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“Who needs accommodations when we can just give each disabled person a cape?” Have you thought about how awful winter can be for a disabled person whose needs are overlooked? Here's what's going on.
Its a new year and I'm ready to finally get my website for the blog up & running (hoping sooner rather than later). Until then here's an article as food for thought during these winters months :)
Update - Adaptive Yoga
It's rare that I am impressed by myself. I've come to know what I am capable of and where my limitations lie (if at all). This week I started yoga at the local community center with a client I work with a few times a week. Not going to lie, I was totally nervous about how my body would respond to the yoga poses. I've used a pilates DVD since I graduated high school and have adapted that to my body. Its a work out I can do to strengthen my core without needed to have my prostheses on. We picked a 'slow yoga' class as we are both beginners and that was something to get used to. Holding a yoga pose was really the only thing that I could see improving. Right now I have a bit of a sore at the bottom of my right residual limb and so its hard for me to bend completely. See photos below.
This is the year for me to do all sorts of physical activity. Starting with body pump and zumba and now I can add yoga to my weekly schedule. I love being active and getting fit seems to be an added (albeit slow) bonus. I have also put in a request to meet with a physical trainer a few times. It was nice to give the gym my requirements/limitations ahead of time so the physical trainer can adapt whatever workouts to suit me. Has anyone else (amputee) used a physical trainer? What were some things you did or some things you wished would have been included with your work out?
This is ability!
Disability Status?
Can we just talk for a second about how absolutely ridiculous it is that I have never been declared disabled by the State of Wisconsin since turning 18. And have been missing out on benefits because I am apparently the most independent, disabled person anyone has ever met. Being independent does not mean I haven't been broke because of things insurance didn't cover. Things like the socks or liners I need to wear to fit into my prosthesis. Moving on...
I'm just going to be sitting over here laughing like the crazy person I am. This isn't even upsetting (ok, it's totally upsetting) but I am at the point where this is the funniest thing I have ever heard. I mean I have permanent handicap parking privileges....does that not equal having a permanent disability? I guess not. I mean just missing two of your limbs is no big deal - insert sarcastic, raised eyebrows Jess face here.
I am being sent paperwork and will be contacting my physicians to get this an official document so I'm eligible to possibly get into the Medicaid Purchase Plan. Laughing all the laughs today in my office.
2014 Resolutions?
2013 was a year of transformations for me. Finally receiving my new prostheses, accepting myself 100%, beginning my masters program and even joining a gym. I have been trying to think of a resolution I can do for this next year. I am coming up empty handed. So many great things happened for me this year and right now I don't know how much better it could get. I think I'm just going to keep up the positive attitude towards my life even when the negatives take hold.
I'm ready to inspire others, help them through the tough times and remind them that it gets easier. This is ability!
This really isn't the best photo of me without my prostheses but it is a photo nonetheless. I'll attempt to get more in the very near future. Perhaps I'll even show my legs without my gel liners. This seems to be one of the last big hurdles I'll get over this year :)
This may not look like much to most but I get so excited when my legs can finally form a scab! Healing is the greatest thing to occur in my life.
On Friday afternoon I stopped over to see if the calendars were delivered (they weren't) and thought I'd show my prosthetist and her assistant what was up. I mentioned it's been like this for a few weeks and I didn't want it lasting much longer. She said the reason I had this sore was because the corset on my right prostheses was now far too big for me. The down side to not having insurance right now is we have to wait until I do have insurance. So no new right corset until then. We added some padding to the corset and almost instantly it felt better! Who knew?
I am still not used to the prosthetist knowing what to do for me. After an entire life with a shitty prosthetist and having to figure things out on my own it's hard for me to grasp this concept.
Right now the padding is temporary since I am breaking in my new liners so when I wear the new ones I use a thicker padding sheet. I've taken a few days off of that so my skin could finally heal. I'm just so glad I don't have to deal with a sore again for months on end because I have the courage to ask these competent prosthetists/assistants.
I did have to miss a holiday ugly sweater/cookie party because of this sore but I'd rather it heal up during this little blizzard Wisconsin got than to have to last longer than it needs to. This is ability!!
Shorts
I haven't worn a pair of shorts since May 2007. I made sure to buy the bermuda shorts from the Gap that year as I was traveling to Florida with my family. Last night, I went to the outlet mall about 30 minutes away from home and found two pairs of shorts and a pair of cropped pants. Now that my prostheses are more aesthetically pleasing to me I feel comfortable wearing dresses that I never would have and now I am attempting shorts. Anything shorter than my knee would reveal a bump on the back of my left leg. I was never sure why it was like that as it could have been discretely hidden but again I was working with people who just wanted to get the job done. Even if it wasn't done to my satisfaction.
I got the idea yesterday afternoon while at work that it was time to buy a few pairs of shorts. I had gotten some cash back coupons from Banana Republic and decided that would be the best use for them. After trying on about 10 different pairs I was getting frustrated. I didn't want to buy bermuda shorts since that's what I've had in the past to cover something up. At the last music festival I went to, I wore a skirt - which was great since it was warm and jeans just weren't an option. The only problem with a skirt is that when you sit on the ground and then need to leave for the next show you will show off your ass/underwear. I didn't let it stress me out as I knew there was nothing I could do once I was at the festival. Shorts will allow me to not be ungodly uncomfortable in the Kentucky summer weather while also not showing off my ass to complete strangers. I'll be sure to post photos to my instagram account once I have an outfit put together.
For the first time in my adult life I can be completely comfortable with the appearance of my prostheses and there is no better feeling than that. I don't want to say I regret hiding my legs all these years but at the same time they've held me back. I've overheated so many times because the only thing I used to feel comfortable in was jeans and in 90 degree weather with humidity that is not comfortable for anyone. On top of wearing jeans, I had to wear wool socks and three pairs of cosmetic stockings and then jeans. I'm glad I no longer need to do that - now I just make sure my legs don't get too sweaty in the silicone liners. I will still wear the knit thigh highs I've grown to love only because cosmetic stockings are about $80 a pair and they snag so easily. I'm going to feel trendy to the max but maybe I'm just super trendy cool.
It's weird to think I just completely ignored an entire item of clothing but I guess I did the same thing with dresses until about 2 years ago. Never looking back - my legs are different and I'm okay with that! This is ability!
