Adaptive sports and the Paralympic Games

The combination of terms “limited mobility” is pretty much self explanatory. And most of the time it leads to a not too physically active life for most of us, which is so bad for our health. The good news is that there are tons of sports designed for people with limited mobility, and depending on the way your limbs are affected, you should have enough choices. It’s a great way to pass the time, it will improve your health and it will give you a sense of achievement, making you feel more independent, it will reduce your stress level by making your brain release more endorphins, it will reduce the pain and many more awesome benefits. Who knows, maybe we will even see you at the Olympics! So let’s take a look at 3 of the most well known options. Hopefully this post will help you decide what you should start with.

1. Paralympic Swimming

As the name states, it is a sport governed by the International Paralympic Committee, so it’s also part of the Paralymic games. But of course, it can be practiced by anyone and at any level (starting with beginner, of course). Physical disabilities of Paralympic swimmers include single or multiple limb loss (through birth defects and/or amputation),cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries (leading to paralysis or disability in limb coordination), dwarfism, and disabilities which impair the use of joints. So if you think this is the right sport for you, stop wondering how you’ll manage to not drown due to the limited mobility of your limbs, and start looking for a place where you can safely practice it. Swimming is great! And you’ll be less scared of boat rides too!
Famous athlete: Eleanor May Simmonds (photo), is a British Paralympian swimmer competing in S6 events. She came to national attention when she competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning two gold medals for Great Britain, despite being the youngest member of the team, at the age of 13. In 2012 she was again selected for the Great Britain squad, this time swimming at a home games in London. She won another two golds in London, including setting a World Record in the 400m freestyle.


2. Wheelchair racing

We have marathons, car racing, motorbike racing… so why not wheelchair racing? Even though the racing wheelchair may look slightly different from what you’re used with… but if you’re bound to use one and think that your arms and spirit are strong enough for the competition, why not look into it? Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability, amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted (when combined with another disability). Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their disability or combinations of disabilities. Like running, it can take place on a track or as a road race. The main competitions take place at the Summer Paralympicswhich wheelchair racing and athletics has been a part of since 1960. Competitors compete in specialized wheelchairs which allow the athletes to reach speeds of 30 km/h or more. It is one of the most prominent forms of Paralympic athletics.
Famous athlete: David Russell Weir (photo), CBE (born 5 June 1979) is a British Paralympic wheelchair athlete. He has won a total of six gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games, and has won the London Marathon on six occasions. He was born with a spinal cord transection that left him unable to use his legs.


3. Wheelchair Basketball

If you’re a fan of basketball and wish that you could practice it, there actually is a version of it which can be practiced by people in wheelchairs. The rules are pretty much the same and it is as dynamic as you would expect basketball to be. Wheelchair basketball sees tremendous competition and interest on the international level. Wheelchair basketball is included in the Paralympic Games. The Wheelchair Basketball World Championship is organized two years after every Paralympic Games. Major competition in wheelchair basketball comes from Canada, Australia, the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Japan.
Famous Athlete: Ade Adepitan (photo) MBE (born 27 March 1973) is a British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. He uses a wheelchair as a result of contracting polio as a child which led to the loss of use of his left leg. Adeptitan is an accomplished wheelchair basketball player, for his club Milton Keynes Aces and as a member of Great Britain team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens and the gold medal at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Disabled punk band PKN representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Even though this blog is targeted mainly towards people with physical disabilities, today I will make an exception and write about an event which caught my eye recently and made me extremely happy: the Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (English: Pertti Kurikka's Name Day), also known as PKN was chosen to participate at the Eurovision music contest, in May.

So now you will wonder, what’s so special about this band and what does it have to do with my blog? The members all have the Down’s Syndrome – a genetic disorder typically associated with intellectual disability. And it is the first time this happens at Eurovision, which means one step forward to acceptance and support for people with disabilities worldwide. 

They are famously known for being the main focus of the Finnish documentary film The Punk Syndrome. In 2015, they qualified for the finals of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, which they later won, and now finally they will be part of a major European Music contest - Eurovision! They write their own lyrics and perform often live on the stage. 

These guys are a reminder that it doesn’t matter what you’re being told about stereotypes and how “generally” you will have to fight your way through life having a disability. They achieved much more than most of the non-disabled people, while doing something they clearly enjoy doing. 

So this year, I know who I’m voting for. Not out of sympathy, but the truth is I really do like these guys! The last time I voted for these guys was in 2006, when Lordi won. As you probably realized already, I love rock and punk music and Finland delivers once more. Thank you, Finland and thank you PKN for being awesome and showing the world that disability means nothing when your only wish is to conquer the world! I really hope you guys win, you deserve it!

Disability and Relationships

Everyone needs and wants to be loved. It’s natural and beautiful. And we all fall for someone sooner or later, it just depends on the reciprocation of the feelings.

One thing which annoys me greatly is when I hear some says that if you have a disability, you are destined to be alone for the rest of your life. That is bullshit! It’s rude, wrong and mean. And the funniest thing is that once I’ve been told this exact same thing by someone who ended up having a horrific love life while mine has been pretty decent up to this age. Now, if you have a disability and have the same state of mind as I mentioned before, this is a really bad thing and it won’t bring you anything good. You have the right to love and be loved as much as any other able bodied person. Now, let’s get some things straight.

A bad attitude is worse than having a disability

What I’m trying to say is that sometimes your failure when you are looking for a partner doesn’t come from your physical issues but from the way you’re handling it emotionally. Don’t start a conversation with endless complaints about your condition. Don’t try to make yourself look “special” or “different”, since this can be quite offputting and intimidate your date, who might have second thoughts on how to handle this from an emotional point of view to meet your needs. And don’t bomb your date with explanations on how your condition is affecting you from the first minutes, unless he asks. However, if things are moving in the right direction, it is very important to have a serious discussion and make sure your date understands fully what your challenges are. If they are really into you, they won’t go back on it so don’t be scared.

It’s not all about a flawless body

If a guy/girl is interested only in his partner’s looks, we’re either talking about a teenager or someone who really doesn’t want to grow up. A relationship is much more than sex, and it involves communication, finding common hobbies, long deep conversations, laughing at eachother’s jokes, sharing similar views and more. Attraction is important, but sometimes the things that make you worth thinking of will be the things you say and do.

No one is perfect

Never ever think that you are flawed because of your disability. Just because your imperfection is visible, it doesn’t mean it’s a lot greater than someone else’s “invisible” flaw. Some people are jealous, others are constantly nagging, some suffer from personality disorders which affect their everyday life, but when you fall in love with someone, none of these things matter anymore. So why would a wheelchair matter? Because you sometimes need help getting around or completing everyday tasks? It’s no different than helping your partner doing the dishes, offering emotional support when they’re down or offering to help them with small things around the house. A relationship means being there for eachother for good and for bad.

These are just a few small things I felt like throwing out there for the people who are afraid of dating. I’ve been in 3 long term relationships so far (currently on my 3rd), which sadly ended both because of our young age and some issues which were totally unrelated to my disability. Those were some valuable learning experiences though, so no hard feelings.

I will come back soon with a post on sexuality, but my time is short right now, and that will be a more lengthy post than this one.

5 Famous People who overcame their disability

I often hear people with disabilities saying that they want to do a certain big thing but they won’t even try, because they know they won’t succeed. But have you even tried? Maybe there is a way to do it, or maybe there is something else you can do which is very much related to your first plan. Where would the world be if everyone did the same? You might say that the others are not disabled so everything is easier for them. So I picked 5 disabled personalities who will live forever in the world’s memory for their amazing achievements. What if they would have had this “I can’t” attitude? The world would be poorer for sure. So next time you hesitate, think of these awesome people and try again!

Stephen Hawking (born in 1942)

It’s almost impossible to never hear of Stephen Hawking on the internet or on TV. He is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge and he is famous for discussing his own theories and cosmology in general.

Hawking has a motor neuron disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, a condition that has progressed over the years. He is almost entirely paralysed and communicates through a speech-generating device.

As a science enthusiast myself, I think this man is amazing. And the most important, he never gave up on his studies and his dream of making groundbreaking discoveries, despite his condition which got worse and worse as the years passed.

Since the 1990s, Hawking has accepted the mantle of role model for disabled people, lecturing and participating in fundraising activities. At the turn of the century, he and eleven other luminaries signed the "Charter for the Third Millennium on Disability" which called on governments to prevent disability and protect disabled rights.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

http://www.hawking.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/stephenhawking

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)

We move on to those who are no longer on Earth, but only in spirit and memory. Not many know that the famous musician whose symphonies are still listened every day all over the world, was actually deaf. He gradually lost his hearing, starting from the age of 30, and by the last decade of his life he was totally deaf.

Despite his loss of hearing, he continued to compose, many of his most admired works actually dating from the time when he was completely deaf. There are lots of explanations for his ability to still compose wonderful music despite his complete lack of hearing, but I guess he just found a way to adapt and keep doing what he loved the most.

So next time you hear the Ninth Symphony, remember that disability is not an impediment to doing what you love, but just a challenge you can overcome!

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven
http://www.biography.com/people/ludwig-van-beethoven-9204862

Frida Khalo (1907 - 1954)

The famous Mexican painter is well known for her self-portraits and her work has always been an emblematic of Mexican national and indigenous tradition and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form.

She had numerous health issues, part of which were caused by a bus accident in 1925. The bus she was riding collided with a trolley car. She suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident, including a broken spinal column, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a broken pelvis, eleven fractures in her right leg, a crushed and dislocated right foot, and a dislocated shoulder. She recovered from the serious injuries, but never fully.

Kahlo also contracted polio at age six, which left her right leg thinner than the left; she disguised this later in life by wearing long, colorful skirts. It has been conjectured that she was born with spina bifida, a congenital condition that could have affected both spinal and leg development.

Despite her situation, she never gave up on painting, instead she managed to transcend her pain and express it in her paintings.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
http://www.fridakahlo.com/

Bethany Hamilton (born in 1990)

Bethany is an American professional surfer who lost one of her arms in a shark attack back in 2003. While most people doubted she would be back to surfing, she never allowed her accident to stand in the way of her passion – surfing. She wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. In April 2011, the feature film Soul Surfer was released; it was based on the book and additional interviews. She has appeared on many television shows since the loss of her arm.

Her and her husband, Adam Dirks, are competing as a team on one of my favorite TV shows, The Amazing Race, which has the final episode this Friday. They made it to the final 4 and I’ve been rooting from them from the very beginning, really hoping they will win this. Bethany was amazing through the whole competition and rocked all the challenges despite her having one arm. I always try to adapt to the everyday tasks, but even I was blown away seeing her finding her own ways to do things which are sometimes hard to do even for people with two arms. And what I loved the most about their team, I’ve never seen them fighting or arguing. One of my favorite all time teams! Best of luck on Friday, Bethany and Adam!

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany_Hamilton
http://bethanyhamilton.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SurferBethanyHamilton

Nicholas James "Nick" Vujicic (born in 1982)

Nick is an Australian motivational speaker and an Evangelist preacher born with a rare disorder called “tetra-amelia syndrome”, which basically means that he is missing all of his four limbs. Despite his severe condition, he chose to have a fulfilling life and motivate everyone else to do the same. He has a double bachelor degree in accounting and financial planning and he is the founder of the non-profit organization Life Without Limbs.

Vujicic promotes his work through television shows and through his writing. His first book, Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life was published by Random House in 2010. He markets a motivational DVD,Life's Greater Purpose, a short documentary filmed in 2005 highlighting his home life and regular activities. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane – one of his first professional motivational speeches. He markets a DVD for young people titled No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!.

He managed to look beyond his disability and lead a fulfilling life, while helping others to overcome their own obstacles and I think that's an amazing way of spending your life.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Vujicic
http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/
https://www.facebook.com/NickVujicic

5 Disability Support and Motivation Blogs

Over the past few days, I immersed myself into the big world of Blogging, trying to select 5 of the ones I like the most to share with you guys. Some have very valuable day by day information regarding living with a disability, others are just stories depicting the lives of people who chose to live their life to the fullest, despite dealing with a disability - which is what my blog is trying to motivate all of you wonderful people reading my blog. So, to a few examples of helpful websites and blogs:

Disability Horizons
Facebook Page

This magazine is the UK’s fastest growing disability lifestyle publication. Started in the summer of 2011 by two disabled entrepreneurs, Disability Horizons now has a rapidly growing monthly web audience of 25.000 people. The most important thing about this magazine is that it is entirely sourced from its reader community. The main goal of its content is to motivate people with disabilities to live exactly as they choose, which is also what my blog is all about. Their categories feature subjects such as: Entertainment, Lifestyle, News &Views, Relationships & Sex, Sport, Technology, Travel and Work&Education. Highly recommended!

Off the Wall Disability and Disabled Blog
Twitter

A group of disabled people in the UK who also run the famous www.ableize.com (the UK’s largest and busiest disability resource) created this blog to share everything related to disability and mobility which could be of high interest for the people who are dealing with these issues. There is a bit of everything for everyone from daily living aids to shopping sites, both on the website and on the blog and most of it is targeted to everyone and not just UK citizens. Community of this kind are very important, so we can all support eachother and share the things which truly matter.

Disabilities Unlimited
Facebook

I chose this blog because it was created by a person who is also trying to make the best of of his life despite the challenges he faces every day. I was surprised to learn that he was also born with Arthrogryposis, which is quite a rare condition. But I guess it is somehow in our blood to keep going and try to reach the sky, right? Bill Micklitz is also a Speaker/Consultant contantly helping employers to see the real value of hiring people with disabilities and encouraging them to bring diversity into their business. “Very educational, amusing, and lots of laughs.” is a quote which made me check out more of his stuff and I’m sure it will be helpful for you too!

Disability Thinking
Facebook Page

This Blog is owned by Andrew Pulrang, another wonderful person who decided to break all barriers and live the life he wanted to live even though he is also dealing with Arthrogryposis. Just like my blog and the others I have presented here, the whole content is written in a positive, uplifting way, but without forgetting to talk about the real life as we all face it every day. I really love his style and I recommend his blog to everyone who is reading my blog!

Hedgehog Blog
Facebook Page

A beautiful 32 years old mom who has been dealing with Cerebral Palsy since birth, chose to show the world bits of her happy family life. Scrolling through her posts always puts a smile on my face, she really does seem happy and she is a clear example that having a disability should never keep you back from having the life you want, get married, have kids and enjoy every second of it to the fullest.

If any of the blog owners mentioned here see this post, I want to thank you for being awesome and show the world that disability can't take away your right of living a free and full life!

We are now on Facebook!

Hello friends, a Facebook page for this blog was recently created. Like and follow for new content and more surprises!

Link to the Facebook Page 

Hopefully you are all enjoying the posts. I will post something new either tonight or tomorrow morning, and it will be related to aiding equipment for dressing and putting on shoes. I hope it does help some of you.

In the meantime, I'm waiting for more suggestions on what you guys want to hear more about. So feel free to comment. Criticism is also appreciated, as long as it is constructive. :)

Dealing with the lack of accessibility when going out

We all know the pain of having to deal with old buildings which have no ramps or adapted restrooms. The world is slowly trying to make everything accessible for everyone, in some parts of the world less than in others but I had noticed an improvement even in Romania. However, we can’t always get it our way. I’ve heard people saying they gave up on going out because everywhere they go, there are stairs and it’s frustrating having someone to help all the time. Getting away from your house as often as you can is something which will improve your confidence, social skills and lifestyle altogether a lot, so it’s important to find a way to deal with this issue. I have a few recommendations which may not work for everyone but I hope they help.

Now for the transport: You might already have an adapted car and a driver’s license so we got this out of the way. Or you have a friend who will pick you up. I pick up my friends too if they are in the way to the place where I want to go so that’s not necessarily a huge favor. And it’s always nice to all get there at the same time or at least get there in a group. If you decide to take a taxi, make sure the car will be able to transport you and your wheelchair/wheel walker/crutches or whatever you are using to move around. I often have drivers telling me they can’t pick me up because my stroller won’t fit in the back so it’s good to let them know in advance. Lastly, if you want to just take public transport, most countries have the buses and metro lines adapted, with elevators and all. Make sure that it’s all accessible, look it up on websites and you should be all fine.

Now for the location, one thing you can do is plan an event with your friends and make sure you choose the place. Or make sure you tell the friend who is supposed to organize the event that it is preferable that the place has good accessibility. There are tons of websites which will filter the inaccessible buildings for you so you can choose out of the ones you have full freedom with. The websites depend on each country, so just do a quick Google search looking for the key words: “accessible restaurants/bars/whatever place you want to go to in [your city]” (for cinemas, theatre and show venues, they should have this info clearly stated on their website and they’re usually fully accessible). Depending on where you live, this may not be too successful. Then the only thing you can do is look for options and then look the locations up online. It’s very much likely that these places all have websites, with photos and all. You should easily see if there are any stairs or if there is a ramp. You can even e-mail them and kindly ask them to give you more information. I always do this and I’ve never had issues.

If everything else fails and you will have to be carried or helped up stairs and inaccessible places and you are with friends or family, please remember that these people love you unconditionally and you should not feel ashamed or that you are a burden to them. If they want you around, they appreciate your presence there and would rather help you get around than not having you there. Just act casual about it and don’t overthink it. Sometime in life, they might need your help too one way or another, even if it is not of physical nature, like asking for an important advice or a favor. It is the same thing and should NOT make you want to stay at home instead of having some quality time with your loved ones.

Whatever you do, don’t forget that your social life and time spent with the people you love should not be affected by your physical impairment. You can always find a way around it. And ignore the stares you might get from others. Just imagine if blatant ignorance was visible, then we would all have something to look at too! The only ones that care is the ones who care about you and vice-versa. Strangers are people you will most likely never see again.

Seeing your situation realistically without demonizing it

I’m bad with titles but I hope you got the idea. Each and every one of us sees their life and situation in a certain way and we often tend to exaggerate it in a direction or another.

There are the people who see it as a blessing and a gift. Sure you would think this is a great way of dealing with it, but this way of thinking often leads the person into feeling superior and “special”. As I was saying before, no we are not special. This is our reality and it is the same reality around everyone else, we just do things differently. Our goal is to have a life as close to normal as possible. If you consider yourself some sort of elite and then complain about not having friends and blaming it on your disability, you may think again about it and reconsider your attitude towards others. We are all equal, we are not gifted, we are not blessed; at least not from this point of view. You may be gifted and blessed with a great sense of humor, musical talent, a high IQ, but not blessed with a medical condition. I’m sorry for being bluntly honest, but this way of thinking and acting won’t bring along anything good on the long run.

Then there are the people (most of the people) who are horribly unhappy with their situation and spend their lives crying and being depressed. It is normal to feel this way at times, but being always upset over it won’t make it better. It doesn’t help you or anyone around you. It makes you become unmotivated and you will literally waste your life just sitting and pitying yourself. Sure we all wish we didn’t have to deal with this, but it is what it is. Better think of all the things you can actually do? There is something for everyone, especially in this day of technology. Focus more on your family and job/school, get a hobby, learn a new skill (lots of online free learning websites for anything you can possibly think of). These things will make you feel like you are truly accomplishing something and not waste your life thinking of how your life would be if you were healthy.

I will at some point in the future make a big blog post regarding the many disabled people who changed the world one way or another. They found their way in life and if they could, then why couldn’t you? To give a fast example now, you all heard of Stephen Hawking. He’s brilliant and has achieved so so much. You don’t need a healthy body to reach the sky.

Also, no matter how rare or impossibly to fix disability you have, never stop checking the news in the medical field. The progress is so fast and mind blowing, in a few years we will be able to fix almost anything. Join communities, subscribe to websites, check news. Maybe the day will come. Never stop hoping and try to keep a realistic view on the things.

Look at yourself the way you would like others to see you

I said at the beginning of this blog, it’s all about the attitude. People might see at first sight a person in a wheelchair. Have a conversation with them and after a few minutes, they might just see in you a very awesome friend they would love to hang out with more.

The fact is, we are all different. Some of us have blue eyes, other have them brown or green, some are taller, others are shorter and the list could go on forever. Why not try to see the disability just as one of the things which makes each individual unique? I see people talking about it as the biggest curse in their life and not allowing them to enjoy life, and I see the people on the other extreme, who see it as some sort of blessing or a gift which makes them “special” – which is also bad sometimes, as these people tend to become solitary, since they are too “special” to be around other people. NO. We’re all NORMAL, in our own way. Normality is an abstract thing, and it’s different from individual to individual. Don’t make it a HUGE deal, either bad or good. It’s not a big deal, it’s like having blue eyes or blonde hair. It’s just who you are.

Also, when you meet someone new, DON’T talk over and over again about your condition. Talk about your interests, your hobbies, favorite TV shows, music, anything you would actually want to share with that person. Act natural, do small talk until you are being asked about it. Then kindly answer and give some background, but don’t turn it into a never ending talk. Not only that they might actually start looking at you in a different way (which you don’t want, if you want to have a normal social life), but some could even start feeling uncomfortable not knowing what to say. Usually, when I’m being asked about my own condition, after telling them briefly, I add “oh but don’t worry, it won’t ever stop me from doing anything I want to do.” I see people tend to become depressed after hearing stuff like that, and I wouldn’t want to have in front of me someone who’s depressed over my own issues. So they smile with me and then the conversation carries on changing the subject.

I like to think that none of my close friends ever considered me “the girl with the wheel walker”. People tend to even forget about it. However, make sure you let them know subtelly about your limits. For example, my boyfriend knows that I can’t go to a certain bar with him because it’s deep underground and has some horrendous stairs I can’t descend. But considering that some things are obvious, this shouldn’t be a problem. Just smile and let them know. Hey, there are lots of people who are lactose intolerant and can’t eat certain things, and let’s not forget the allergies some have, or even strange phobias, like fear of balloons! There’s nothing embarassing in not being able to do a certain thing or be in a certain place. Everyone has this issue at some point in their life, don’t let this make you scared of going out or being in a social environment. There are lots of things anyone can do.

In the end, I would just like to add that there are always exceptions: narrow-minded people who stare and refuse to see you as you are, and would rather resume at your physical condition… let’s say that they have a “twisted” view of what normality is. Those people are not worth to worry about, so carry on, enjoy life and let them live in their own little world filled with perfectly abled people. The will eventually end up being all alone and sad and wonder where they went wrong when they chose the people they thought they needed around. You don’t need those people, that’s a sure thing.

If anyone gets the movie refference, just “Smile and wave!” :)

Disability is just a word in the dictionary

If you allow it, yes it can become a state of mind, a way of living, a part of you. You can build your own little world and live in it for the rest of your life. But if you do so… what’s the point? Okay, now you’re all wondering as reading this… “who is this person telling me what to do? A doctor? What do they know about living with disability? A psychologist? Ahh, these people always think they know what we’re thinking but they have no idea!”

• I’m a 25 year old girl living in Eastern Europe – Romania. I’m a Master’s Degree student hoping to become a succesful Auditor as soon as possible.
• I’m the girl who always had above average results in school.
• I’m the girl who loves rock music (from metal to classic), reading Stephen King’s horror masterpieces and anything related to psychology, religions of the world, Science-Fiction and Fantasy.
• I’m the nerd who would much rather install and re-install different Operating Systems, compare them, tweek them and making a mess insider of her computer case trying to figure where each of the components is supposed to go.
• I’m the girl who would sometimes lose herself playing a computer game for hours (if there’s time, of course).
• I’m the girl who will never miss a big rock festival or an opportunity to have a drink with her friends and party until the sun is up.
• I’m the girl who’s always sleepy due to her messed up sleep pattern (oh, school, oh, beer).
• I’m the redhead who always smiles and laughs and makes everyone laugh with her sometimes really stupid jokes.
• I’m the girl with the handsome boyfriend who gets envious stares all the time.

Oh… and yeah, I’m the girl with a rare condition called Arthrogryposhis (AMC) and severe scoliosis and needs a wheel walker to move around. But nah, I’d rather be remembered as one of the above.

Nope, I’m not trying to boast, I’m trying to pull disabled people out of their shells and show them that no matter how bad their condition seems to be, there must be something they can do keep themselves busy and give them a sense of normality and social inclusion. Yes, my posts may be extremely informal and bluntly honest at times. I’m not going to write clichees you see everywhere, like “disability is just a state of mind” – which it is, and so on… yes, these things are real, but how is it supposed to help you in real life if you’re not showing it?

In this blog, I will try to give as much insight of my life as I can… with the good and the bad. Some might find helpful advice in my experience, others might think I’m being inappopriate and that I should live a different life style. Each with your opinion, I just hope you all find something to learn. Any questions are welcome. This is just some sort of introduction, so not much details.