Tag Archives: cerebral palsy

#CPChatNow Recap- 3-11-2020

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was intriguing as always. Members discussed desires for stylish adaptive equipment, actors and actresses with CP, and advice for parents. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

Zach and Blemi tweeted about their desire for adaptive equipment to be stylish and why attention may not be paid to that:

blemi tweets about using her grandpa's walker and needing to make it stylish with a desire that companies take note. zach tweets that he feels it is due to society not viewing disability as a life. blemi tweets she would have adaptive equipment for every outfit

Next, attention turned to people’s favorite actors and actresses with CP:

toni says asked about favorite disabled actors. she tweeted alice kina diehl and gavin mchugh
zach tweets about micah fowler from speechless. i tweet about aj murray from becoming bulletproof. emily tweeted alice kina diehl and micah fowler

Finally, Zach asked what advice people would give to parents of someone with CP. Members offered a variety of advice, but most centered around connecting with community and exposing their children to people with disabilities:

zach asks what advice people would give to parents with cp. tonia and zach talked about connecting with their child's community with cp. zach tweets that community is vital for building self-confidence
blemi tweets that she would tell parents she is not lazy, just tired. chris tweeted that she wishes parents should help kids find opportunities to be around disabled people and adults

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What piece of advice do you wish your parent would have known about CP or having a disability?

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 2/12/20

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was insightful as always. Members discussed things they had done to accommodate their CP, canes, and shoes. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, I would like to make a recommendation. Go buy Zachary Fennell’s book, Off Balanced. I bought it and I’m loving it so far:

I tweet about buying Zach's book with a picture of the cover of the book

Next, Zach brought up last week’s Extend-The-Conversation question about accommodating your Cerebral Palsy.

zach asks what people have done to accommodate their cerebral palsy. the extend-the-conversation graphic is below the tweet

Chris tweeted about being selective about her shoes while I shared I moved to using a wheelchair at school in high school.

chris tweets she pays close attention to the shoes she wears with brands like keens and sketchers. they don't wear holes in sole. she also has keen rainboots and uses elastic laces. i tweet about using a wheelchair in high school.

Zach and Chris tweeted about their past use of canes and adventures with them.

zach tweeted that his cane tip was worn out after completing his second marathon. chris asks if he uses a quad tip. zach said he did when recovering from surgery. chris tweets she prefers a quad tip because it stands up by itself. zach tweets a traditional cane can easily get knocked if propped against the wall

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Have you worn a special type of shoe due to your CP?

the extend-the-conversation question graphic. the multicolored #CPChatNow logo is in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green with "Have you worn a special type of shoe due to your CP?' and green chuck taylor high top in the lower left hand corner. there is #cpchatnow in green

Thanks for reading! Please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 1/29/2020

Posted on by

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:

Jen asks Linds how her new hometown is. Linds said she is settling in and she hasn't gotten lost in a few days.

Next, members discussed a common nemesis of people with CP, old man winter. Zach asked if members felt more tired during winter:

Zach asked if members get mored tired in winter. I tweeted that I do and I also believe it has something to do with it getting darker earlier. Zach tweets about the darkness sapping his motivation.
Zach reports he has been feeling more tired lately due to an increased work schedule, but also feels he would be bouncing back better if temps were in the 60s.

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.

Zach asked about worst compliments members had received. Zach tweets about being called "the most non-disabled, disabled person" someone knew. He indicated that emphasizes stereotypes. Jen tweeted she got prayed for and at a movie theater.

Chris also tweeted about some problematic compliments.

Chris tweets her hatred of the I don't see you disabled compliment and states without her CP she would be a different person. She tweets she wonders the impact this has on kids. She also tweets her dislike for the the compliment about her giving people hope for the future.

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.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 1-15-2020

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was bouncing as always. Members talked about what they are reading and what gifts CP has given them. Also, we have a focus chat on 1/22! This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the recap.

First, we have an exciting announcement at #CPChatNow. We will be doing a focus chat with member and former Paralympian, Ayden “The Jet” Jent. You can read Ayden’s bio here.

Zach announces a focus chat on 1/22 with Ayden Jent about the Paralympics

Next, Zach asked members what they are currently reading. Members shared a variety of different books and Chris shared Haben Girma’s memoir, the story of a deafblind woman graduating from Harvard Law School and becoming a lawyer for disability rights.

zach asked what people are currently reading. blemi tweeted Nora & Kettle, chris tweeted she is meaning to read Haben Girma's memoir

I bring up reading because in more exciting news #CPChatNow co-host, Zachary Fenell, is going to release his book, Off Balanced, in paperback! You can buy it now in Kindle form here.

Zach announcing Off Balanced is soon to be available in paperback. There is a picture of him holding up the book

Finally, we move to a great question asked by Blemi. She asked what Cerebral Palsy had given people. Members shared a variety of different positives which illustrates the wide variety of experiences in disability.

blemi asked what cp has given people. zach credits his work ethic to cp and to listen to his body, along with a BS filter. i tweeted I do not get too high or too low.
Daryl Perry tweets CP has made him resilient, robyn tweeted resilience and ability to adapt along grip strength. jen tweeted empathy.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What do you like about your CP?

an orange, blue, and green #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner, extend-the-conversation question in green with what do you like about your CP? in black. The Facebook like button is in the lower left hand corner.

Please share your answers in the comments and join us for the focus chat on Wednesday, January 22nd at 8 Eastern.

-Devin

#CPChatNow- 1/2/2020

Posted on by

The first #CPChatNow of the new decade was bumping as always. Members discussed what they hoped to accomplish in 2020, projects they are currently working on, and the realities of being an introvert on World Introvert Day. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members discussed what they hoped to accomplish in 2020:

Zach asks what members hope to accomplish in 2020. Blemi tweets about paying off her line of credit. Zach tweets about paying off his student loans.
Zach tweets he will be publishing his marathon memoir and he has a title in mind

Zach also asked what word members would use to describe their 2020 on December 31st, 2020 and said he will describe his year as extraordinary:

Zach tweets he will look back on the year and describe it as extraordinary

Finally, January 2nd was apparently World Introvert Day. Zach pointed this out and it sparked a discussion on being an introvert.

Zach points out it is world introvert day and asks if people would describe themselves as an introvert
Blemi tweets she feels she is an introvert and experiences anxiety in social situations
linds tweets she is an extroverted when necessary introvert and she used the example of working at a bakery causing her to need her to be introverted

This leads us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question:

Orange, blue, and green #CPChatNow logo in the upper right hand corner. Extend-the-conversation question in green: Do you consider yourself an introvert? in black. An emoji with blue eyes and a zipper over his mouth.

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/18/2019

Posted on by

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.

Zach announcing the next #CPChatNow is Thursday instead of Wednesday

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:

Zach congratulates kate on graduating nursing school. kate shared cp added trouble to starting her job.

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 asks heather what makes a kitchen accessible. she likes prep surfaces where she can sit down and cut-proof gloves. zach tweeted he likes sitting uses knives

Zach then asked if people put up a Christmas tree and if CP impacted their ability to do so:

zach asked if people put up a christmas tree and if CP made things difficult. chris said she does not and heather tweeted she only did if she was hosting. i tweeted we have a small tree, but i need a lot of help with decorating

Finally, Zach asked what people’s favorite Christmas traditions were. People talked of getting together with family and looking at Christmas lights.

zach asked about christmas traditions. he tweeted about christmas eve at grandma's and getting in the car to look at christmas lights. kate tweets about liking christmas eve more than christmas. zach tweeted christmas eve is when his extended family got together

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.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/4/2019

Posted on by

This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always as members got ready for the holidays, discussed unique friendships, cool parts about #CPChatNow, and their doubts about CP.

The upcoming holidays were of course a topic of conversation. Zach asked whether people took disability into account when giving gifts:

Zach asks whether disability was taking into account when giving gifts. Hannah tweeted her grandma bought her shoes that often wouldn't fit and she had to tell her to stop because they wouldn't fit
Blemi tweeted disability had no impact on her gift giving. Zach said he got a baseball glove, but never did play baseball. I tweeted I was there was paralympics for baseball.

#CPChatNow recently turned 6 years old. Members talked about the coolest part of being a member:

I tweeted that the coolest part of #CPChatNow has been watching people grow up and lives change. Zach tweeted about people graduating high school, Blake and myself graduating college, and Blemi entering a long term relationship
Zach tweeted about the genuine bonds that have formed from #CPChatNow and the support system that has formed

Next, talk turned to the unique relationships that can come from online interactions and Yasmin shared that she has formed relationships from online Paramore clubs:

Yasmin tweets about making friendships through Paramore clubs that have stayed even though the forms have shut down. Zach shares that CP brought #CPChatNow together, but we have other common interests

Finally, I asked members what doubts they had as a result of their CP. It sparked some good conversation:

I ask about people's doubts about their CP. My doubt was about getting married. blemi tweeted she was unsure about holding down a full time job. zach worried about pinning his bib number for his 5k races

This leads us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: What is your biggest doubt about CP and what have you done to overcome it?

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

-Devin