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…

Raising A Son With A Disability

Dr. Sherron Jackson and her son Alex were both injured in a car accident when Alex was 9 months old. Alex was paralyzed. When Dr. Jackson awoke from her coma, “I saw him in intensive care and he smiled when he…

Problem Solving Strategies After Spinal Cord Injuries

“Take stock of all the worries, all the what-ifs that are going through your mind. Think about ‘which ones of these can I get more information about?’ or ‘Which ones of these can I take steps to solve problems?'” https://youtu.be/DLGQn1wC5uU…

How To Manage Heat with MS

Managing heat with MS comes with its own complications due to the effects of the demyelination of the nerves and how it impairs the body’s ability to adjust to temperature changes. Because of that situation, nerve transmission requires much more…

How To Prevent Dehydration

Preventing dehydration is important for anyone, but it’s especially important when you’re also managing a disability. When someone says “drink more water,” don’t just brush it off! All stages of dehydration have negative impacts. Early indicators of dehydration: Dry, sticky…

The First Things To Learn After Spinal Cord Injury

When you are first touched by paralysis, many will ask themselves, “What do I learn first?” or “Where do I start?” Kris Cichowski from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago shares tips on getting started.   “It’s very important that you…

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…

Coping Strategies After Spinal Cord Injury

“At the very beginning when everything is so unknown and everything is so overwhelming, coping strategies are about getting through the day. Thinking about things one by one, step by step, day by day.” Robin Dorman is a clinical health…

How To Open Double Doors

It took this quadriplegic about 2 years to master opening double doors on his own. He came up with a method that allows him to open double doors safely and efficiently that allows him to travel to the mall or grocery stores without having…

Getting Stuff Down Without A Reacher

What do you do when stuff is up high and you have to get it without a reacher? https://youtu.be/cPdUvzJkq7E Meg, a quadriplegic with limited hand function, has found a way to use a common kitchen broom to get the job…