Reflections on the Paris Paralympics Part 1 – by Susan Seipel
I can’t believe the Paris Paralympics are over already! This is part one of two blogs which are about my experience as an athlete at the Paris Paralympics.
The Village:
Letter to Myself - Finding my Unicorn Support Worker (or not) - By Charlie Park
Dear Past-Charlie,
I am writing to you from the future after 4 years of being an NDIS participant. I hope to make your journey of using Support Workers for the first time easier and less stressful than mine was.
I know you won’t want to hear this, but you must be patient! There is no magical agency that provides everything that you need. Instead, you will go on a long hunt and kiss many frogs before you find your prince/ss.
I gift you these tips to speed up your journey:
Journey to a wheelchair 5 – Independence, Elevators, and P Plates – by Ferris Knight
Ernest Hemingway once wrote about how things happen ‘gradually, then suddenly’. That’s how this (literal) ride has been.
Ignorance vs awareness - by Alicia Kapa
Living with a disability has many challenges. These can be made harder or easier with how people react and treat you. Ignorance vs awareness is very easy to recognise and I am going to share some of my experiences throughout my life that will always stand out.
A cruise ship holiday – how well do they work for a person with a disability? – by Lindsay Nott
With the summer holidays fast approaching, having a disability always amplifies our concerns and requirements for an easy, relaxing holiday.
Travelling with a chair or three – by Marlena Katene
In June I embarked on an amazing journey now nearing the end, some three and half months later.
On this trip, I started with one electric wheelchair (TDX ), a commode chair, a manual chair and 3 bags. As the song says “They see me rolling……they hating …. They wanna see me riding dirty”. Europe here I come!
But I try to remember “No shopping Marlena no Shopping!” I am a woman, and this idea was never going to be a reality. Don’t judge me I like to shop and to be honest that was a Bert (my travel companion and luggage handler/ packer) problem, not mine.
THE MESSAGE I TOOK FROM THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPICS – by Ian Walker
The recently completed Paris 2024 Paralympics was an amazing showcase for those living with a disability and how they, despite their disability, are still able to compete in an ever-competitive sporting environment globally. Wearing my wheelchair user hat in particular, I found the Paris Paralympics principally beneficial for wheelchair users for several reasons:
Clinically Perfecting Self-Propel Using the Add-On Benefit Of Power Assist – by Juliette Lee
Some of the most satisfying days in my role are when I can set-up E-Motion power-assist wheels for a person who has never used them before. The pushrim-activated, lithium battery powered wheels greatly help the wheelchair user to enjoy more endurance for socializing, work or campus travel; to preserve their upper limb girdle strength to train/compete in sport;and to prevent spine, shoulders, elbows or wrists from injuries that might otherwise affect their independence.
The Power of Sharing your story – by Natasha Astill
Why is it important to share your story? How you can share your story safely?
I share my story safely by sharing as much information as I can without breaching my own confidentiality by being honest and real about situations.
It is important because you never know what someone else is experiencing. As not all disabilities are visible.
Sharing your stories makes others feel less alone and it makes those who are sharing confident within themselves it is also empowering.
Some tips I would recommend are:
A LESSON FROM NATURE – by Bill Fuller
I am a person who suffers from high anxiety and my anxiety levels are never higher than when I am driving, or at least they use to be (just ask my long suffering wife!)