Tag Archives: cerebral palsy

#CPChatNow Recap- 4/14/21

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This past week in #CPChatNow was a happening as always. Members discussed new jobs, their accomplishments for the week, canes, and stretching. 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 recognize some good news and a strong GIF game from Linds!

linds tweets that she got a job with a gif of spongebob talking on the phone with his eyes up. zach tweets congratulations and asks if it will take her away from #cpchatnow

Linds also tweeted about her cane and feeling accomplished by finishing laundry. I can certainly relate to finishing laundry sometimes feeling like an accomplishment!

zach asks about what members have accomplished in the last seven days, linds tweets she has started to use a cane and has a 31 wpm typing speed, she tweeted she also did another load of laundry, zach asks what her cane looked like and if she multiple so she can treat it like an accessory, linds tweeted her canes are blue scrolling paisley or tropical flowers

We had some new folks join the chat this week! Constance Jamet talked about her various accomplishments this week which including finishing some things for work and walking a bit more.

zach tweeted asking what members had accomplished in the last seven days, constance tweeted she has improved on the kneeling knight position, meeting deadlines on her job, and walking a little more after being immobile for a few weeks

Constance’s tweets led to a further conversation about stretching with Zach and I tweeting about our stretching routines.

zach and i tweet about stretching, i tweeting i can understand the difficulty of learning to stretch something new and that i have done that throughout my life with new muscles, zach tweets he has to stretch consistently, he tweets his body feels like it's being squeezed by a snake if he doesn't stretch

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your stretching routine? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow.

extend-the-conversation question graphic, orange, blue, and green #cpchatnow logo in upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green, what is your stretching routine? above a picture of

Thanks for reading!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 3/03/2021

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This past week in #CPChatNow recap was rambunctious as always. Members discussed spiked cane tips and creatively completing routine tasks. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, members discussed a way to deal with winter, spiked cane tips.

zach tweets about a blog he wrote with tips for getting through winter with cp and mentions he uses spiked cane tips after being recommended them by chris, blemi tweets she used them before she moved to her trip tip so she 2 canes ready in winter, zach tweets he had to replace his cane tip after doing two marathons in in 2018.

I checked in with Zach on the progress on his book about the process of becoming a marathoner.

i ask zach how his book is coming, zach tweeted he has not touched it in the past week, but he is planning on getting to the editing process tomorrow morning

Next, talk turned to the process of completing routine tasks and the frustrations that can sometimes come with asking for help.

i tweet that it is a bit annoying to ask for help with routine things, blemi tweeted asking for help with routine tasks makes her feel like less of a grownup, heather tweeted it is hard when living alone during a pandemic, zach asked if heather has a time she got creative with a routine task

Next, talk turned to getting creative to solve routine tasks in ways that may not be routine.

zach asks heather if she has an example of time she got creative with a routine task, heather tweets she thinks bench vises should be standard in kitchens because they make kitchen tasks doable one handed and that she often uses tools in ways they are not intended, blemi tweets she is often creative

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is an example of when you got creative with tools to complete a routine task?

extend-the-conversation question graphic: #cpchatnow logo in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green with What is an example of where you got creative to complete a routine task? and a graphic of pliers, screwdriver, a wrench, and a hammer with orange handles

Thank you for reading and make sure to join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 02-17-2021

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To quote Gorilla Monsoon, this past week in #CPChatNow was a happening as always. Members discussed various topics such as obtaining Assistive Technology, maintaining motivation, publishing a book, and learning to fall. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

Chris shared something I thought was cool that you might want to look into in your area and state. Chris discussed the concept of lending libraries for Assistive Technology that she used to obtain products.

zach retweets heather's tweet about her swedish cutting board being her favorite assistive product, chris tweeted she has seen that and the state of washington has an AT lending lab that brought her things to check out

Zach talked about the difficulties he has experienced maintaining motivation and stated he goes through streaks of low motivation. Other members chimed in with their experiences and how they remain motivated.

zach asks if anyone went through streaks with motivation, i tweeted that i do and especially so with work being canceled for the week, zach tweets he was frustrated when his hours were cut in half, but it gave him more time to finish his book, but it took him a few weeks
zach tweets he asks himself what he will regret if he dies tomorrow, blemi tweets that is an ok way to motivate himself, zach tweets he feels it is a good attitude as long as the person does not overdo it

I would like to recognize that Zach has finished his manuscript and it is now in the editing phase. Zach is planning to write a book about the process of his training for a marathon.

zach tweets about the topics of his book, anxieties and falls he experienced, learning to refocus, how to stay motivated during training, he tweets he only did races that mentioned walking at first, chris tweets that she understands zach's anxiety towards running and shared experiences from high school

Finally, members discussed a common thing that is surprising to many able bodied people, learning to fall either in therapy or other areas.

i tweeted i learned how to fall in physical therapy, blemi tweeted her brother taught her after second judo class and it has saved her from many injuries, zach tweeted it is amazing he has never hurt himself despite the falls he has taken
blemi tweeted she bent her pinky finger this year and it is her most significant injury from a fall,

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is the oddest thing you have learned how to do related to your disability?

extend-the-conversation question graphic: an orange, blue, and green #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green, What is the oddest thing you have learned how to do related to your disability? in black, an illustration of a half orange and half red lightbulb that looks like a brain with a variety of shapes and letters inside the brain, #CPCHATNOW in white with a green background

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 02-10-2021

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Cold weather made an impact on the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow Wednesday, February 10th, 2021. To tell you more, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Time to fix yourself a hot beverage or situate yourself around the fire place so you can warmly enjoy your weekly recap.

Early dialogue in the evening related to unusually cold temperatures.

#CPChatNow participants from Texas discuss their unusually cold winter.

In Texas where my co-host Devin Axtman and long-time chat regular Jen lives, temperatures remained in the 20s (Fahrenheit). Quite cold for them! This led me to ask a question.

Participants in #CPChatNow discuss how they get by when temperatures are cold.

Curious, I asked others how they manage in the cold. Devin answered he “just wear layers and complain haha.” Similar to my own response.

Zachary talks about how he manages to get by when the temperatures are cold.

Like Devin, I mentioned wearing layers. In-particular noting I wear two pairs of socks. Additionally, I find myself using my heating pad (Cure Choice electric heating pad) a lot more. As we continued to discuss the impact cold weather has on cerebral palsy, Devin and I discovered another similarity.

#CPChatNow participants discuss needing to stretch more due to colder weather.

Through chat regular Chris, the havoc cold weather can cause on spastic muscles arose as a subject. Devin and I both noting we need to stretch our hamstrings more in the winter. Our specific stretches possessing some resemblance with both involving reaching for our toes. A stretch I do in a standing position. Meanwhile Devin sits on the floor and tries to touch his toes.

What about you? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “How do you stay stretched out?” Leave your answer down below in the “Comments.”

On a related matter, the extend-the-conversation question Devin posed in the February 3rd, 2021 recap also surfaced during our Twitter chat February 10th.

#CPChatNow participants discuss their favorite assistive products.

As a reminder, Devin asked in the February 3rd recap, what people’s favorite assistive products are. Heather responded, linking to her Swedish cutting board. The cutting board making cutting with one hand a lot easier!

Please remember to keep the conversation going by answering this week’s extend-the-conversation question. “How do you stay stretched out?”

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks, "How do you stay stretched out?"
Answer in the “Comments” section.

Afterwards, write yourself a reminder to join our Twitter chat each and every Wednesday. The fun begins at 8pm ET.

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

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 2-3-2021

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This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always. Members discussed scooters that look like cars, new adaptive shoes from Nike, and the struggles from CP caused by Old Man Winter. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, Zach pointed out this interesting scooter that looks like a car, but is sadly not street legal. We discussed the potential benefits from using the scooter.

zach tweets about a scooter that looks like a car that goes 18 miles per hour, but is not street legal. the tweet includes an image of a scooter with a body of a red car
zach tweets the scooter would cause a lot of second looks going down the street, i tweet that you would not get wet, zach tweets you could have room to put groceries in the back

Next, talk turned to Nike’s newest sneaker, the Go FlyEase, which is Nike’s newest effort at making athletic shoes accessible for disabled people.

zach asks what people think of nike's new go flyease shoes, there is a gif of someone wearing a yellow, pink, and teal shoe

Talk next turned to member’s thoughts on the usability of Nike’s new shoe:

timmy tweeted he would fall taking them off, i tweeted i think it's impossible to design a shoe for every type of disability, but at least nike tried, i tweeted i am not sure if the shoe would work for me, but it is a cool concept, blemi tweeted they look like a nightmare, zach tweeted they would have trouble with balance and he would need a hand to brace himself for balance which would make the shoes not hands free

Next, Zach asked members how winter impacts them the most:

zach asks how winter impacts people the most, i tweet it puts me on DL with hamstring tightness, but not as much in Texas, zach tweeted the DL is now the Injured List, blemi tweeted it makes her stiff, the wind and ice makes her fall, zach tweets he has been doing extra stretching to combat stiffness and that safely navigating winter elements is the worst part of winter for him

Finally, I would like to share a quote from one of the Nike team members about Nike’s recent efforts to develop shoes friendly to disabled people that Zach shared:

i tweet i feel it is impossible to design a shoe for every type of disability and at least nike is trying, timmy agreed and felt this is a really good start, zach shared a quote from the design team, "If you design for the most extreme needs, then you’re unlocking benefits for everybody. If a shoe works for someone who has no hands, then it will work for people who have two hands.”

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: What is your favorite adaptive or assistive product you have used? Please share your answer in the comments!

the extend-the-conversation question graphic: an orange, blue, and green #CPChatNow logo, extend-the-conversation question in green, What is your favorite adaptive or assistive product you have used? in black with a picture of a pink and green chameleon walking on a pink and blue vine, #CPCHATNOW in white above a green background

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 1/20/2021

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This past week in #CPChatNow was a roller coaster as always. Members talked about doing brain surgery on mice, their funniest falls, attending sporting events, and more! Oh, and we gotta have a Bernie at the inauguration meme related to disability. 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 share a cool thing that a member is doing. Timmy is currently studying his PhD and shared the latest on his research:

timmy tweeted about doing mouse brain surgery, chris tweeted she volunteered the rats in her house, timmy tweeted he injects a gene so the brain cells are stimulated with light to understand how different brain regions communicate with each other in alcoholism and other addiction

Next, we have to share a Bernie at the inauguration meme related to disability from Imani Barbarin:

i shared a bernie at the inauguration meme tweeting that was funny and relatable, imani barbarin tweeted disabled people in that one accessible spot at the party with a picture of bernie sanders in a jacket and mittens at the inauguration

Next, talk turned to member’s funniest falls with members sharing various stories:

zach asks what the silliest thing is that has caused a fall tweeting he tripped on his pant leg, blemi tweeted she fell turning to return something to the fridge, smacking her head on the cabinet with juice going everywhere, i tweeted about falling while emptying an electric pencil sharpener in 6th grade which got the shavings all over me
i also tweeted about a fall when i didn't hear my fiancee warn me about a step, zach tweeted that happened when he fell during a 3 mile walk, i tweeted my cat used to sprint at my legs and trip me, chris tweets she almost tripped over her cane when she didn't see it hanging up, timmy tweets he tripped over his foot

Finally, Blemi tweeted about an awkward fall she had on some bleachers. This led to a discussion about the perils of climbing bleachers and grandstands:

blemi tweets she fell to the bottom of the bleachers at a basketball game in college, she tweets that's how people though she injured herself, zach tweets bleachers are awkward for him because it's small railings and bigger railings which makes transitions difficult, chris tweets she cannot walk up bleachers and that's what they use for seating at race tracks and her friend needed to help her at the indy 500, zach tweets the lower seating at progressive field has no railings, but the steps are wide enough that he can get to them

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are your typical feelings in reaction to a fall?

extend-the-conversation question graphic: multicolored #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green above What are your typical feelings in reaction to a fall? in black, there is an drawing of a man in a dark green shirt and light green pants with tan shoes falling down the stairs with his arms out and a panicked expression on his face

Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.

Thanks for reading!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/23/2020

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This past week in #CPChatNow occurred on Festivus, also known as Christmas Eve Eve. Members discussed their grievances about disability, a recent blog post from Tonia, their dream robotic health companion, and more. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, I would like to take a moment to recognize #CPChatNow’s 7th anniversary! Thank you to everyone who has participated with us!

zach tweets he realized it is the chat's seventh anniversary earlier this month. there is an image of two clinking champagne glasses with happy anniversary written above the glasses

To mark Festivus, the annual airing of grievances, members shared their grievances about disability:

zach and i discussed our grievances about disability. i tweeted my primary grievance is the amount of time it takes up with longer commutes, more appointments. zach tweeted his grievance of winter making cerebral palsy more challenging

Next, a great blog post Tonia wrote about the frustration of when accessing basic needs is not basic sparked great conversation. I tweeted about my amazement that Pee Math has an actual name. Pee Math is a concept that disabled people in particular calculate how long they can be out before going to the restroom due to access needs and not always accessible bathrooms.

tonia tweets about her latest blog post, i tweeted about pee math and stated i didn't know it was a thing, but i do it when going out in large places, tonia tweeted she didn't know the name for it, but she does it as well

Zach shared his further thoughts on Tonia’s blog and praised her for being vulnerable.

zach tweets the post is emotional and praised tonia's courage, he agreed there is a difference between being there physically and emotionally, zach stated he grew frustrated nobody asked her how to make the kitchen more accessible and that she was blamed for not doing pt, zach asked if she had time limits for using the restroom, tonia tweeted there were not time limits, but they went between classes or risked missing material

Finally, Zach was inspired by the movie Big Hero 6 to ask what members would prefer in a personal robotic healthcare companion.

zach asked members what they would want a personal healthcare companion to assist with after being inspired by the movie big hero 6. there is an image of baymax in a red and blue suit. i tweeted i want my own personal driver/transportation device, chris tweeted she wanted robotic lungs when first diagnosed with asthma, but she would now like a robotic immune system so she could program so she wouldn't be so sick

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What disability related task do you wish could be automatically performed for you?

the extend-the-conversation graphic: #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green above What disability related task do you wish could be automatically performed for you? in black, a picture of a white hand writing a to do list on top of a calendar, #CPCHATNOW in white text against a green background

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/9/2020

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This past week in #CPChatNow was thriving as always. Members discussed moving into new apartments, ideas for a disabled Disney princess, and their favorite toy growing up. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

Seth shared some life news that he had recently moved into a new apartment. Seth also shared a bit about the precautions his aides are taking to avoid spreading COVID.

seth shared that he recently moved into a new apartment after his name came up on a list. seth shared his 2 aides rotate and one brings her kids, but they stay in a room

Next, Zach brought up a Change.org petition that called for Disney to develop a disabled princess:

zach shared a change.org petition calling for disney to create a princess with a disability. he thanked jen for pointing out the petition

Zach bringing up the petition led to a conversation about the types of stories people would like to see Disney tell about a disabled princess:

zach tweets he could see a princess with a disability discovering accessible clothing and learning how to overcome ignorant comments like "You're so pretty. It's a shame you're disabled." I tweeted I liked Zach's second comment and he thanked me.
zach tweets he does not feel remarks are meant to be insulting, instead they come from a place of ignorance, i tweeted that i feel it's the cumulative impact of those remarks that is damaging, zach tweeted he agrees that the cumulative impact of those remarks creates a negative perception which is damaging, paul tweets his agreement and that it is sad

Finally, talk turned to a common topic around the holiday season, member’s favorite toys to play with growing up:

zach asked if people had favorite toys to play with, i tweeted a picture of my stuffed monkey Jibbs

Blemi tweeted quite an interesting story about how she played with dolls as a kid!

blemi tweeted she played baby dolls. zach asked if she played mom or babysitter, blemi tweeted she played a single mother stripper. zach tweeted that is quite the backstory with a gif of bray wyatt saying yowie wowie.

Next, Zach and Paul talked about their favorite stuffed animals as a kid:

paul tweets his favorite stuff animal is a teddy bear. zach asks paul if he takes it everywhere and he tweeted he had a stuffed animal he took everywhere growing up. paul tweets he did take it everywhere and kept it for a long time. he tweeted he wanted to pass it to his kids, but his mother left it. zach tweeted his grandma bought him another stuffed animal when he lost it.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite gift you have received? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.

extend-the-conversation-question graphic. multicolored #CPChatNow logo in upper right hand corner. Extend-The-Conversation Question in green, what is your favorite gift you have received? in black text. there is a stack of wrapped presents in the middle with #CPCHATNOW in white on a green background.

Thanks for reading!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 11/25/2020

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This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always. It was the night before Thanksgiving and things were cooking! Members discussed what they are grateful for in 2020, their favorite holiday movies, and more! This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, #CPChatNow member, Mojo, stopped by and shared some insights about being a musician during the pandemic:

zach asks what he is most thankful for. mojo tweets family and quiet time. zach tweets he has gained gratitude for clean water, mojo tweets he can take water for granted and supply chain issues had him trying new recipes, zach asks about the year's impact on a do-it-yourself musician
mojo tweets he envies people with extra time for creation and he has made himself available to help people new to recording at home. he is working full time from home and has less time to create

Next, Zach asked about favorite holiday programming people liked to watch:

zach asks if there is favorite holiday programming people like to watch. zach tweets he enjoys the holiday baking championship, devin tweets he watches the rudolph and charlie brown specials, chris tweets he watches national lampoon's christmas vacation, zach tweets he likes the santa clause

Finally, Zach asked members what they are most grateful for in 2020:

zach asks what members are most grateful for and tweets his answer is toilet paper
chris tweets she is most grateful for people and while she doesn't trust people to do the right thing with covid, but she appreciates human interaction and particularly healthcare workers, zach tweets cleaners and healthcare workers deserve recognition, blemi tweets she is grateful for an understanding and stable job, but she is looking forward to christmas break, zach tweets he is grateful for employment even though his hours are being reduced due to the library going to drive thru and curbside service

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are you most grateful for in 2020?

the extend-the-conversation graphic. extend the conversation question in green with multicolored #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner. What are you most grateful for in 2020? in black above an image of a tan pen with cursive writing of "Today I am grateful for" #CPCHATNOW in white text with a green background

Thank you for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 11/11/2020

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This past week in #CPChatNow was lively as always. Members discussed what they are doing to cope with the continued rise of COVID, their favorite holiday traditions, and more! This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, members discussed what they have been doing to handle the continued march of COVID. Zach and Tonia discussed their recent effort towards writing their novels.

zach asks if everyone is staying safe and healthy, tonia tweets she is quarantining like a boss, zach asks if #NaNoWriMo is helping by keeping her focused, tonia tweeted that it is and it is summer in her story.

Members next discussed the new normal that has become our reality with COVID. Talk turned to how masks are now seen as an expected thing that people wear. Dave also tweeted that masks have been an accepted part of everyday life in other countries for a long time.

zach tweeted he is doubtful we will ever return to a covid normal, dave tweeted it will be a different normal, zach tweeted he expects face masks to be just another article of clothing and they will be required like pants, blemi tweets this is how it should be, zach tweets indecent exposure will now include nostrils and mouths

Next, Zach asked if members felt they could have multiple best friends. Jen tweeted she felt people could and Zach tweeted he has best friends from different aspects of his life:

zach asks if members feel they can have multiple best friends, jen tweets she feels that you can, zach tweets he has best friends from different aspects of his life like high school and college

Finally, we discussed our favorite holiday traditions.

i asked what members favorite holiday traditions are. i joked mine is asking blemi why canada doesn't have thanksgiving on thursday so they can get a 4 day weekend. blemi tweeted she loves christmas, being with family, and christmas lights. she tweeted it is also her birthday and that should be a holiday. chris tweeted she gets starbucks holiday drinks and cooks something nice for dinner.

Zach shared a tradition that definitely makes me jealous (and hungry!).

zach tweets his favorite tradition is an italian fish dinner on christmas eve, zach tweeted they have a variety of fish dishes: shrimps, smelts, cod balls, spaghetti and clams, and lobster

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite holiday tradition? Please share your answers in the comments!

extend the conversation question graphic. #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green. what is your favorite holiday tradition? below is an image of a calendar with holiday written in red marker and circled on the 25th.

Please make sure to join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

-Devin