Putting On Socks & Shoes (Plus Tying!)

Putting on socks and shoes without finger mobility poses some interesting challenges, but Beth, a quadriplegic, has a great system to get the job done. No matter what shoes you want to wear, check out Beth’s step-by-step demos for putting…

Putting In Contacts With Limited Finger Movement

This quadriplegic has tips for putting in contacts independently. Beth, a C6-7 quadriplegic, has one index finger that extends slightly, but otherwise no finger movement.  https://youtu.be/AhrIgMLo8zA She uses her index finger to find the contact in the case, and uses her fingers…

Knowing Which Pants To Wear

“I love maternity pants,” shares Alicia, a paraplegic. Nope, she’s not pregnant, but she’s all about the elastic. “You forego all the zipper and buttons and everything…because when you sit they just buckle up and you have this extra lump.” Not…

Putting On Shorts In Bed

Getting dressed has lots of elements, and since a lot of wheelchair users are sitting all the time, putting on shorts and pants can be extra challenging. Chris Colwell, a C5-6 quadriplegic, puts his shorts on while in bed, using…

Wearing High Heels

“Choosing the right heels is important…I recommend a wedge or a wider heel because it’ll give your feet better balance on your footplate,” says Ali Stroker, actress and member of the Walk & Roll Wheelchair Dance Team. However Ali’s demonstration tackles…

Putting Hair Up In A Ponytail

“It took me about 2 years to figure this out with balance and finger motion,” Beth, a C6-7 quadriplegic shares about her method of putting hair up in a ponytail. It’s a seemingly simple task, but without abdominal control or…

Washing, Shaving, Flossing, Brushing Teeth

If you aspire to be as independent as possible, there’s a lot of small adaptations you can learn from someone like Chris Colwell. This C5-6 quadriplegic, who has no finger function, has adapted his routine getting ready for bed including…

Holding A Cup With Tenodesis

Beth is a C6-7 quadriplegic who has limited mobility of her fingers and is unable to grasp anything. She relies on tenodesis to pick up things like a cup. (Tenodesis is using the flexion and extension of your wrist to…

Handling The Heat And Humidity

Paralysis often complicates how the body manages handling heat and humidity. This includes issues regulating body temperature, complicated by the fact that many people don’t sweat as much as before, or might not even sweat at all! Alex Jackson, a quadriplegic…

Answering Questions About Daily Life

“Not all spinal cord injuries are created equal! This is also for the newbie injured folks that want some tips and insight of how to function in daily living. Everyone does things differently this is just my way.” Two people…