Rather than fighting for government, policies or society to fast-track integration, people with disabilities should work towards integration themselves We live in a country where government tries to correct the wrongs and inequities of society through legislation, while people with disabilities protest their exclusion by advocating for better accessibility and...
Ida’s Corner
The silver rollers brigade
Everyone has to face growing old and grey, but with the right preparations it can be a satisfying, productive phase of life. Whether the colour of our skin is vanilla, caramel, toffee or chocolate, we all have something in common: as we grow older our hair turns silver. Spiky silver,...
Neurogenic bowel – The ultimate hidden demon of paralysis
Aside from the loss of mobility, the loss of bowel control following a spinal cord injury is often the biggest concern, but with the correct bowel management programme there is no need to worry Many people with an SCI say that after loss of mobility, the loss of bowel control...
Autonomic dysreflexia: Another Hidden Demon of Paralysis
Caregivers usually have time to consult someone if they are unsure how to perform some of their duties. With Autonomic Dysreflexia, time is very limited and immediate action is needed to prevent serious consequences. Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD) can cause strokes, heart attacks and even death. Probably the most troubling fact...
Hidden demons of paralysis: body temperature management
What happens when your body no longer reacts or reacts inappropriately to temperature changes? This is a reality for many people with an SCI Most of us have a body temperature that runs at about 37ºC. When it is hot, our bodies react to help us cool down and we...
Hidden demons of paralysis
The visible damage associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) is very apparent, but the unseen damages often have an even greater impact on the individual The loss of sexual functionality, bladder and bowel control, the antics of autonomic dysreflexia and the difficulties with temperature regulation are additional disabilities that mess […]
Innovators and facilitators
With a team of specialists to put the body back together, wheelchair users can be mobile and healthy. But it’s the humble occupational therapist who assists spinal cord injury (SCI) patients to live a fulfilling life. An SCI is a catastrophic life-changing event that impacts on every facet of daily […]
Fruits of frustration
Frustration is inevitable when your life changes very suddenly. People with disabilities as well as caregivers should consider how they express their frustrations. As persons with disabilities, we do become frustrated with our own inabilities; at those times cute aphorisms like “otherwise enabled” do not help much. I watch rugby, […]
Reinventing purpose
When a spouse loses physical mobility through a spinal cord injury (SCI), it is a life-shattering experience for both partners. It takes great purpose to rebuild. I recently heard of a man who tragically lost his wife in a car accident. His life was shattered. However, he tells of how […]
Imperfectly perfect – a tribute to those who care
In our quest for perfect solutions, we should not lose sight of pragmatism – finding a workable solution in an less-than-ideal situation. Earlier this year, at the QASA Annual General Meeting (AGM), one of the attendees showed me a photograph of a ramp that was built to the back door […]