By: Jocelene Ramnanan

By Amy Saffell   
I’m always up for a new adventure, and throughout my life, I’ve tried out all kinds of sports and recreational activities. It wasn’t until six years ago that I skied for the first time, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I grew up in Atlanta and knew that Shepherd Center organized ski trips for people with disabilities. It took me a while to be settled enough in my career to take a big trip since there’s not much skiing in the southeast, but I eventually took the plunge. I recently got back from my sixth time skiing, and each time I go, I can’t wait to get back. 
   

By Lucy Lawrence

There’s a lot to be desired when it comes to accessible housing. According to The Atlantic, only 40% of homes are accessible, meaning it can be a tiring experience for wheelchair users to find somewhere appropriate. The good news is that this trend is set to reverse and make heating the home an easier prospect than ever before.
 

We at mobileWOMEN.org, were thrilled to have the opportunity to catch up with the dynamic Rosemarie Rossetti, after delivering her powerful TEDx presentation. We learned about her journey and tips for those considering such a challenging endeavor.
On June 13, 1998, my husband Mark Leder and I went for a bicycle ride on a rural wooded bike trail in Granville, OH. After riding for a few minutes, Mark thought he heard a gunshot and slowed down to investigate.  As he scanned the scene he saw a large tree falling. He shouted, “Stop!” But the warning was too late. Instantly, I was crushed by a 7,000 pound tree and paralyzed from the waist down.

Coming home from the hospital in a wheelchair, I realized how my home intensified my disability.  My husband and I knew that we had to sell our home and find something more suitable. We decided to build our home and the Universal Design Living Laboratory was born. This has been the catalyst for many of my projects.

By Lucy Lawrence

There are around two million new wheelchair users every year in the United States and that means that many homes are having to be redesigned to ease access and comfort. Of the rooms that make up a home, one that is particularly important to renovate is the kitchen, because consuming a sound diet is key for improving outcomes for many conditions and home cooking is therefore necessary less expensive and fun!  Some changes will cost more than others, so if you are looking to make changes, decide what budget you have and start off with those that will make the biggest difference, in terms of your comfort and safety.

Accessible Furniture Height

If you are starting out with an empty kitchen space, bespoke carpentry is ideal. Tabletops, sinks, dishwashers and cupboards can be built lower to ease the cooking and cleaning process. Low tabletops are key for safety, since you will be able to clearly see and control items you are chopping or heating. Low lying cupboards, meanwhile, will reduce the chance of pots and pans or other items falling out and causing possible injury. 

Whether you are building new or modifying an existing kitchen, it is important to do your homework. Often products that are specifically made for disabilities are extremely expensive so research existing products that may work for you.

Following ADA/ANSI Guidelines

The ADA and ANSI give important technical guidelines on how to make kitchens and other areas more accessible to wheelchair users. There are many resources available such as The Universal Design Toolkit to assist you with your design. A clear floor space of at least 30” by 48” should be provided at each kitchen appliance. Wheelchair turning spaces, meanwhile, should have a diameter of at least 60”. Include knee and toe clearances in your calculations. You can get really creative when starting a kitchen design from scratch. For instance, if you have a limited space, you can opt for design features such as sliding central islands, in which half the table can be pushed under the main tabletop to create more space for wheelchair users.Try to find a contractor with accessibility experience who can help with design ideas too.


Choosing the Right Appliances

Your furniture can adapt to the equipment you choose so these should be taken into account and discussed, at the planning stage. Refrigerators and other appliances should have one-hand operation to comply with ADA requirements. Dishwashers should ideally have electronic capacitive touch controls located on the front of the machine so that reaching over isn’t required. Cooktops and any other operable part of equipment should have a front location and mirrors can be added above, to make it easier to see what you are cooking. Washers and dryers should be front-loading and have wide doors and eye level controls.

Important Note:The plumbing of sinks should be placed far back so you can wheel underneath. It's imperative that exposed pipes are insulated to protect your legs.Temperature controls can be added so the maximum temperature can be set low enough to prevent burns.
 
Creative Thinking

Think of ways that will make the cooking process more amenable. One creative use of

Cabinets with Pull-out shelves

space, involves a pull-out system for electric stove tops; combine this with a low height and it will be very easy to keep an eye on the meals you are preparing. Kitchen drawers that completely pull out and allow you to hang pots vertically instead of horizontally, are another fantastic way to avoid the need for reaching over to obtain or store items. Cabinets for keeping cans, plates, and glasses will most likely be up on the wall above your work table. Ease access to these items with a lever that you can easily pull down to lower the shelves containing these goods.

There are also a multitude of gadgets such as mini food processors that can make everyday tasks much easier and safer.

Inspiration can be found everywhere for easier kitchen accessibility. When space isn’t an issue, design is a breeze. You can build an open kitchen with low-lying furniture and specialized equipment. If a big renovation isn’t in your plans, small changes can still make a difference. When you are in the design stage, let safety and comfort come first; whipping up the perfect meal should be easier and more pleasurable than ever.

By Wendy Crawford and the mobileWOMEN Team

As mentioned in a previous article, mobileWOMEN.org is thrilled about an exciting new partnership with Travel for All, a travel agency specializing in accessible travel. These mobileWOMEN understand firsthand, the challenges of traveling with a disability and have the knowledge, experience and passion to create a memorable vacation, custom designed to your specific wants, needs and budget.

Travel for All will also be organizing accessible trips that we will feature on our site and will be listed in our "Travel Opportunities" . They can also handle any of your traveling needs and have generously offered to donate a portion of the profits of each trip booked through our site, to mobileWOMEN.org. Although all of us including our contributors volunteer, we still have operating expenses such as annual website and domain fees, to cover. These funds will be used towards these expenses and improving the site. If you are interested in a trip and want more information, please contact Accessible Travel Specialist, Tabassum Chagani at or call toll free at 1-888-993-9295. 

Travel is a learning opportunity that everyone should experience. New cultures, cuisines, sights, and sounds provide countless opportunities to indulge and stimulate the senses. Not only does being in another country expand your knowledge and intercultural awareness but it is also a journey of self-discovery and adventure!

Fortunately, many countries are seeking ways to create diversity and inclusion for travelers with ‘Specific Requirements’ and providing many accessible options. It’s important to remember though, the world is not 100% accessible; however, if you are okay with a few bumps in the road, anything is possible!

mobileWOMEN.org is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Travel for All, a travel agency specializing in accessible travel. These mobileWOMEN understand firsthand, the challenges of traveling with a disability and have the knowledge, experience and passion to create a memorable vacation, custom designed to your specific wants, needs and budget.

Fusion cast with Rashmi Becker (3rd from left) Photo: Stephen Wright Photography

Fusion, the UK's first inclusive Latin and ballroom dance showcase with disabled and non-disabled artists, has been making headlines and leaving audiences demanding more. Presented by pioneering UK dance company Step Change Studios (covered in one of our previous articles), Fusion premiered at the internationally renowned home for dance in London, Sadler’s Wells, in May 2018. Fusion Producer and founder of Step Change Studios, Rashmi Becker talks  about Fusion and invites reflections from two of the dancers from the show. Redefining the Genre by Rashmi Becker

My vision for Fusion was to bring together talented professional artists from different dance backgrounds to push the boundaries of ballroom with beautiful, powerful, performances that redefine the genre. Fusion featured leading choreographers from London’s West End, and popular television shows including Dancing with the Stars, and showcased 20 disabled and non-disabled artists through duets, solos and group numbers. As UK talent, I wanted to provide a platform for the world’s best and was delighted to include the first UK performance by wheelchair dancer, Pawel Karpinski and his standing partner Nadine Kinczel, from Poland, who hold European and World competitive ballroom dance titles.

By Patty Kunze, RN, BSN and Roberta Palmer, RN
 
Now that spring is finally here and summer vacations soon will be upon us, the nurses at "The Rollin’ RNs" were talking about the response of our spinal cord injured bodies, in environments outside of our own safe havens. It’s a funny thing, we all expect our bodies will “mind their P’s and Q’s”, when actually they go into an odd state following time spent outside our usual environments, especially when traveling. It’s always helpful to discuss these offbeat occurrences with other mobileWOMEN and we discover we that are not alone. But a long car ride, a night of chilliness, and numerous conversations with able-bodied standers can cause a trifecta of disturbance, in our otherwise normal state. So, we decided to pen an article not only to the SCI population, but also to all mobileWOMEN who are unaware of this occurrence.

The first topic of the trifecta, is the extended car ride. Eight to nine hours in a car on a drive, is about the extent of our tolerance. Anything longer and we get squirmy. So, we try to keep our travels to 8-9 hours but sometimes they may stretch to 10 hours and that is exhausting on any body. Couple that with sitting in a foreign seat (other than usual wheelchair) for that time period and it all makes for an aggravated body, especially the back and neck.

By Tamara Mena

Behind the scenes - Photo by Chris Matysuk

 If you’re one of the 20% of Americans who have a disability, you’ll know that sometimes life can be a bit (or a lot!) more challenging compared to those who have no mobility issues. Whether it’s navigating transport systems or simply making sure that the places you go are accessible, there can be a lot to think about - especially, if you’re a wheelchair user. But there’s good news: as technology marches on, there are more and more innovations being designed to make life a little easier. Here are some of the leading examples of this trend.

Some of our MobileWOMEN from around the world have shared with us what living life in a wheelchair is like in their country. What you read about the differences or similarities between their stories and life in the United States might surprise you. In this installment, we interviewed Linda Brown.

Mobile Woman, Linda Brown

Please describe your disability?

I had a car accident in 2008 and broke my back at T12/L2. 
I have an incomplete spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair for mobility. I do have slight movement in my legs, especially the left leg and no bladder nor bowel control. I have a colostomy bag for my bowels and use pads or nappies (diapers) for my bladder. 

Please describe where you live? Are you in a city or rural location?

I live in a rural location in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with a population of just over 9,000.

Have you been able to receive, in your mind, adequate medical care in your area? Has the quality of medical care changed since the onset of your disability?

Medical care in private hospitals are adequately prepared but not the state hospitals. They are always out of medication or colostomy bags. Medical care has not improved at all, since my disability. 

With regard to wheelchairs, durable medical equipment and medical supplies, do you have access to items suitable for your needs?

I do not have access to proper medical equipment because of the high prices demanded for wheelchairs etc. 

In terms of accessibility needs, what are your living arrangements? Is your home modified  for your needs, and do you feel like you're able to live as independently as possible?

Linda and her daughter, Chante

By Wendy Crawford

By Patty Kunze, RN, BSN and Roberta Palmer, RN


Bless all the caregivers in the world because without them our lives would be challenging. 

February is the month of love and we want to take this time to thank all caregivers.  Being called into the role as the “giver of care” is not an easy task for many, especially when it wasn’t in your plans to be.  We (the nurses of The Rollin’ RN) chose to take on the job as a giver of care.  We chose the field of nursing, many years ago, because we wanted to lend aid to others due to illnesses.  But that was our choice.  We knew we would spend many hours during our shifts taking care of others, not family members, but strangers to the best of our trained knowledge.  Now that is the key word in this message “trained”; there are many years of nursing school between the both of us.  But suddenly, our spouses were tossed into the role of caregiver when that day occurred,  the day that led us into a life with spinal cord injury.  They could have easily decided to walk away, as we are well aware that some do, but they chose to stick it out. 

By Lucy Lawrence

By Caroline Hampton


If you’re one of the 2.2 million people in the United States who depend on a wheelchair for mobility to aid in your day-to-day life, you know just how important quality home access is. From exterior gravel walkways and driveways, elevated entrances, and narrow doorways, to impossible flooring surfaces and inaccessible counter tops, your home can be filled with challenges.