by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Barbara Turnbull

One of the most well-known people with spinal cord injuries in Canada, Barbara Turnbull has been living life as a quadriplegic for over 30 years. Her injury garnered national attention due to its severe nature – a random convenience store shooting – but what she’s done with her life since that crazy day is why she’s a true SCI superstar.

A longtime journalist for the Toronto Star, a two-time book author and a tireless advocate for improved public accessibility and spinal cord injury research, Barbara’s resume is one of the most impressive you’ll find among any high level quadriplegic. Her injury has driven her to greater things, and she’s used her power wisely.

For a sneak peek at how a strong-willed Canadian woman overcomes insurmountable circumstances, this is the story of Barbara Turnbull. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Mark E. Felling

The “mad scientist” of adapted technology, Mark Felling, Engineer, Patented Inventor and Founder of adapted gear profferer Broadened Horizons, is a quadriplegic on a mission.

Ever since crashing his experimental plane a decade ago, he’s been determined to use his engineering skills to make his life, and other’s like his, easier.

Several life-changing technologies for people with disabilities have been invented by Mark, and he continues to create more each year, all to empower people with disabilities.

From a powered tenodesis hand splint he calls the “Power Grip” to some of the best adapted video game equipment ever made, this is the story of Mark Felling, the man who never stops dreaming. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Summer Road Trips in a Wheelchair

There’s something uncannily freeing about taking a road trip that appeals to the spinal cord injured individual. It takes you out of your daily routine, you’re always in a new place and it lifts the heaviness of your injury off of you for a bit. There are however some definite skills to learn before going on a road trip if you use a wheelchair.

From how to sleep comfortably in your van if you’re a serious roadtripper on a budget to where to stay to save the most money if you’d rather stay in a hotel, the videos below will share these insightful tips from individuals with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Excited to Share IZ Adaptive’s Revamped Site & Inventory

IZ Adaptive has been an award-winning adaptive clothing line for the seated body since 2009, spearheaded by renowned Canadian fashion designer Izzy Camilleri. Izzy intimately knows the world of fashion, and know that change is always a good thing, which is why she’s revamped her website & inventory.

I couldn’t be more excited either. Prints are one of the biggest changes you’ll notice in her collection, with leopard print and floral prints now available with their adorable Capri pants and Women’s blazers. They’ve also added a “Dressing Easy” category that exclusively contains some really cool items to help you dress easier.

The items they’ve included will delight anyone interested in clothing construction. You’ll find their super smart Open Back Sweater, that has an open back with snaps, their Solid Magnet Shirt with easy magnet closures and their Tear Away Pant, which has snap closures on the outside of each leg.

IZ Adptive’s Men’s area has also been given a refresher. Not only will you find a bigger selection of everything from shirts and jackets (these are also available in new prints like camouflage) to increased athletic wear options, they now have male models modeling their clothing.

They’ve hired several new female models too, all real-life IZ users, who you will see throughout their online catalog, and each representing an unique ability. IZ is showing real-life users in real-life situations in their images and it couldn’t be more awesome.

Above all, IZ Adaptive clothes are meant to help you feel better about yourself. From their shop in downtown Toronto, they’re always thinking of the next great garment for people who use wheelchairs and they eagerly and gladly welcome any garment ideas and suggestions, which is so great.

So if you have any kind of light bulb of inspiration, even an inkling, make sure to email it to info@izadaptive.com. They are open to as many suggestions as they can get.

– Visit the site: IZ Adaptive

– Be sure to check out IZ’s new Vimeo Channel, with interviews of real-life clients: IZ Adaptive on Vimeo

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Dr. Danielle Sheypuk

Growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, the now self-described “Carrie Bradshaw” of women who use wheelchairs, was just like any other girl – she loved playing with her Barbie dolls and she dreamed of growing up to be a beautiful woman with a doting husband – but she was also a wheelchair-user.

At the age of 3, Danielle’s Spinal Muscular Atrophy progressed to the point where she could no longer walk, and since, she’s been a full-time wheelchair-user. Danielle is without question an expert at living life fabulously sitting down, especially when it comes to dating and sexuality.

A clinical psychologist for people with disabilities on dating and sexuality, Ms. Wheelchair New York 2012 and a model in the upcoming revamped Raw Beauty campaign by The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, read on for the truly awesome story of Dr. Danielle Sheypuk. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Dealing with the Dreaded SCI Anniversary

Anniversaries can be either super fabulous or super depressing, depending on what’s being commemorated. In the world of spinal cord injuries, it’s a 50/50 thing, but most look at their SCI anniversary as a sad thing they’d rather not remember.

“Yup, one more year in a wheelchair,” is the thought process, and then there are the others who wildly celebrate the anniversary of their injury, looking at it as they have an amazing survival ability. We all can be vastly different with our coping methods.

From a 40 year old Australian talking about what he misses most to a quadriplegic embracing dozens of adapted sports the first year of his injury, here are three people with spinal cord injuries showing how they manage their anniversaries. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Robb Dunfield

In the lobby of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre in Vancouver, Canada, you will find the largest mouth painting ever created- a beautiful 6X8 oil painting called “Visions of Possibilities” (view) – and this beautiful image of two young girls on English Beach was painted by their father and vent-dependent quadriplegic, Robb Dunfield.

Robb, a C3-5 quad from Vancouver as well, is one of Canada’s most accomplished painters. Thrown into the world of painting after a fall from a balcony when he was 19, painting is just one of his outlets. He’s also a pioneer of group homes for people with severe disabilities and a public speaker for the Rick Hansen Foundation.

A man that has been paralyzed for longer than many of us have been alive, this is the story of esteemed artist – Robb Dunfield. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Hilary Lister

On paper, Hilary Lister could very well be one of the most interesting women in the world. From being an accomplished clarinet player and biochemist in her early years to becoming a world-renowned sailor, this woman is no average lady at the coffee shop. Hillary is in fact quite extraordinary.

But her journey into these exciting areas of life were all because of one thing and one of the only – her disability – and not some able-bodied dream she had before becoming paralyzed from the neck down.

Hilary has done more in her life than most able-bodied people, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

Read on for Hillary’s rockin’ story, as well as her most recent sailing accomplishment (she really has no intention of stopping) – crossing the Indian Ocean. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Sweet Wheelchair Summer Camp Skillz

After my injury, my mother forced me to go to a wheelchair summer camp, and it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, well the first day or two at least, and then by the third and fourth days I completely forgot about home and had the time of my life.

That’s the uncanny thing about summer camp as a wheelchair-user – even if at first you don’t think you want to be there, before you know it you’re having so much fun you completely forgotten about all of your outside cares and worries. It’s an escape into a world I wish I could stay in permanently.

Do you feel the same way, or want to know why I do? Watch our three videos below showing some of the best elements of summer camp as an adult with a disability. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Dror Cohen

This former F-16 Israeli fighter pilot lived and breathed the real version of Top Gun, but instead of shunning the world for what he lost after his injury, he decided to prove to the world what he could still do instead.

From becoming the best Paralympian sailor in the world to a highly decorated motorsport driver, Dror has transformed the idea of disability in Israel.

And he’s reaching out to help others too. He helped found a charity helping Israelis access adaptive motorsports and is a motivational speaker. Read this entry