Author: Kendra

This author has written 37 articles
Read more about the article Staying Cool in a Wheelchair: Tips for Beating the Heat

Staying Cool in a Wheelchair: Tips for Beating the Heat

Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you chose to purchase something through one of the links, I may get a small commission, without any cost to you. Read the full disclosure here. Atypical temperature regulation is one of the secondary complications of a spinal cord injury. The spinal cord is responsible for regulating body temperature through the nervous system. Normally, when the body becomes too warm it triggers blood vessels to dilate, and sweat glands to release fluids to cool down the body. Damage to the spinal cord can interrupt this process. After injury the body's temperature regulation is thrown off and many people no longer sweat, or sweat way less. This…

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Read more about the article Wheelchair Representation on Netflix

Wheelchair Representation on Netflix

All too often in movies and tv shows, people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, are presented as flat and one-dimensional characters. Basically reducing a person down to only their disability and the fact that they use a wheelchair. They are usually only present to act as a plot-driver to "inspire" main characters or presented as a "tragedy." Not to mention that many present wheelchairs and other mobility aids as burdens, when it reality a wheelchair is FREEDOM and allows for participation in the community. Unfortunately there are plenty of examples of these tropes in the media. I won't ruin it if you haven't seen it, but the season 3 Cobra Kai arc is garbage and…

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Read more about the article The Wonderful World of Wheelchairs: Interesting Wheelchair Facts

The Wonderful World of Wheelchairs: Interesting Wheelchair Facts

A wheelchair is a vehicle to liberation and freedom; a chariot for independence. - Rick Hansen Despite what some people seem to think, a wheelchair is not a negative thing. On the contrary, it is a tool that allows for people to participate in the community and lead a full life. The wheelchair is the international symbol for disability and 1% of the worldwide population uses a wheelchair. People use wheelchairs for a variety of different reasons: spinal cord injuries, paralysis, weakness, chronic pain, or other neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy (CP) or muscular dystrophy (MD). It is estimated that 70 million people worldwide need a wheelchair, but unfortunately only 5-15%…

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Read more about the article Amazing Wheelchair World Records

Amazing Wheelchair World Records

On flat terrain wheelchairs are more efficient over long distances than running One of my favourite childhood traditions was poring over the yearly Guinness Book of World Records. It is always interesting to see all the weird and wonderful things humans are capable of. Here's some of the amazing feats accomplished by wheelchair users all over the world. Check out these 20 official Guinness World Records held by people who are truly pushing the limits of what can be done in a wheelchair. Longest Continuous Wheelie in a Wheelchair (25.8 km) The record for longest continuous wheelie in a wheelchair goes to Xie Junwu of China. He covered a distance of 25.8 km (16.03 miles)…

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Read more about the article Overcoming Fear of Traveling as a Wheelchair User

Overcoming Fear of Traveling as a Wheelchair User

Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you chose to purchase something through one of the links, I may get a small commission, without any cost to you. Read the full disclosure here. Traveling can be nerve-racking for everyone, but even more so when there is a wheelchair involved. Travelling can be scary for anyone. You are in unfamiliar, unpredictable environment; all the while, dealing with new customs and cultures. One of the biggest fears to overcome when travelling is the fear of the unknown. Unfortunately when a wheelchair or other mobility aid is added into the mix, these concerns can multiply ten-fold. However, the greatest rewards are on the other side of…

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Read more about the article Profile of Perseverance: Frida Kahlo

Profile of Perseverance: Frida Kahlo

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly." - Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo is considered to be one of Mexico's greatest artists. She is best known for her surreal brightly coloured still-lifes and of course her famous self-portraits which unapologetically featured her uni-brow and mustache. She was confident in her beauty and refused to conform to the male-gaze and narrow societal beauty standards. Frida's work mainly features Mexican imagery and motifs. Although Frida's art is well-known and well-loved worldwide, many people do not realize that Frida was a wheelchair user for much of her life. She began painting her ubiquitous self-portraits after an accident left her injured and bed-bound for…

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Read more about the article Profile of Perseverance: Steven Hawking

Profile of Perseverance: Steven Hawking

"My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you from doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with." - Stephen Hawking Professor Stephen Hawking is one of the most recognizable and well-known scientists of the 21st century. His contributions to cosmology and theoretical physics are numerous. As well as being a poster boy of modern science, he is also a recognizable figure for his disability. Soon after beginning his graduate studies at Cambridge in cosmology and general relativity, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a disease that causes the progressive degradation of motor neurons overtime. While he was initially only given a few…

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Read more about the article Profile of Perseverance: Christopher Reeve

Profile of Perseverance: Christopher Reeve

I refuse to allow a disability to determine how I live my life. There is only one way to go in life and that is forward." - Christopher Reeve Christopher Reeve was an American actor, filmmaker and activist. He is best known for playing the title role in Superman (1978) and its sequels. In addition to his acting career, he was also a skilled equestrian. Unfortunately, during a competition he was thrown from his horse and broke his neck. This resulted in a cervical spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the neck down. Subsequently, requiring him to use a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life. After his injury he turned primarily to…

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Read more about the article 30 of The Best Accessories, Tools and Gadgets for Wheelchair Users

30 of The Best Accessories, Tools and Gadgets for Wheelchair Users

Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you chose to purchase something through one of the links, I may get a small commission, without any cost to you. Read the full disclosure here. Wheelchair life is by no means easy, but I hope that these things can help out a bit! Here's a list of few things that were really useful to me after my injury and things that I use every day to make things easier. Hopefully they will be helpful to you or a loved one as well! 1. Cup Holders : You can find clamp on cup holders online, or at some dollar stores as well. These attach on to…

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