PUSHLiving.com Wheelchair Accessible Living

A fascinating discussion of how a feedback form given by people with disabilities changed how a corporation decided to provide services.

It can be so difficult for many with disabilities to find and get fuel for their vehicles independently,

Jennifer is a wheelchair user due to Arthrogryposis residing in Long Beach, CA. She is working as a political consultant /fundraiser to help elect more women of color, ethnicities, and LGBTQ.

We were SO EXCITED to have Jesi Stracham join us for PUSHLiving Podcast #32. Jessi is a wheelchair user who’s adventurous, athletic, capable, and an all around tough girl! She is quite the firecracker and has her plate full with tons of projects.

When she’s not directing her foundation Wheel With Me (whose mission is to bridge the gap between inpatient rehabilitation and independent living through activism), she’s training with the US Paralympic developmental curling team, attending school full-time, participating in “Tough Mudder” obstacle courses, and giving health and fitness advice on her popular social media channels. Jesi is also the CEO of her coaching business, Wheel With Me Consulting, which is dedicated to helping individuals reach their life goals and consulting big business on their wheelchair accessibility.

When riding passenger on a motorcycle in 2015, an SUV making a U-turn caused an accident that sent Jesi over the vehicle which resulted in her spinal cord injury at T4 and T7, as well as her lungs to be punctured by her broken ribs. Her massive injuries sent her to the brink of life as she coded and was resuscitated, twice. She also sustained a traumatic brain injury, which affects her to this day. Not only has she adjusted to living life in a wheelchair, she also learned how to filter and regulate her emotions, which could sometimes come across as hurtful and aggressive due to her brain trauma.

Throughout her recovery she discovered therapy, and has completely shifted her outlook, perception, and most of all, focus. She’s a big believer in learning to approach life with laughter, identifying your passion, pursuing your happiness, and focusing on what you want out of life.

Listen to the podcast here:

Watch the live podcast here:

https://youtu.be/cgbQ8aSJbvg

In this podcast, Jesi shares her thoughts and experiences with:

The accident that caused her to join the wheelchair lifestyle communityHow therapy was a game-changer for her, and why she highly recommends itWhat influenced her decision to “model in a diaper”Her outlook on bladder control and her remedies for achieving better bladder controlWhy approaching life with laughter makes uncomfortable situations a lot more tolerableHow she prioritizes and focuses to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyleWhat her big picture goals are for the future, and how she plans to achieve themHaving gratitude for her injury, and how appreciating it saved her from herselfThe importance of supporting others (especially in the wheelchair community), and how it benefits you and your lifeHer mantra of “Don’t Compete, Collaborate”, and why she feels it’s important for anyone with an injury to live byDating, both able-bodied men and wheelchair users (as well as her thoughts on “devotees”)The importance of healthy diet and exercise, and how the smallest things can improve your quality of lifeWhat she hopes to teach her audience when she’s speaking to a crowd, and the specific steps they walk away with

Jesi’s Diet tips:

Try the Whole 30 Easy Diet (Jesi did this for 3 months and lost 20 pounds)Designate a day for meal prep (Jesi does this weekly and preps for 4 days a week)Supplement through the day (Jesi has 5 small meals per day)Eat healthy greens, they are the most important for your bowels, belly, and reducing bloating

Jesi’s Daily Diet:

Breakfast: Protein shakeLunch: Spinach salad with red onions and...

On this fascinating episode of PUSHLiving Podcast, we had the chance to speak with an inspiring young man that has turned his tragedy into hope for others through his business ReneGait. Daniel Campbell is the Founder and CEO of ReneGait (a company that develops activity-based therapy tools), as well as the inventor of their most prominent product for spinal cord injuries, the Spartan mechanical gait trainer.

In 2012, at the age of 20, Daniel was a fitness enthusiast and English major at Augustana College in Illinois, when he became paralyzed (C6-7 complete) in an accident at his fraternity. 

After his injury he took a three year break from school and while recovering, he came to terms with his new life, read a massive amount, and became inspired by writers like Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. When it was time to go back to school, he decided to change his course of study to engineering, and finished his Bachelors of Science and Engineering degree at Arizona State University in 2018.

Listen to the podcast here:

Watch the live podcast here:

https://youtu.be/GwWQG3V73V0

In this in-depth discussion, Daniel shares his story and explains:

How he was injured that fateful night in 2012What influenced his change of course of study from English to EngineeringHis thoughts on rehab and recovery, and what the real expectations should be.The importance of mindset in overcoming the challenges of spinal cord injuryHow he used The Human Refuge concept to utilize the skills and abilities he still hadWhy his pre-injury disciplined lifestyle was extremely useful post-injury during his difficult recoveryThe methods he uses to get himself out of those inevitable periods of sadness and depressionThe game-changing supplement he uses to offset his blood pressure issues caused by his injuryWhy he favors intensity and resistance training over cardio in his workout regimenHow forced use techniques are beneficial to people with spinal cord injuriesThe science behind gait training and how it’s been proven to workWhy he founded ReneGait, and created the Spartan mechanical gait trainerHow he evolved the product from a crude prototype in his garage, to an actual product that could be distributed to customersHis advice on how someone with an idea for a product/service can bring it to fruition

RESOURCES

ReneGait Website

ReneGait Facebook

ReneGait Instagram

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities United

https://pushliving.com/pushliving-wheelchair-lifestyle-videos-biking-for-cardio-upper-body-exercise-and-fresh-air/

https://pushliving.com/pushliving-wheelchair-lifestyle-videos-swimming-for-focus-fitness-and-fun/

The World Health Association reports that 77 million people in the world require a wheelchair, but only 7 million have access to one. Of the 70 million people who do not have access to a wheelchair, 8 million of them are children. These kids are missing school and developing potentially fatal deformities because they don’t have a good wheelchair.

Keoke King is working towards changing this.

We were delighted to have Keoke join us on PUSHLiving Podcast to discuss the goals of his organization, Participant Assistive Products. Participant makes affordable, easily transportable wheelchairs for children. They’re shaking up the wheelchair market so that everyone, everywhere can participate fully in life.

Most of the necessary technology already exists to make this possible, it just needs to be made in a way that is durable and affordable. Keoke’s goal is to use a democratized system with his for-profit corporation to make wheelchairs available to all.

Democratizing a product means that it’s not only for the elites and the wealthy, it’s for everyone. Basic wheelchairs are available everywhere in the world, but customized wheelchairs that fit the users’ style, body, and terrain are only available in the US, Europe, and Japan. That’s what Participant is working on. They want to make affordable chairs that perform well in all user’s environments.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

WATCH THE LIVE PODCAST HERE

https://youtu.be/LcCX44uEyoQ

Listen to our in-depth discussion with Keoke King to learn:

How long Participant has been working on their first postural support, tilt & space, pediatric wheelchair product, and when it’s set to launch.The astonishing low price that Participant has been able to manufacture this first product for low-income governments, and how they’ve been able to bring it to the US market at half the price of comparable chairs.How they decided the first product they would create based on the World Health Organization’s identification of 50 high priority products for governments that are starting to provide for people with disability.What makes Participant’s wheelchair different, and how it’s making a difference in the lives of children, and the people who care for them.The advantages of tilt & space designed wheelchairThe benefits of not being a charity, but being a for-profit company.What it means to be a B Corporation, and why it works so well for Participant.How Participant is achieving their status as a company that services the “global community”How their product being made, where it’s being manufactured, and how it is customizable.

“For us as product developers, we want users to have choice so we can see what they chose to spend their voucher on. So then we can move more in that direction.” - Keoke King

RESOURCES

Participant’s Website

Participant on Twitter

Participant on Facebook

Participant on Instagram

Keoke King on LinkedIn

Participant on WeFunder.com

No Pity book

Inclusion Done Right: How to Make Sure Your Brand Doesn't Miss the Mark

It was our absolute pleasure to welcome the man behind an incredible concept and worldwide company, Kerry Renaud, to this episode of the PUSHLiving Podcast. Kerry is the CEO of Scootaround, and their mission is to help individuals with disabilities, and their families, gain the freedom and mobility independence that they crave when they need it the most. They are truly making the world a better place.

Deborah testing out her WHILL at home

The company was founded in response to the need of a loving daughter whose father needed a mobility device when they went on a vacation together. Listen to the podcast to hear the full story, but it’s a heart-warming tale about recognizing a need and acting on it out of love.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

WATCH THE LIVE PODCAST HERE

https://youtu.be/AopFs7uGaRc

Listen to this compelling podcast to learn:

The story behind why Scootaround was founded.How Kerry got involved with Scootaround and eventually became the CEO.The new, high-tech, powered mobility devices available from Scootaround thanks to their merger with Japanese wheelchair designer/manufacturer, WHILL.Why the merger of Scootaround and WHILL is such a great pairing, and how their beliefs align to create a strong collective vision.How the Scootaround wheelchair rental process works for vacations.Kerry explains the benefits you can expect from Scootaround mobility device rentals: ease of use, maneuverability, and an extremely small footprint.Deborah shares her personal success story from the PUSHLiving Travel Ireland trip, where she utilized the WHILL from Scootaround.Scootaround’s belief in MASS (Mobility As a Service) and what that means to their wide range of customers.How Scootaround is giving passengers independent mobility at the airport.Average cost per day for a Scootaround wheelchair rental in North America.

https://youtu.be/h4E-viy00uQ

Deborah testing out her WHILL wheelchair before the Ireland trip

Deborah's WHILL being loaded onto the airplane

Deborah in Ireland, utilizing her WHILL

RESOURCES

Scootaround Website

WHILL website

Facebook: Scootaround and WHILL

Twitter: Scootaround and WHILL

Instagram: Scootaround and WHILL

For information about our upcoming PUSHLiving Travel Italy trip, email us here: [email protected]

For information about our upcoming Women On Wheels Conference & Retreat, click here.

RELATED ARTICLES

Conferences, Conventions, Concerts, and Festivals: Fun, Educational, Inspiring… and Accessible?

WHILL Announces Autonomous Wheelchair Trials a Success

PUSHLiving Podcast #26: Wheelchair Travel Guide for Yearning Travelers with Lilly Longshore

PUSHLiving Ireland 2019: Day 4-7 Waterford, Kinsale, and Cork

PUSHLiving Ireland 2019: Day 8-10 Killarney & Ring of Kerry

PUSHLiving Ireland 2019: Day 11-14 Galway, Kylemore Abbey, and Cliffs of Moher

Wheelchair Travel: Cuba Libre? How Free is Cuba for Travelers on Wheels?

Wheelchair Air Travel – “Quad” Style

Disability Tour Operators Deliver #AccessibleTravel

Lindsey Freysinger is a German/Austrian blonde haired, blued eyed beauty who became a pediatric nurse at the ambitiously young age of 21.  She was doing her residency in Texas to pursue a Masters degree in Anesthesia, when she was injured in a car accident that led her to become a C-5 Incomplete Quadriplegic. This tragic event occurred in 2013, just three months prior to her completing her Masters degree.

After her injury, she planned on returning to nursing, but found that there was not adequate accommodations for someone with a severe disability in the nursing field. So, she decided to change course and get a Masters degree in Nurse Leadership instead. She is now pursuing her doctorate in Nurse Leadership, with a focus on educating healthcare providers on caring for people with disabilities.

“I was horrified at what, as a nurse, I didn’t know about healthcare for people with disabilities”

Lindsey aspires to help people with disabilities, like our PUSHLiving audience, on living a life of wellness through what she calls “the social determinates of health”. This includes not only the body, but also the spirit. She hopes to help others live a life of wholeness through sharing the importance of social well-being, having a life purpose, connecting to your community, obtaining an education, and earning an income (if desired).

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

WATCH THE LIVE PODCAST HERE

https://youtu.be/CFPvUSdk4iA

What we cover in this intimate and health-focused podcast:

Lindsey shares the story of her accident, and her experience with dating during recovery.Lindsey discusses dating with her disability, and if it’s had an affect on her ability to be intimate.The exciting love story behind how Lindsey met and fell in love with her husband, Mike.How Lindsey made the decision to do a boudoir photoshoot with her husband, and her goal behind having her personal, intimate photos displayed for the world to see.Lindsey’s thoughts and plans on having children, and how she earns an income.The advocacy work in healthcare that Lindsey is doing, and what she hopes to achieve through it.Both Deborah and Lindsey share some of the injury-related health issues they’ve overcome, and how they found ways to prevent them.With her nursing expertise, Lindsey shares her top health tips for people with disabilities.

Photos by April Bickford

RESOURCES

Triumph Foundation

Wheelchair Accessible Farming and Gardening article

Trailrider Accessible Hiking Review article

Women On Wheels Empowerment Retreat & Conference 2020

If you have a health/wellness-related question for Lindsey, please email us at [email protected] with subject line: “Ask Lindsey” and we will provide Lindsey’s answers in an upcoming PUSHLiving post.

If you’re interested in helping Lindsey with her healthcare advocacy work, please contact her directly at [email protected] to be considered for her survey research.

Follow Lindsey on her social media channels: Facebook and Instagram

Rosemarie Rossetti has a PhD in Agricultural Education, an extensive background in training and consulting, and has served on the faculty of Ohio State University teaching public speaking. When biking with her husband 21 years ago, a 7,000 pound tree fell on her leaving her permanently disabled with T12-L1 incomplete paraplegia, and her life’s course changed dramatically.

She embraced her new identity as a person with a disability, and began using her skills in training, consulting, and public speaking to become an expert and start advocating for disability inclusion and universal design.

Rosemarie speaking at TEDx

Since her life changing experience, she has built her personal home in Columbus, OH using the latest and greatest techniques in accessible design, she's enjoyed 24 years of marriage with her husband, and has become a successful speaker and consultant for inclusivity, with a specialty on inclusive conferences/events.

What

you’ll learn from Rosemarie in this intriguing podcast:

How

to give the gift of inclusive design to facilities that are not in compliance.How

meeting planners and corporations/groups can ensure their conferences and

events are inclusive to all attendees.Her

experience with building the #1 top rated home for universal design in America,

and the certifications she had to obtain for the home to gain that status.How

she maintains her 7 year old home, and her favorite design features that make

her daily chores much easier.What

she does to stay healthy at 66, and keep her marriage of 24 years alive.What

it’s like to work with your husband from home, and what their daily schedule consists

of.

RESOURCES:

Rosemarie’s Professional Speaking website: www.RosemarieSpeaks.com

Rosemarie’s Home website: www.udll.com

Rosemarie’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosemarie.rossetti

Rosemarie’s Home Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universaldesignlivinglaboratory/

Rosemarie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/topmotivationalspeaker/

Rosemarie’s Twitter: @RRossetti

Rosemarie’s YouTube: https://yt.rosemariespeaks.com

Home Elevator article: https://pushliving.com/stylish-elevators-bring-independence-home-for-wheelchair-users/

Tempur-Pedic Mattress and Power Base - Tempur Advanced ERGO System: https://www.tempurpedic.com/search/?query=ergo+system

WHILL wheelchair: https://whill.us/

https://pushliving.com/why-a-home-elevator-was-the-perfect-fit/

Lilly Longshore has done much in her 57 years, 17 of

which have been on wheels. After a long and successful career as a Waste Water

Environmental Engineer, she is now retired and returning to her first love,

becoming a travel writer. Lilly spent time in the Peace Corps as a young woman,

speaks multiple languages, and is also the founder of LillyLongshore.com.

SloveniaBlarney Castle Gardens, IrelandInverness, ScotlandFatima, Prtugal

Lilly has just finished her personal memoir, depicting her life not only as a wheelchair user, but as a legally blind woman, and mother of a legally blind son who suffers from the same degenerative retina disease that she has. Lilly provides valuable insight into how someone can start their adventure on wheels, as well as inspires, educates, and provides a little courage to those who are seeking to PUSH towards TRAVEL!

AmsterdamSintra, PortugalKinderdijk, NetherlandsBruges, BelgiumGardens at Blarney Castle, Ireland

What you’ll learn from this invigorating and exciting podcast:

How Lilly became a wheelchair user after a freak fall at home.Lilly’s personal travel style and preferences, and why she loves to travel.Her experiences with traveling alone, with a companion, or with a group tour.The qualities to look for in a tour provider, and what red flags to look out for.The advantages/disadvantages of private tours vs. personal tours.The pros and cons of using a manual chair vs. a powered chair when traveling, and what else you should travel with.Lilly's upcoming trips and the best (and most difficult) cities/countries to travel to in a wheelchair.Lilly’s top travel tips, and the obstacles we still face in accessible travel

Deborah Davis with her WHILL wheelchair in Ireland 2019

SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES:

The Untethered Soul book by Michael Singer

Whill/Scootaround Wheelchair

Trip Advisor

Lilly's Website: https://lillylongshore.com/

Follow Lilly on Twitter and Facebook

Anna is a model with a disability in her early 30’s who uses a power chair to roll through her ever-fascinating life in her new home. Read more!