3 ways to build resilience
The biggest part of resilience for me is about protecting mental well-being. “Stressors”, things that affect our mental health negatively, can come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them will be expected and some unexpected. Some of them will be big and others will be small.
Building in practices that protect our well-being in daily life can be a big part of improving our resilience. Options include putting down our phone and getting some time away from screens or going to the park for some fresh air.
Using ICT for freedom
ICT is so ingrained in our daily lives that it can be easy to forget just how reliant we are on it. Some of the websites we visit or apps we use are playing a fundamental part of daily living, they also however have the potential to play a disproportionately positive role in the lives of disabled people, acting as a tool that improves navigating an inaccessible world.
As a wheelchair user, there are things that are going to be situations that lack of access makes more difficult and time consuming. I’m not going to be given any more time in the day, so I want tools to make processes easier.
My first rally experience
For as long as I can remember, I have always had a need for speed. My earliest memory of writing about a career, probably around six years old, was a stunt driver. I remember seeing incredible feats being performed on TV and being starry eyed thinking about how much fun it would be to do them.
How to make a start with wheelchair maintenance
Understanding how to look after your wheelchair and make necessary changes can be essential in enabling your wheelchair to do its job in getting you around.
When I first started using a wheelchair, I relied heavily on wheelchair services to take care of all of the repairs. While that’s what they’re there for, it’s not always ideal.
7 reasons to teach wheelchair skills in schools
Wheelchair skills in schools not only empower students with physical disabilities, but also promote inclusivity, diversity, and a positive school culture. Learning wheelchair skills can provide children with the tools they need to navigate their environment, engage in activities, and participate in their communities with increased autonomy.
In this blog, we will explore why wheelchair skills are an essential part of development for children who use wheelchairs, and how these skills can have a positive impact on their confidence, independence, mental well-being, and future opportunities.
Launching wheelchair skills online videos
When I set out to launch wheelchair skills, I wanted to do it in a big way. I believe that everyone has the right to access wheelchair skills and get the confidence and independence that comes with having them. The things that I’ve benefitted from over the years because I have the skills.
Taking ideas out to more people is faster and easier over social media. Find out more about the ideas behind creating wheelchair skills videos and where you can find them.
How I found meaning in International Wheelchair Day
Last year was the first time that I ever did anything for International Wheelchair Day. There was a little bit of planning involved, but in all honesty, it was more luck that design.
This year I wanted to raise the bar. In my humble opinion, I did. I had the best time on International Wheelchair Day 2023 and hopefully I made a difference as well.
4 changes I made to my new wheelchair
Getting a new wheelchair is a big deal. Not so much because the right choice will make everything magical and sparkly, but getting the wrong wheelchair has the potential to make things difficult to varying degrees. As someone who uses their wheelchair all day, every day, I want (or need) it to do one thing – it’s job.
I’m a little embarrassed to say but I’ve been sleep walking into using a wheelchair that didn’t fit me.
3 key things planning a weekend away
With this being the first blog of the year, it seems fitting to talk about the year ahead and the goals that I have. Maybe even include a few goal setting strategies that I’ll be using. As I said, that seems fitting, to the point of being a cliché.
This blog has always meant to be something both personal and also practical where possible. With that in mind, I’ve decided to make this blog about how I’m going to plan for an overseas trip and my first time on a plane since January 2020.
3 stand out reflections of 2022
How often do you stop to reflect on just how far you’ve come? If you’re like me, then you might not dedicate enough time to it. It’s so easy to get stuck into the everyday hustle and lose sight of the journey we’ve been on.