by Tiff -

Sometimes you just need to be a zombie

You have no idea how fun it is to dress up like She-Ra (’80s cartoon character, sister of He-Man).

I’m usually known as “She-Ra in a wheelchair” (instead of just She-Ra) whenever I do it. It kinda pisses me off, but what do you do, the large glaring power chair cannot be ignored. I have never let it stop me though.

Some of the happiest moments I’ve had since becoming paralyzed have happened while I’ve been dressed up. Also, check out the awesome Zombie Pool Party photo montage featuring three zombified women w/ disabilities. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Everybody wants to be a rockstar

We’ve all had fantasies of going up on stage and rocking out like there‘s no tomorrow. And these guys – two quadriplegics and one paraplegic – all have one thing in common: They’re real bonafide rockers.

So many of us try NOT to get noticed after becoming paralyzed, and what I love about these three dudes is that they may be paralyzed, but they definitely don’t get stage fright.

The first video is of a band in St. Petersburg, Florida called (get ready for it), the Rock-n-Chair band. I know, a bit cringe-worthy name, but…read this entry

by Tiff -

Getting wet…gracefully

4 awesome pool videos for wheelchair-users!

The first video shows a super buff 48 yr old C6 quad uses a lap pool (by himself). Video #2 video shows a much more dignified pool lift made just for the Paralympics (so cool!)

Video #3 is three sexy quads goofing off in the pool with floaties, and video #4, why no other than Mia of Push Girls. Watch her try swimming for the first time in YEARS. Watch these videos

by Tiff -

The only paraplegic pro-surfer in the world

At the beach or the skate park – this is where you would’ve found Christiaan Bailey (who’s on the cover of this month‘s Sports ‘n Spokes magazine), an always-on-the-go pro surfer before his injury.

What’s awesome about this SCI superstar is that this is where you can still find him.

A L3-L4 fracture while filming a skateboarding video in 2006 is how Christiaan became paralyzed, but he’s refused to let it stop him from doing what he loves. Within weeks, Christiaan was already sketching surf board designs for paraplegics from his hospital bed. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Back-to-school fierceness

It’s back to school time, people, and that means wheelchair-users everywhere are rolling into classrooms (and pushing desks out of their way).

Oh man, I remember my first day of college orientation as a quad. Talk about the Scariest. Day. Ever. But I soon found out, just like these wise people below, I was freaking out over nothing and realized after a few short months that college was going to be more than ok (and utterly awesome in fact).

The first video is of Carrie, a quadriplegic (injured in 2003). She shares what it was like to go back to college at Depaul university.

In her video (created by Facingdisability.com), she touches on how surprisingly easy it was to get her professors to accommodate her disability, and how great it felt to live on campus, in the city and far far away from her parents’ home. Read this entry

by Tiff -

A great SCI-worthy donation

And this is a big one, folks. September is – woo hoo! – Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.

What does this whole “awareness month” message mean? Lots of things…talking about what is a spinal cord injury, sharing spinal cord injury prevention tips and bringing up important issues facing people with spinal cord injuries.

This is actually where my heart lies. No one can cure us, but we can be in control of our lives by improving day-to-day issues, like having people who understand and all the information you need so you can live an amazing, healthy and independent life. HUGE stuff. That is why I am a major fan of BACKBONES. They’re a great non-profit dedicated to improving all of this really important stuff.

And this month, they’re trying to raise $10,000 for their organization, all of which will go directly to fund their mission (you can read it in full here).

They are there to give free support people with SCI and their familes – they do one-on-one pair ups, fun events all around the country. Having a good time and positivity is what they’re all about (proof!).

What’s not to love about an organization that holds city-wide scavenger hunts IN wheelchairs (everybody has to try it too, even if they can walk) as a way to teach SCI education?

Click here to give & help BACKBONES reach their goal!