Tag Archives: disability community

#CPChatNow Recap- 12/29/2021

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The last #CPChatNow of 2021 had members looking back on their highs and lows of the year and what they had learned along with looking forward to 2022. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members discussed their highs and lows from 2021:

zach asks about highs and lows, i tweet getting married and low of the cubs season, zach tweeted his high is progressing on his book and getting promoted at work, low is not getting video work done to work on book, blemi tweeted her high is getting engaged and her low is having to leave work

Next, members discussed what they had learned during the year.

zach asks about life lessons from 2021, chris tweets don't ignore what you think are little or insignificant health issues
zach tweets his life lesson is to focus on the present and that he injured his groin because he was not focused on the present. i tweeted that he stole mine and that sometimes things are worth waiting for.

Finally, members discussed their goals for 2022.

zach asks about goals for 2022, i tweeted to stretch more regularly, he tweeted simple goals can have great results and the cold weather has had him needing to stretch, blemi tweeted continuing to get her health back in order.
stephen tweeted to get a girlfriend, zach tweeted getting a signficant other is hard because things are out of your control and it's better to be single than in a bad relationship, chris tweeted to finish her master's degree.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are your goals for 2022? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow!

-Devin

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#CPChatNow Recap- 7/28/2021

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This past week in #CPChatNow was lit as always. Members discussed aging and CP, perceptions of disabled people, and books by disabled authors. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

Chris started the conversation by sharing research that showed people with CP are more likely to break bones as they age with people in their 50s having the bone strength of people in their 80s. This led to conversation about what we can do as we age to help bone health.

zach tweeted a link to an article demonstrating research that people with CP are more likely to break bones in their 50s
i tweeted that is not reassuring, but at least we have research into cp. chris tweeted she is at risk for osteoporosis so she asked her doctor. her doctor said that what you do in your 20s or 30s is important and calcium supplements help. chris tweeted about a friend who had to have surgery for breaking his toe.

Next, Veronica tweeted about her son interacting with a disabled person who other people at work did not respect:

veronica tweeted about an interaction her son had with someone who used her phone to communicate at work. she appeared very smart, but other people did not treat her as smart, karen tweeted that is ableist and wrong, veronica tweeted she feels no one has any patience which is the problem

Finally, talk turned to disabled authors and books members liked to read. First, Karen and Zach discussed Zach’s in progress book.

karen asked if people are going to watch the paralympics. zach tweeted he will if he has his book done by then. karen asked what his book is called. zach tweets the title is still TBA, but the book is about accomplishing the unreasonable which for him is becoming a marathoner.

Karen talked about books related to disability that she liked. She tweeted about All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything and Being Heumann. Becoming Heumann is being turned into a movie!

karen tweeted she recommends all children read All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans With Disabilities Changed Everything. I tweeted it is hard to believe the ADA is 30 years old and karen tweets it is actually 31 years old as of july 26, 2021
karen tweets that Being Heumann is being turned into a movie and asks who is excited. I tweeted my encouragement for people to read the book and karen tweeted she likes the book.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite book or other art created by someone with a disability?

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

-Devin

#CPChatNow- 6-10-2020

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This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always, but this week brought new members. Members discussed the Moro Reflex and media representation of CP. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap!

First, members discussed a dreaded part of CP for some people, an exaggerated startle reflex.

amelia asks if a startle reflex is a thing with cp and a german sheppard startled her. i tweeted about dogs and seth tweeted about storms.

Karen tweeted about the name for the reflex, the Moro reflex.

karen tweets some links explaining the moro reflex. amelia tweeted she did not know it had a name. tonia tweeted lots of aspects of cp are rarely discussed

Next, talk turned to different representations of CP in the media. Members discussed the Netflix documentary Crip Camp and various issues of representation in the documentary.

karen asks what people thought of the depiction of cp in crip camp. heather tweets about surpirse of cp being at the low end of hierachy. i tweet about how much of that is how visible cp is
amelia tweeted she was happy to be represented in crip camp, but she didn't feel she could relate. karen tweeted cp comes in so many forms.

Talk also turned to the sadly canceled ABC show, Speechless, and issues related to representation. Members had varying opinions on whether they could relate to JJ.

zach tweets about how some felt they could not relate to JJ"s character. karen tweeted about how CP is so different from each person that many don't use a chair or are nonverbal. karen's main problem was too many subplots. I tweeted my agreement

Karen connected the lack of a ramp in the season 2 finale of Speechless with the abelism highlighted in Crip Camp.

zach tweets about a favorite scene from the season 2 finale when an award show director discovered there was not a ramp. i tweeted about accepting an award in the same situation. karen tweets she won an award in college and was told a ramp would be a fire hazard.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: Have you ever been denied recognition due to physical inaccessibility?

Thanks for reading this week’s recap and join us at 8 Eastern each Wednesday on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 6/19/2019

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This past week in #CPChatNow was hopping as always. Members talked about various topics like having multiple disabilities, horror movies and CP, and their personal analogy for the CP community. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, two long time members of the #CPChatNow community finally met each other in-person with Hannah Pike and my other co-host, Zachary Fenell, meeting:

Pictures of zach and hannah. zach and hannah are holding a homemade #cpchatnow poster, zach is sitting with hannah's dog levi, and there is a picture of Hannah's #cpchatnow sign

Shira asked if having CP made you more likely to have multiple disabilities:

Shira asked if having CP made you more likely to have multiple disabilities:

Members chimed in that they had multiple diagnoses with CP and that other symptoms from CP might lead to a diagnosis:

Heather reports she has multiple diagnoses. I point out symptoms from CP can cause other issues

Next, members talked about the impacts from CP and their startle reflex on watching horror movies:

zach asked if startle reflex impacted horror movies. Hannah tweeted about liking Devil's knot and needing to watch a quiet place, grace lapointe said her startle reflex impacts her, but she loved get out. Blemi tweeted they are not her type of movie.
members continue to talk about issues with horror movies and startle reflex. members also talked cellphones

Finally, Zach asked if members had an analogy for the Cerebral Palsy community:

zach asks what analogy people would use for the cerebral palsy communtiy
zach says the CP community is like a music festival- there is a common bond in attendance (CP), but everyone has different experiences (seeing different bands)

Seth chimed in with his own analogy borrowing from a Lady Gaga song:

seth opines the cp community is closest to the LGBTQ community- born this way

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What analogy would you use for the CP community? Please share your answers in the comments!

Join us every Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow on Twitter.

Thanks for reading!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- Reflecting Back and Looking Forward Focus Chat

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This past week in #CPChatNow was especially lively as we celebrated #CPChatNow’s 4th birthday!  We decided to do a focus chat with various questions focusing on changes in member’s lives, questions about #CPChatNow, and a discussion about #CPChatNow’s future.  This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along on this special recap.

The first question focused on what has changed in members’ lives in the last four years.  Members shared many things, but it was interesting that many members had common changes:

Zach asking what has changed over the past 4 years. I answered with some changes including a master's degree, girlfriend

Blemi discussing a new job and boyfriend when talking about changes. Seth discussing cruises and burying his grandpa

The next question was about how members had heard about #CPChatNow.  Members shared various things such as discovering it on their timeline to seeing CP celebrities like John Quinn tweet about it:

Hannah tweeting that #CPChatNow showed up on her timeline

Me stating that I stumbled on #CPChatNow in a search, but I saw John Quinn tweet it

Zach also shared the story of the creation of #CPChatNow.  A collaboration between John Quinn and @HandicapThis.

Zach sharing story of #CPChatNow's creation

The next question related to specific questions or conversations that have stuck out to members.  Hannah shared the long running #CPChatNow joke of the story when someone asked if her CP was caused by getting ran over by a train:

Hannah tweeting the train conversation is her favorite #CPChatNow conversation

Jen tweeted about the focus chat with @The_CP_Swagger and Hunter Gandee who has made national news by carrying his brother with CP on his back to raise awareness:

Jen tweeting her favorite chat was with CP Swagger

Zach chimed in with the exercise chat led by Erin while I said the dating or accessible gaming ones:

Zach and Devin discussing their favorite conversations

Members also mentioned liking that the conversations in #CPChatNow tend to happen organically and do not feel forced:

Members discussing the joy that CPChatNow conversations tend to happen organically

Finally, the last question in the Focus Chat was regarding who members would like to see be a guest on a future focus chat.  Members were consistent in requesting Micah Fowler of Speechless fame.

Jen tweeting that she would like to see Micah Fowler on a future chat

Now this brings us to our next Extend-The-Conversation question and I will use #CPChatNow’s fourth birthday as inspiration.  What has changed for you in the past four years and what would you like to see in the next four?

This week's extend-the-conversation questions asks "What has changed for you in the past four years and what would you like to see in the next four?"

Answer in the “Comments” section.

#CPChatNow Recap- 5-10-2017

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This week’s #CPChatNow Twitter chat was a ride ranging conversation on current events in community member’s lives and topics unique to the disability community.  This is your Interim Co-Host, Devin Axtman, and I will be taking you on this week’s recap journey.

#CPChatNow regular, Dave Smith, started the conversation by posting a video about the Alinker, a walk-assisted device.  Members unanimously agreed it would be beneficial and preferable to using a walker:

#CPChatNow members Kate and Jocelyn returned and debated the proper pronunciation of Cerebral Palsy along with Rachel:

Kate also sparked much engaging conversation about having mild CP and not feeling like she fits in within the disability community:

Members also spoke of their fondness and desire to learn American Sign Language (ASL):

Finally, #CPChatNow Co-Host, Zachary Fenell, ended the chat on a happy note by announcing that he had recently taken a part time job at the local library:

Also, please join us on MAY 25th for our monthly Google Hangout (tip of the cap to Zach for backing up my errant throw):

Finally, this brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: Where are some areas the disability community can improve its inclusion of others?  Please share your answer in the comments and be sure to join us on Twitter every Wednesday at 8 Eastern Time.