Think Twice Before Taking that Handicapped Spot in Russia

Last week I discussed Handicapped Parking Spaces and Placards.The irony of this video making its way into my presence into my newsfeed via Reddit, just a few days later, is quite remarkable. Without question some of the most effective anti-drinking and driving or anti-texting and driving advertisements are those that shock and surprise a person. After all, it's becoming more and more difficult to make an impact on people as we grow increasingly desensitized.

I don't have a problem with shocking advertisements in the safe situation such as watching TV or YouTube. However, as you will see in the video below, my concern is that the surprise my cause a driver to slam on the gas, instead of the brake. Watch for yourself.

I can't say that I have a problem with this strong approach. It's clever and makes people think. It may be Russian, Russian drivers may purportedly be less considered about leaving accessible spaces open to those needing them, but I'm pretty sure the message is transferable to just about anywhere in the world. I don't know if I like the shock it might cause a driver but maybe it would make them think twice and never forget what they saw. Still, face-to-face communication and a growing understanding is probably more long-lasting and encouraging but it's pretty difficult for us disabled people to connect with everyone we would like to educate.

Good on Russia for addressing the problem. A lot of blatant accessibility problems in Canada never get attention or looked at. I guess it takes somewhere with a little bit of courage to respond strongly enough to effect results.

Originally seen on Digital Synopsis.

Spray Bottle

When most people hear paralyzed or quadriplegic they immediately think of the lost ability to walk, to the point that the narrow sightedness of its portrayal in media is saddening. Phrases such as "wheelchair-bound" or "confined to a wheelchair, just dreaming of the day they can walk again" are very frustrating to someone living with a disability where walking is but a very minor portion of the inconvenience of said disability. Not to mention that most of us do not sit around doing nothing but dreaming of when we can walk again and "resume" our lives. But, I digress.

What the media and educators fail to mention are the things more important to well being, like the inability to sweat when overheated. The increased sensitivity to temperature changes and decreased ability to regulate our own body temperature makes we quadriplegics more susceptible to temperature related discomfort and ailments.

Clothing can be added in cold temperatures to help stay warm but once we get overheated, even in shade, it can be difficult to cool back down. It's not the same as heat being removed from your body the way sweat brings it to the surface but a spray bottle or a wetted cloth or shirt can help to alleviate the overheating from a warm summer day or vigorous exercise.

With our current patio set I am unable to raise and lower the umbrella and, most of the time, that is fine with me because I typically like full sunshine. But there are the times when I appreciate having my spray bottle to allow me to stay outside longer and enjoy as much of the short Saskatchewan summers as I can.

Source: Any department store or dollar store.

Back on the Water - Sit Skiing

I miss water skiing sometimes. Not just normal skiing, but sit skiing, too. I may be able to scrounge up some photos and videos from the sit ski my dad made for me. I've never used a factory made one designed for more aggressive skiing, but dad's build was great.

Unfortunately, the infrequency of using it and hassle of going for a run made me veer away from it. I can be like that; I like to focus my attention and efforts on things 100%. When I cannot because of seasonal interruptions or other factors I have trouble finding value in continuing with an activity.

Certainly photography has it's seasons for certain types of shooting, in Saskatchewan, anyway, but there is always something to photograph. Sit skiing and target shooting are my two best personal examples of activities I love, but have seasons they cannot be done in.

With that, I leave you with a video I just learned of of a relatively new quad working on her sit skiing. It's fairly lengthy so you may want to skip the the more interesting parts, but neat, nonetheless. Youtube has many more if you want to learn more.