Tetraplegic Settles Into Her New Life
Claire was seventeen and in her last year of school when she broke her neck and became a tetraplegic. While she and her mom were driving home, their car rolled down a hill. Claire was laying in the backseat of…
Quadriplegic Singer-Songwriter-Composer Finds Alternative Career in Music
If he had not had his swimming accident in 1983, Gilbert Tan, 56, says he would probably still be “slogging away at an architectural drawing board in an office somewhere in Singapore.” Trained as a draftsman who designed elevators, glass…
What’s in a Name? Owning Disability
Robyn Powell was born with arthrogryposis, a disability that affects her muscles and joints. With limited use of her limbs, she has been a power chair user since she was three-years-old. However, Robyn didn’t identify as “disabled” until her twenties.…
Lakeside Retreat Allows a Blind Mom to Let Go Just a Little Bit
While on a family getaway to Mercer Lake in Florence, Oregon, Tracy Boyd took advantage of the enjoyable quiet and slow pace to reflect on the good things in life: family, friendship, fun, and fellowship. For mom-of-four Tracy, this quiet…
Paraplegic Farmer Finds New Role in Agriculture
Dave was paralyzed when a hay bale fell from a stack and landed on him. As a working farmer, Dave resolved to continue farming after his accident. “I was thinking of how I was going to do all the tasks…
Quadriplegic ‘Retires’ After 25 Years of Mouth Painting
All of us have talents, but some of us discover our talents after acquiring a disability. Quadriplegic Gilbert Tan, 56, used to design elevators, glass lifts and escalators before a spinal cord injury at 22 years old left him paralysed…
Redefining Happiness
Living with a disability has been a rollercoaster journey for Azlin Binte Amran. One day, Azlin fell into an escalator that was under maintenance and broke her spine. Doctors told her that she was very lucky to have survived the…
Adapting Behind the Wheel: Quadriplegic Van Transfers
Freedom means something different to everyone. One of the major milestones is getting a driver’s license. Having a SCI doesn’t mean your road warrior days are over; it just means they’re adapted. C-5/6 quadriplegic Shawn Fluke shows how he transfers…
The Evolution of Independence
Patrick Bohn was born with cerebral palsy. He wants others to understand how complex the term "disability" is, and that even though two individuals might be diagnosed with the same disability, the effects of that disability can be totally different…
Quadriplegic Adapts Hairbrush
As a C6/C 7 quadriplegic, Paul lacks finger function, so he found a way to adapt tools so he can use them without difficulty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Sj6zDhEuA Paul adapted his hairbrush using an aluminum bar from a hardware or hobby store. For…