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SCI Superstar: Teal Sherer
Teal Sherer (yup like the color), whose an actress and paraplegic, has come a long way from the log house she grew up in in rural Tennessee. After breaking her back while riding in a car to Labor Day fireworks show when she was just 14, she found a new passion post-injury – acting – hasn’t looked back since. After college, Teal decided to make the big move out to LA to pursue her dreams of acting. Her first break came in 2004, when she was cast in HBO’s Warm Springs (a film about the life of FDR starring Kenneth Branagh. She played a young woman with Polio. Loved this…
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Wheelchair-users: What do you do when someone uses your chair as a footrest?
A disgruntled woman wrote me the other day about one of the biggest pet peeves I think most people have when living the wheelchair life. People who have no qualms about using our wheelchairs as an end to a means for something they need to get accomplished. Have no idea what I’m talking about? Let me explain. The woman who wrote me told me that last week, while waiting for the elevator with a coworker, this coworker suddenly propped his foot up on her wheelchair and tied his shoe. I don’t know about you, but if you use a wheelchair, this is about equal to someone putting their foot on…
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Just say no to wall-scuff guilt
Wheelchairs and scuff marks. When they happen they always make you feel like the bad guy, especially when you’re visiting someone. Great, now they’ll really remember me. But I’m so happy now. Now, instead of silently worrying how I can make amends with the homeowner as I silently sit there feeling guilty as I sip my wine, I can now whip out my Magic Eraser tool, this crazy awesome wall scuff-remover tool (from the company that makes the Mr. Clean products). All you do is get it wet, then scrub the scuff a few times and it‘s gone (but not if you damaged the drywall). When I came home from…
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Why I Run My Site
I received a beautiful letter validating the very reason why I’ve been running this site, Beauty Ability, since 2003. It came from the mother of a 17 year old girl who recently found my site. Having “up there” confidence and thinking you’re beautiful is never easy when you’re a teenager, let alone when you’re in a wheelchair. Hi Tiffiny, I found you through my daughter Leanne. Leanne has Spina Bifida and uses a chair. We live in the country and she is the only person here that uses a chair. She has gone through all of her life with no true peers and now that she is 17 and watching the world go…
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Push Girls: Reality TV Finally Finds Us
I wrote more about what “Push Girls” means to me for Easystand. Check it out: Push Girls premiered last Monday, the new reality show on the Sundance channel profiling four “hot babes” in wheelchairs. As a babe in a wheelchair myself (hey I’ve been called that), this show is the televised messiah I’ve been waiting for. The show’s premise – showing the world that you can still be beautiful, have a full life, a great job, have men that want you, and still drive a fabulous car (has been my personal goal since my injury). You have no idea how frustrating it is for people to be shocked when you can achieve any of…
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Push Girls Episode 1 Review: Everyone Stares
Oooh baby. I woke up this morning thinking I had nothing to look forward to except an ultrasound and a day of writing ahead of me, but then I saw the first episode of Push Girls dropped a week early. Post-Memorial Day weekend blues cured. SPOILERS AHEAD *** The first episode is titled “Everyone Stares,” which couldn’t be a better name for the first episode (that’s one of the first things you’ll notice when you use a wheelchair – everybody stares). And as the 12 minute preview (released last month) of the series gave me hope for, the first episode hit every note – the reality of dating in a wheelchair, health…
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SCI Superstar of the Week: Mark Zupan
The original tattooed hardcore wheelchair athlete, Mark Zupan is the King of “Muderball,” aka quad rugby, the crazy wheelchair flipping sport (you only wish you were as cool as this Austin, Texas dude). He has the sexiest tattoos ever, more confidence than any guy should legally have….what’s not to love about this guy? Love him! Read this entry
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Sticky grip…I think I love you
They say that duct tape is the catchall product everyone should have in their junk drawer, but if you have a disability – hear me loud and clear when I say that sticky grip will transform your life, because it absolutely 100% will. Read this entry My favorite use so far that I’ve seen online that has inspired me? Sticky grip under makeup compacts. Brilliant! Check out this woman’s awesome blog about life after a stroke, plus learn other cool one-handed makeup tips.
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Service dog surfs with owner, another reins in a horse
Why did I say no to getting a service dog again? Check out this post I wrote for SPINALpedia, where I share two videos of insanely original service dogs (or “canine partners”) who are learning new tricks that were definitely not learned in service school. Read this entry
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You know you want this: Wheelchair bling
Want people to stare for the right reason? The wUnderGlow Wheelchair Light is just what you need. This snazzy LED light is clipped underneath the seat of a wheelchair and flashes colored lights on the floor underneath, making for some very very cool ground effects. Read this post
