest in the Twitter chat. May 4th demonstrated our value to the cerebral palsy community. A newcomer joined in, seeking advice.

A newcomer to #CPChatNow seeks tips to deal with a "so called friend."Additional advice discussed during #CPChatNow about how to deal with people who make life with cerebral palsy more frustrating.An interesting aspect to #CPChatNow forms with the twists the dialogue takes. For instance, the showering issue cited above led to a full fledged conversation on said subject.

Cerebral palsy can make showering troublesome. Therefore baths serve as an appealing alternative.Would you like to contribute to the discussion? The extend-the-conversation question enables you too! Answer “Do you take showers or baths?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Moving on, our community includes various age groups. Therefore understanding can lead to another feeling. I am talking about hope!

The various ages of #CPChatNow participants lets the younger participants know life with cerebral palsy gets better.Between the shared advice and understanding, participating in #CPChatNow stands a joyful experience. A claim backed up by participant feedback!

Participant feedback backs up the claim that CPChatNow is an enjoyable experience.Speaking about advice, another useful tidbit emerged from the May 4th chat.

Next time you are out for drinks, try this cerebral palsy life hack.Also on May 4th my co-host Blake Henry and I surprised our community with a couple announcements. The first announced the next focus chat, which we actually held Wednesday, May 11th. Blake led us in a chat on the benefits of community service. Stay tuned for that recap!

Secondly, Blake announced the date for our May Google Hangout.

CPChatNow's next video chat will be held Thursday, May 19th via Google Hangouts. Google Hangouts allow us to talk face-to-face via video chat. Please send me a direct message on Twitter if you want to receive the Google Hangout invite. For privacy reasons we do not publicly share the Hangout’s link.

Do you take showers or baths? While you count down the days to this month’s Google Hangout and await the “Benefits of Community Service” focus chat recap, answer the extend-the-conversation question currently at hand. “Do you take showers or baths?” 

Respond via a comment below.

Thanks for reading. Talk again soon!

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 04-20-2016

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Every week the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow demonstrates our community’s multi-faceted nature. Hi, co-host Zachary Fenell here to dissect what that means. Allow me to do so by recapping the April 20th Twitter chat.

When I tell someone about #CPChatNow, I use the phrase “online support group for those with cerebral palsy.” The way we provide support proves multi-faceted. We offer an open forum to ask questions and better understand CP.

Has anyone dealt with stress fractures?CPChatNow's stress fractures discussion transitions to talk about falls.Plus we work as a problem solving think tank.

CPChatNow discusses possible accommodations in an effort to problem solve a fellow community member's challenge.Then the weekly Twitter chat also supplies a chance to bond over cerebral palsy related commonalities!

#CPChatNow community members chat about physical education modifications.Personally I want as many people possible to enjoy #CPChatNow’s supports. Hence I started the extend-the-conversation question. You do not need Twitter or any social media to participate! Simply read the recap and leave a comment to answer the week’s question. This time around answer the following.

“What modifications, if any, did you receive for PE?”

Moving on, our multi-faceted supports leaves community members holding #CPChatNow in high regards. Even to the point where internationally people partake at crazy hours!

Ela joins in #CPChatNow at 3am!Come experience our incredible community for yourself! We give you the opportunity every Wednesday at 8pm ET. Join us on Facebook too. Like the CPChatNow Facebook fan page! There we post cerebral palsy related articles daily.

Keep the conversation going! Answer "What modifications, if any, did you receive for PE?"Finally, remember to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question.

“What modifications, if any, did you receive for PE?”

Respond by leaving a comment below!

Thanks for checking out the recap.

-Zachary

P.S. To read the aforementioned sample from my memoir, just visit Off Balanced‘s Amazon sales page.

#CPChatNow Recap- 04-13-2016

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Inclusive education and advocating for accessibility remained the main topics discussed during the April 13th #CPChatNow. Hi! Delayed greetings again from co-host Zachary Fenell. At least by now you know to expect the weekly recap mere hours before the next chat. A pattern I plan to change very soon.

Enough opening banter though! Let us look back at the prior week’s Twitter chat. I actually guest hosted a different Twitter chat the previous day. On Tuesday, April 12th I received the opportunity to ask teachers questions courtesy the inclusive education chat #iechat. Afterwards I decided to re-phrase my questions so I could ask them during #CPChatNow too.

April 12th's #IEchat questions re-worked for #CPChatNow discussion.The discussion led to reminiscing about old assistive technology no longer used.

Do you remember alpha smarts?My co-host Blake Henry raised an important point when answering the third inclusive education question.

Blake brings up the importance of learning styles.Blake’s comment transitions us to today’s extend-the-conversation question. “How would you describe your learning style?” Answer in the “Comments” section!

Additionally, as noted earlier, advocating for accessibility grew to become a popular topic last Wednesday.

#CPChatNow brainstorms ideas to help community member advocate for accessibility.Personally I think Hannah’s frustrating situation spotlights the importance for our community. She can come and vent to people who actually understand the situation. Plus we help each other out, aiming to create change. Ultimately we provide emotional support and practical advice. Quite the duo!

Feel free to join in and reap our fruits. #CPChatNow takes place on Twitter every Wednesday starting at 8pm ET. For those not on Twitter, Blake and I continue to provide opportunities for you to participate in our community. We share cerebral palsy stories daily on our Facebook fan page. Like the page and interact with what we share!

How would you describe your learning style?

Join the conversation and answer in the “Comments” section!

The weekly extend-the-conversation question also supplies opportunity to partake in our community. So make sure you answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. “How would you describe your learning style?”

Again answer in the “Comments” section.

As always thank you for reading the recap and for your interest in #CPChatNow.

Sincerely,

-Zachary

 

#CPChatNow Recap- 04-06-2016

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Cerebral palsy related wisdom, uniting as one community, and more surfaced during the April 6th, 2016 #CPChatNow Twitter chat. Before I get into summarizing mode though, I want to thank you for your patience. Lately I am failing to post these weekly recaps in a timely manner. This segues to other failures as well.

Last month my co-host Blake Henry and I surprised our community by launching said website here. We possessed and still possess many hopes for the site. I looked forward to allowing others to post the weekly recaps. Shortly following the website launch an idea for a special  “What’s Your Story?” blog post series emerged.

Yet I’m still the lone ceep writing the recaps. There remains no progress on the “What’s Your Story?” series. Know all this weighs on me. While I cannot offer a time table for when these changes will start, I can say they will eventually start. So again, thank you for your patience.

Now with that said, let us re-focus and revisit last week’s Twitter chat. Seeing #WednesdayWisdom trending I decided to ask about cerebral palsy related wisdom.

What are your cerebral palsy related words of wisdom?More cerebral palsy related Wednesday wisdom courtesty #CPChatNow community membersAnother question asked dealt with the widely varying differences found in the overall CP community.

Do those who are high functioning have obligation to reach out to those who are severely affected by CP? Are we one community? What a question! A question I liked so much, I wanted to give you the opportunity to reply! Go ahead and answer as the extend-the-conversation question “Do those who are high functioning have obligation to reach out to those who are severely affected by CP? Are we one community?”

Leave your answers in the “Comments” section. If you want to checkout Lindsay’s blog post on the topic prior to answering, click here.

The variation in severity carries over into the entire disability community. A fact which emerged when discussing the ADA line at events.

#CPChatNow discusses using the ADA line at events like Wrestlemania Axxess.Answer- "Do those who are high functioning have obligation to reach out to those who are severely affected by CP? Are we one community?"Well, judging by the time I should bring the April 6th, 2016 #CPChatNow recap to a close. I mean this week’s chat begins very shortly. Whether or not you can join the live chats on Twitter, you should contribute to the conversation. So go ahead and answer the extend-the-conversation question.

“Do those who are high functioning have obligation to reach out to those who are severely affected by CP? Are we one community?”

Again answer by leaving a comment below. Thank you too for checking out the weekly recap!

Until next time!

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 03-30-2016

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Yes, FINALLY a recap for the March 30th live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow! Zachary here to document last week’s exciting chat. Excitement I derailed by waiting a week to recap. Anyhow I’m here now and with me I brought highlights from the past week.

The presence brought by chat newcomers sparked the aforementioned excitement.

CPChatNow co-host Zachary Fenell introduces new participants to the community.Lucinda introduces herself.Ella introduces herself.Amidst welcoming our newcomers by also introducing ourselves another newcomer joined the dialogue!

CPChatNow welcomes those who have a disability different from cerebral palsy.I wish to emphasize, despite our CP distinction we are welcoming to all disabilities. Personally I’m always interested to learn how other disabilities compare with cerebral palsy. So please, join us sometime. Our conversation tends to grow naturally. For example, our introductions smoothly transitioned to another subject.

Introductions soon transitions to conversation about physical therapy.Quickly physical therapy (PT) came to dominant the chat.

CPChatNow discusses attitudes towards physical therapy and frequency in schedule.The physical therapy discussion continues!All the above PT talk eases us into this week’s extend-the-conversation question. “How do/did you feel about your physical therapy?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Moving on with the recap, I also announced details for April’s CPChatNow Google Hangout.

Co-host Zachary Fenell announces the date for April's Google Hangout.Keep the conversation about physical therapy going!Hangouts offer an opportunity to gather face to face without us all needing to travel to one spot. For safety reasons invites go out privately. Send me a direct message on Twitter for more information.

Hopefully I will talk to you tonight during this week’s live Twitter chat. While you countdown to 8:00pm ET, go ahead and answer last week’s extend-the-conversation question.

“How do/did you feel about your physical therapy?”

Talk soon!

-Zachary

 

 

 

 

#CPChatNow Recap- 03-23-2016

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#CPChatNow co-founder and co-host Zachary Fenell here again to recap this week’s live Twitter chat. Early on staying fit with cerebral palsy emerged as a popular topic.

The CPChatNow community discusses how they stay active despite their cerebral palsy.Members in the CPChatNow community discuss buying trikes.The conversation proved fitting given a question posed to #CPChatNow previously in the week.

"How do you stay fit with cerebral palsy?" is this week's extend-the-conversation question.Now the best time to ask our community questions stands Wednesdays during the live chats (8pm ET-10pm ET). Obviously though, I make an effort to track #CPChatNow tweets throughout the week. Since @JourneyWithCP‘s question aligns with last night’s discussion, let us make her question the week’s extend-the-conversation question. Answer by commenting on this post. “How do you stay fit with cerebral palsy?”

Additionally to staying fit, other cerebral palsy related issues sparked dialogue. Talk about politicians turned to talk about Donald Trump which then became talk about political correctness.

Participants in the #CPChatNow community discuss political correctness.Weather crept into the conversation too. That led to a tip for handling startle reflex amidst thunderstorms.

This tip helps with startle reflex during thunderstorms.On a final note I shared a teaser for next week’s chat.

Next week I will announce our April Google Hangout details and maybe more!

Keep the conversation going! Share how you stay fit with cerebral palsy.

Answer this week’s extend-the-conversation question in the “Comments” section.

Curb the anticipation for next week’s live cerebral palsy Twitter chat. Begin by answering this week’s extend-the-conversation question.

“How do you stay fit with cerebral palsy?”

Again, answer by leaving a comment in the “Comments” section below. Once you respond, gear up for Easter!   Spend time with loved ones and make Easter 2016 one to remember!

Happy Easter!

-Zachary