Parents in Wheelchairs

Showing category "resources" (Show all posts)

A life unplanned......

Posted by Ali Gibson on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, In : lucky 
Ha! Going so much better than planned!



Continue reading ...
 

Camouflage.....

Posted by Ali Gibson on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, In : Parking 
The lengths that some will go to to sneak on to a disabled parking bay.....
Continue reading ...
 

How the body's reflexes still try to 'kick in'.....

Posted by Ali Gibson on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, In : reflexes 
Haha........when I'm being a little impatient in a queue or watching the numbers indicating the progress (or not!) of a lift's ascent/decent I often ‘flick a wheelie’ and hover around balancing on my back wheels for a while......

Stuck in traffic waiting to get out of a car park yesterday, feeling the frustration and impatience brewing....went to flick a wheelie.....that subtle movement of the body does not have the same effect when sitting in a car.......all four wheels remained in full ...


Continue reading ...
 

Pregnancy and early days of parenthood.....

Posted by Ali Gibson on Monday, October 19, 2015,

I was recently asked to contribute to a magazine article by answering some questions about my pregnancy and the early days of parenthood….thought I’d share the answers to the questions on this blog…..

 

How old were you when you sustained your SCI and how did it happen?

I was 23 years old when I sustained my SCI in 1996. I was on holiday in Tenerife and there was a severe wind storm. A tree was blown down and struck me from behind. I heard the ‘crack’ of the tree and was pushed...


Continue reading ...
 

Spinal Injuries Awareness Day - 16th May - Back Up Trust's campaign; 'Join The Dots'

Posted by Ali Gibson on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, In : Back Up Trust 


The Back Up Trust are running a campaign for Spinal Injuries Awareness Day on 16th May.

The campaign is called Join the Dots and will look at the importance of wheelchair skills and how it enables people to get around their environment at home. A series of videos will be released throughout the day looking at wheelchair skills and how they enable people to use public transport and “join the dots” (on the tube map) around their city.

Please view the link on their webpage http://www.backuptr...


Continue reading ...
 

Ability to find and remain in work when you have a disability...

Posted by Ali Gibson on Sunday, January 26, 2014,
Recent article in The Guardian and some of my thoughts.....

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/25/disabled-charities-fit-to-work-tests-benefit


Some people out there must make out they can't work when they can......but for those with conditions/disabilities that are unable to work, even if it's because their condition fluctuates, making their work ability unpredictable, there should be support made available in a timely fashion. 
However, it must also be borne in mind that, for those ...

Continue reading ...
 

We are all wonder-women!.....

Posted by Ali Gibson on Sunday, January 26, 2014, In : Equality 
We are all wonderful women!.....
https://fbcdn-photos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1009975_666615096734820_2056593710_n.jpg?dl=1

Continue reading ...
 

I'm not 'wheelchair-bound'.....

Posted by Ali Gibson on Friday, January 24, 2014, In : Wheelchair 
Being 'wheelchair-bound' is one misconception of living with paralysis.......my wheelchair actually gives me my freedom to be mobile.....everyone else sees my chair more than me, as the majority of the time, I'm looking at anything but my chair - do you spend time looking at the chair you sit on at work, in a restaurant, on the train, in the cinema etc.?????? 

As for being wheelchair-bound, let me assure you....I do not sleep in my wheelchair, I do not bathe in my wheelchair, I do not drive fr...

Continue reading ...
 

Being realistic about my limitations.......

Posted by Ali Gibson on Friday, February 10, 2012, In : weather 
I'd like to think that there is nothing I cannot do for my daughter and for the most part that is true....there is very rarely (to the point where I can't think of an example) a time when I have had to ask someone to take the reins because of me being unable to do something for Sarah.
I have always been aware that the weather can emphasise my limitations - if it's really wet outdoors, controlling the speed of my chair on anything but a flat surface is tricky. To slow down my wheelchair I must...

Continue reading ...
 

Sweet Sixteen.....

Posted by Ali Gibson on Monday, January 30, 2012, In : lucky 

It was a rare occasion this morning that I took Sarah to pre-school as James has a day off work. (Normally, he takes her in the morning and I collect her in the evening). I went in to take Sarah a cup of tea and she said "What are you doing Mummy?" I said I'd brought her a cup of tea and she clambered out of bed and on to my lap....."I'm having a game Mummy...that I lost my home and someone had to help me find it".......I asked her how her toe was (as she stubbed it yesterday) and, after a co...

Continue reading ...
 

Sarah's sense of humour...

Posted by Ali Gibson on Sunday, November 20, 2011, In : sense of humour 
It has been a long while since I wrote last and Sarah continues to amaze us each and every day. She has already developed a cracking sense of humour and is a great sport! She is full of beans and just loves life - 'where are we going today Mummy?' is a frequent question when she gets up in the morning. She skips around with her bouncy wavy hair, notices her reflection in the glass oven door and pulls a funny face, puts both legs in one leg of her pyjamas and says she's a mermaid, reads us bed...
Continue reading ...
 

Time is flying by...........

Posted by Ali Gibson on Monday, February 28, 2011,
Gosh, it's March tomorrow and I can't believe where the time is going.....Sarah is now 3 years old and still is still the lovliest little person in the world. I know that all parents say that but she really IS!!!!
Sarah really got into Christmas this year and tried to understand the concepts of the Christmas tree/Father Christmas coming down the chimney/advent etc etc. I don't think it will be long before she works out that it would be impossible for Father Christmas to come down the chimney....
Continue reading ...
 

Freezie!

Posted by Ali Gibson on Monday, November 15, 2010, In : language 
When looking out at the frost this morning Sarah announced; "It's freezie outside Mummy!"


Continue reading ...
 

Being Mummy to Sarah just gets better and better........

Posted by Ali Gibson on Thursday, September 23, 2010, In : Joy 
Oh my word! Sarah seems to be learning and developing on a daily basis at the moment....(now aged 2 years, 8 months) ....I took her to the playground last weekend and she headed off towards the gate, opened it, held out her arm and said "After you Mummy" How cute is that?
When I arrived to pick her up from Grandma and Grandad's today, she rushed over to the car and , whilst bouncing around excitedly, told me that she had made a picture for me, and "It is a present for you. I will put it on my...
Continue reading ...
 

Taking Sarah to London on the train for the first time..........

Posted by Ali Gibson on Friday, August 27, 2010, In : Train