#ability

A Story of Unexpected Romance

He had never imagined himself dating someone in a wheelchair. But here we are. When someone asks how we met they often find it a romantic love story. First impression I remember the moment I saw him for the first time. A tall athletic guy. He was introduced to me as an intern by my physiotherapist. His handshake was firm and I was charmed by his looks. We didn't meet again a few months after that. When I ask him how he remembers it, he admits he fell in love with my looks and

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Road to Miss Wheelchair World

If I want to apply to Miss Wheelchair World 2022? Last year September I've received a message from a former contestant with this question. I was very exited and decided to give it a try. Why not, right?! On the 3rd of december 2021 the announcement with finalists was posted online. 27 women in wheelchairs were chosen and I am one of them! Beauty pageant This year it will be the second time the Miss Wheelchair World event will take place. The first edition was held in Warsaw,

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It's Time to Give People with Disabilities the Fair Chance to Work and Succeed!

It’s a general assumption:“People with disabilities don’t work”. I would like to react on that. By working I mean to earn income to provide for yourself (and your family). It’s not easy to live with a disability, either when your born with it or get disabled later in life. Everyone is able to be use-full, to participate, to work but it's about the circumstances. Smart but disabled It helps if you have had proper education and the access to do so. But even then, people with di

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Take control of your diet - Eating Healthy as a Wheelchair User is Essential

What to eat when you are a wheelchair user? It’s very easy to gain weight when you are sitting all day. Especially when you move less than an average person because of your disability. Listen & Learn People who use a wheelchair can find it hard to lose weight because they burn fewer calories through physical activity. If you are new to using a wheelchair, you probably eat as you did before. You suggest you take a serious look at what you eat daily and think about what you tru

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Exploring the Possibilities of Curing Paralysis: A Journey from Fear to Hope

As a child, I feared a future where chips were implanted in people, as seen in movies where AI or robots took over the world. Today living without a mobile smartphone seems almost impossible; having access to the internet in the palm of your hand is an extension of our brains. With just a few keywords, all the information in the world is available. While it may feel unnatural to have a device implanted in our bodies, sometimes it's necessary - like the bars and screws that sa

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Adapting to Change: Reflecting on What's Truly Important - Corona Pandemic

Living with a spinal cord injury also means you are more vulnerable in the current situation with the corona crisis. The respirational function is less as the lung and couch capacity is lower, the risk on respiratory infection is higher. Not only that. Living in isolation and uncertainty is a daily situation for a lot of people (with disabilities). Social distancing also for me, is not a problem in the sense of not going outside and just spending a lot of time at home by your

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Labeled and Unlabeled: Diversity and Inclusion: Is One Possible Without the Other?

Every person is unique. And that's your greatest strength. I never fitted in, so I know what being labelled as 'different' feels like. I was always the 'boring or quiet girl' or 'foreign'. Now I am the 'disabled woman'. We all put labels on things, and we are being labelled everywhere we go. It's just how it works. Some of us a more 'boxable' than others but we all bring something to the table. I believe there is good in all of us and that we can all contribute in our own way

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Finding Love and Acceptance in a Wheelchair: A Journey of Self-Discovery

I remember after a month, still laying in the hospital bed I told my father I thought I would be forever alone. He said 'If I would meet a beautiful woman in a wheelchair, I would still date her.' Time went by, failed dates and moments of frustration, didn't made me give up but also didn't give me much hope to find someone who would like me enough to see past the fact that I am a wheelchair user. Love happens, It's not something you can find or force. Since I am sharing my st

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Challenging Myself: A Journey from Paralyzed to Performer

A few days ago I woke up and while trying to get out of bed, during the transfer from my bed to my wheelchair I noticed one of the tires was flat. I could barely roll. I had to get ready for work but I couldn’t even get properly to the bathroom. I couldn’t make a transfer because the brake also didn’t work. That isn’t really safe. It took a couple of hours before It got fixed and I was able to roll again. These wheels are my legs. Right on time it got fixed so I could perform

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Three Years of Living With a Disability - Life Lessons

Discovering the Strength Within: Living with a Disability for Three Years and What I Learned Along the Way My mom texted me this morning and until that moment I didn't realize today is the date, three years ago that changed my life completely. It's the day I've sustained a spinal cord injury. I feel like I want to celebrate that I am still here but I also feel a bit empty. I think back and so much good has happened over the last year. I am truly thankful for that. Life Goes O

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What living with a Spinal Cord Injury

Not knowing what a SCI truly meant, I've found out the hard way. Before I got injured I've never had any health problems. The life before and after an SCI are two different worlds. I used to walk a lot (for fun), my legs used to be my best feature and I took care of my body because believed health was the most important thing. The situation may have changed, my body is different. But in many ways I am still the same. I can't move but I'm moving on Never knowing what a SCI me

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Topsport

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating consequences for the physical, social and vocational well-being of the injured person. Living with a spinal cord injury means there is a never a day off. I know having a spinal cord injury is difficult but it brought the best out of me as well. We always have a choice, the way we think has influence on our behavior and surroundings. I often say I don't have a choice, when someone asks me how do I do it, living independent whi

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Become a Diamond

For some it's easier than for others but as times passes and situations occur we need to adapt at some points in our lives. Adapting isn't about excepting but about how you deal with it. Being stubborn or being steadfast is a good thing till a certain limit. If I didn't except the fact that I have to use a wheelchair everyday to move I would make life very hard on myself because this is the way it is, and I can't change anything about it. Pain is a reality but suffering is op

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Still Single (& Disabled)

"But you're too pretty to be in a wheelchair" is a comment I often hear. Having a disability is linked to being unattractive, sick or outlandish. It's against expectations when a person in a wheelchair takes care of their appearance. If you can’t comprehend that disabled people are so much more than their disability, your view needs an update. I've had an interview about body image and sexuality a while ago. For more than an hour, I've answered questions about how I experienc

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Desexualized

I’m a wheelchair user now. Not by choice. Accidents happen. I got used to using the wheels, but my environment didn’t. Accessibility needs to be improved and, accepting people that are less-abled and treating them equal, needs an even bigger upgrade. One of the things I noticed is that as a woman in a wheelchair you don’t get cat called. I used to experience that a lot before, back when I could still walk. But now it’s a totally different world. I think people see the disable

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Adapted Clothing?

Clothes, we all need it to protect our bodies but we also use it to communicate who we are, it's part of out identity. When you have a spinal cord injury there is even more to it. When you can stand for a minute or if you can't move at all, that will effect your wardrobe choices. Personally I wore a lot of jeans before was paralyzed. Now I never wear denim jeans. Jeans have a lot of seems, pinholes, pockets. It's too much risks on decubitus (skin damage) and the struggle, tak

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The Bright Side Of being disabled

There must be some positive side to this all. Yes, of course! I believe there is. Being disabled is not always bad. Here is why. Number 1: Most obvious. Yes, the parking privilege. It's nice to park close to the door and have enough space to get the wheelchair in and out of the car. Number 2: Receiving help from the government to get assistance in household tasks and in some cases you may receive financial support because being disabled brings a lot of extra costs. Number 3:

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