This past week in #CPChatNow was hopping as always. Members discussed moving, the difficulty of battling through winter, and terrible compliments they have experienced related to their CP. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!
First, we check in on Linds. She has moved to a new town to start her new job as a paralegal:
Next, members discussed a common nemesis of people with CP, old man winter. Zach asked if members felt more tired during winter:
Finally, talk turned to problematic compliments members had received. Zach tweeted about the “I don’t see you as disabled” stereotype and Jen tweeted about being prayed for once.
Chris also tweeted about some problematic compliments.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is the worst compliment you have received related to your CP?
Thanks for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.
This past week in #CPChatNow was festive as always. As you might imagine, talk centered largely around the upcoming holidays, but other topics were also discussed. Hop in the sleigh for this week’s #CPChatNow recap led by your Co-Host, Devin Axtman.
First, we have an announcement. #CPChatNow will be changing dates to Thursday for the next two weeks due to the holidays.
Kate joined us after graduating nursing school and shared some of her challenges of being a nurse with CP. She shared she would feel very fatigued when coming home from work:
Next, not surprisingly talk to turned to the upcoming holidays. Talk turned to cooking for family and what made a kitchen accessible and CP friendly:
Zach then asked if people put up a Christmas tree and if CP impacted their ability to do so:
Finally, Zach asked what people’s favorite Christmas traditions were. People talked of getting together with family and looking at Christmas lights.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Make sure to share your answers in the comments and join us on Thursday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow.
On the day before Halloween, #CPChatNow was busier than a chainsaw in a haunted house. Members talked about carving pumpkins and Halloween plans, inspiration porn, and naming mobility devices. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.
First, members discussed their plans for Halloween. Zach dressed up as a professional for Halloween.
Next, I shared a story that has gone viral recently, a mom helping her son with Cerebral Palsy experience the skatepark and proclaimed that was better than inspiration porn
This led to talk about a common topic with disability, inspiration porn. This discussion was a bit different in that it talked about the definition of inspiration porn and how it fit into taking someone with a disability to prom.
Finally, the talk turned to whether people have named their mobility aids. Zach tweeted he was thinking about naming his cane and Blemi tweeted that she is thinking about naming her canes:
Zach wrote a blog about destigmatizing mobility devices and said he got tired of writing “my cane.” Jeni tweeted about naming her elbow crutch, but not naming her AFOs.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Have you ever named your mobility device? Please share your answer in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow.
#CPChatNow was active as always last week. Members discussed things such as what makes someone courageous, how their CP can help them avoid hazards, and the difficulty of asking for help. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.
First, Zach asked what it is that makes someone courageous. I shared my opinion that courage is doing something that is needed even if you are scared.
Next, Zach talked about avoiding tripping at a family clam bake due to being extra conscious of a misplaced step.
Next, talked turned to a difficult issue that many people with Cerebral Palsy and disabilities in general face, asking for help. I shared I sometimes don’t ask for help due to the many things I am unable to do and wanting to maximize the things I can do. Zach shared a similar story at the clam bake.
Hannah and Zach tweeted about the feelings surrounding asking for help.
Hannah and Zach also tweeted further about the fear of being a bother:
I want to go back to Zach’s tweet about the step and the clam bake. I know I have been in situations where my CP spidey sense saved me from a sticky situation that people without CP experienced. This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: How has CP helped you avoid bad situations able bodied people experienced? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow on Twitter.
Alongside each Wednesday comes community, at least for participants in the weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow. I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to the September 4th, 2019 #CPChatNow recap. The night began on a celebratory note.
My co-host Devin Axtman started the night by wishing long-time chat regular Jen a happy birthday. Jen would respond, letting us know she indeed enjoyed a happy day.
Jen celebrated her birthday by going to the zoo! She even captured a cool video featuring a penguin. Unfortunately, another long-time chat regular experienced a much less fun day.
Health woes continue plaguing beloved #CPChatNow member Hannah. She described her last two years as “constantly fighting.” No matter how long the fight lasts, our community will remain in her corner.
Elsewhere in the chat I asked participants to give me feedback on potential shirt designs.
Personally, I am looking to release a shirt promoting a message I find especially meaningful. If you read my recaps before, you heard the message because I end my recaps with these words. “Don’t blend in. Blend out!”
Responding, participant Jeni said she liked the second option. Beyond the message, Jeni liked that the design contains Seahawks colors. She reasoned those colors would draw a lot of attention. Plus irritate her sister, a 49ers fan!
Sports and team rivalries provide a great way to develop connections and friendships. Although, any common interest would do the same. For example, most in the chat know Devin, myself, and a few others share an interest in wrestling.
What about you? Answer as the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What is an interest that has helped you develop friendships?” Respond below in the “Comments.”
Then add our Twitter chat to your weekly schedule. The chat happens every Wednesday, starting at 8pm ET. I hope to tweet you soon.
Until next time, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!
This past week in #CPChatNow was buzzing as always! Members talked about various things such as therapy they enjoyed over the years, learning to fall, and disaster preparedness with a disability. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.
First, we start with a dreaded subject when you have CP, falls. This was sparked by a post in The Mighty about falling. Members discussed things such as learning to fall and their fear of falling. Hannah learned to fall so well she taught others!
Zach shared his fears about falling were largely about messing up large events. I shared I had to wear wrist guards due to fear of hurting myself. Heather did not have to worry about this since her mom is a nurse:
Zach had a security meeting at work with problematic representation about those with disabilities in an active shooter situation. Chris tweets about experiencing similar things and disaster planning for earthquakes:
Zach and Shira tweet about the active shooter preparation video with Zach expressing dismay about the portrayal of wheelchair users. Zach and Shira tweeted about how you might experience issues with speed if you are trying to escape an active shooter situation in a wheelchair:
We have talked about some heavy things in this recap, so I would like to end by focusing on a lighter topic. Therapy is a constant in many people’s lives with CP. Zach focused on therapy that was effective for us. Grace and I discussed horse therapy:
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What was your favorite moment in therapy? Please share your answer in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow on Twitter.
It was the day before the 4th of July and #CPChatNow brought the fireworks as usual. Members talked about fireworks, disability podcasts, wheelchair seats at sporting events, and just how far you mind can help overcome your disability. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride of this week’s recap.
First, members talked about fireworks themselves. Fireworks are also known as the bane of existence when you have the Cerebral Palsy startle reflex.
Next, Zach brought up the cool story of Peter Kline. He has completed 45 marathons with disabled rider athletes. Well done Mr. Kline!
I would like to highlight one of my favorite podcasts (disability or otherwise), the Disability Visibility podcast. The podcast is hosted by Alice Wong and looks at different issues surrounding disability:
Next, members talked about wheelchair seats at sporting events. Chris is going to an Indy Car race in Portland in September. She talked about an organization, @halfaccess, where people can post about the accessibility of a venue.
Finally, #CPChatNow was tagged in an intriguing question by @cpandm. They asked if it was OK to be frustrated by others saying, “The body will do what you decide to make it do.” In other words, whether it is OK to be frustrated by your mind not being able to will your body to do things.
This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: How do you know when your body is telling you you’re at your limit? Share your answer in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow.
