How Do You Interact with a Disabled Person?

Communicating with a person with a disability can make people uncomfortable as disabled people are often thought of as being “different”. A person with a disability might not be able to walk, or hear, or see, or talk, but other than that a disabled person has a body, a brain, a heart, and a soul like everyone else. A disabled person wants to enjoy life, set goals, and be treated with respect just like a non-disabled person. But, disabled people are not always treated with the sensitivity they deserve. Read more

The Amazon Kindle as Reading Device for the Disabled

Most people take it for granted: holding open and reading a book. But for those without full use of their hands or another similar physical disability, this can be a much more difficult process than for an able-bodied person. Holding open a small paperback book and turning a single page at a time can be difficult for a quadriplegic. That’s why new ebook readers such as the Amazon Kindle have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of those who otherwise would have a difficult time reading. Read more

Fazio, the Beloved Matchmaker Dog, who Brought Shari and Luc Together

The story of a quadriplegic who marries his service dog trainer

When I divorced my first wife 13 years ago, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with the rest of my life. All of a sudden I found myself living alone in my house without a partner I could rely on to manage the physical chores that come with running a household and to support me with issues related to my C5/C6 quadriplegia. Luckily I had a very reliable caregiver who had been working for me for several years. She made a commitment to help with my morning and evening routines each day. And when she wasn’t able to make it on a particular day or when she went on a vacation, she would make sure that someone else in her family would fill in.

However, I felt that life had become a struggle as I was basically living in survival mode. All of my closest family was living in Belgium, I had a nine year old son I needed to take care of who lived with me 50% of the time, and I was holding a job that was quite demanding. I barely had enough time left during the week to get some food on the table for my son and I. Living alone like this certainly wasn’t how I wanted to live for the rest of my life. Read more

Standing Wheelchair Gives New Perspective on Life

After 18 years of sitting in a wheelchair all day long, a standing wheelchair has given me a new perspective on life. As a quadriplegic unable to move my legs, I stand up 5 to 6 hours on a typical day. This has lifted my spirits tremendously and it has improved my overall health. It feels good to talk again to another person at the same eye level, and what I like the most is that I can hug my wife now while we both stand at the same height. Read more

An Electric Leg Bag Emptier – A Tool to Prevent UTIs

Are you a disabled person who is constantly limiting your amount of fluid intake because you are worried your leg bag might overflow? If you are, there’s a good chance you’re getting urinary tract infections (UTIs) because you aren’t drinking enough liquids. I used to be in that situation too, but my life changed for the better after I discovered the substantial benefits of using an electric leg bag opener. I now have the freedom to drink as much as I want without needing to rely on someone else to drain my bag and, for me, UTIs are history. Read more